Archetypes and Themes
The Phases of Tragedy
Complete Innocence:
- Hassan represents a suppliant character ("christ-like figure")
- His innocence is evident through his inability to harm others and his unquestioning loyalty to his position in life (servant class) and to Amir
- His unselfish personality/actions serve to amplify Amir's faults
- His innocence is lost during his rape (tragic fall) -- he learns of Amir's cowardice
Youthful Innocence of Inexperience:
- Hassan's innocence/belief in goodness in the world is lost when he is raped - (psychological turmoil) He is ashamed/unsure of how to react (though his depression is not long lasting)
- The controversial rape, watched by Amir marks his transition out of childhood. He is scarred by what he witnesses/ the knowledge that he betrayed a friend for fear of being hurt/shaming himself. As he is immature, he is unsure of how to handle his guilt (evident by his treatment of Hassan)
- Amir begins to see his surroundings as frightening -- he is haunted by the guilt of what he witnessed/lack of defense for his friend
- As Afghanistan becomes politically unstable, the innocence of the boys is also shattered as they realize their homeland is not a safe and idealistc place.
Completion of an Ideal:
- Hassan's ideal resides in his loyalty to Amir. His attempt to complete this ideal is evident in his loyaly to Amir -- even after the rape. He achieves completion of this ideal when he lies for Amir and admits to theft -- he realizes and accepts the decision that Amir wants him to leave. (final sacrifice)
- Amir's ideal is completed through the retrieval of the kite -- he has achieved his goal of proving his worth to his father, though this occurred at a great cost
Individual's Fault:
- Amir's fault resides in his selfishness (ex. purposely excludes Hassan from father son outings, as he wants to have "special" time with his father)
- This fault is further portrayed during the rape. Amir is...