Literary Significance Notes for Pages 3-11
Plot:
The narrator, Amir has a flashback into his past in a city called Kabul in Afghanistan; it was of 1975, Amir introduces himself and his best friend, Hassan. Amir lived with his father in a grand mansion and Hassan and his father worked as servants.
It is revealed, that Amir and Hassan had both lost their mother; Hassan’s mother had left him 5 days after giving birth to him to join the circus, on the other hand Amir’ mother had died while giving birth.
Hassan’s Father, Ali and mother, Sanaubar didn’t get along as Sanaubar constantly mocked Ali about his appearance; Ali had the muscles in his left leg shredded by polio and half of his face was paralyzed.
A soldier was implying hurt full slurs towards Hassan and referred to him as a Hazara so from this action it is learned that the Hazara ethnic group is looked down upon in the society of Afghanistan.
Character Analysis:
Character: Hassan
Trait: Loyal
Quote: ‘Sometimes, up in those trees, I talked Hassan into firing walnuts with his slingshot at the neighbor's one-eyed German shepherd. Hassan never wanted to, but if I asked, really asked, he wouldn't deny me. Hassan never denied me anything.” (2-3, Hosseini)
Analysis: This quote portrays Hassan’s undying loyalty to Amir through Amir knowing that Hassan’s loyalty is unmatched as Hassan puts Amir’s needs above all others. It is foreshadowed that this loyalty is going to be a part of an upcoming catastrophe.
Character: Sanaubar
Trait: Selfish
Quote: “Sanaubar had taken one glance at the baby in Ali's arms, seen the cleft lip, and barked a bitter laughter. [...]. She had refused to even hold Hassan, and just five days later she was gone.” (9, Hosseini)
Analysis:
Style:
Quote: “I can still see Hassan up on that tree, sunlight flickering through the leaves on his almost perfectly round face, a face like a Chinese doll chiseled from hardwood: his flat, broad nose and slanting, narrow eyes like bamboo...