Characters

• Baba
  • Uninterested, even dismayed, by Amir’s interest in writing
• Rahim
  • Writes Amir a note encouraging his writing talent
• Hassan
  • Initiates Amir’s interest in writing
  • Finds a plot hole in Amir’s first story

Locations

• Bookstore
• Cemetery in Wazir Akbar Khan
  • Amir carves names into tree “Amir and Hassan, the sultans of Kabul”
• Cinema Park, across street from Amir’s favorite bookstore
• Shar-e-Nau (New City) section of Kabul, west of Wazir Akbar Khan district

Dates

• 1933
  • Baba born
  • Zahir Shah begins 40-yr reign
  • Hazara couple killed by DIY drivers
    • Drivers sent to Kandahar to enlist
    • Their orphan, Ali, raised by Baba’s father
• 1973
  • July: Amir makes up a story and Hassan says its the best story he’s read to him in a long time
  • Amir begins his writing career, gets Rhaim’s approval, Baba’s scorn

Themes/Motifs

• Class-based society
  • Ali and Baba are like brothers but not friends, and clear relationship
  • Pashtun v Hazara, Sunni v Shi’a
  • Hassan will not be literate

Thoughts

The section goes further into the childhood Amir has with Hassan and goes further into the dynamics of their relationship. Key is the dependence they have on each other. Amir’s dependent upon Hassan’s bravery, but Hassan is dependent upon Amir for his livelihood and intellectual development. Amir’s mean streak comes out more as we see him mock Hassan’s lack of vocabulary. Amir feels the need to be better than Hassan, while it does not seem like Hassan feels any such need. He is happy with his lot.

Again, Amir’s relationship with his father is highlighted. “Personally, I couldn’t see the tragedy in Rostam’s fate. After all, didn’t all fathers in their secret hearts harbor a desire to kill their sons?”

Amir finds release and pride through his writing. He is his mother’s son and has been following her path ever since he started to read the Farsi classics.

Other Notes

• Shahnamah, 10th century Persian epic
• Mashallah, Inshallah – allah is part of common words