Tuesday, July 21, 2009

The Kite Runner

Sorry I'm a little late posting this week, but I'm at the beach and my phone won't allow me to create a new post for some reason. Anyway, this week I have asked that you read chapters 1-10 of The Kite Runner. I think you will find this book challenging in terms of content and engaging as well. As you read, think about the following subjects and comment about themes that are being developed as they relate to these subjects. Remember that a theme is a declarative statement that indicates what the author is trying to say about the particular subject.
-Role of books, literacy
-Friendship, guilt, redemption
-Father and son relationship
-Coming of Age
-Discrimination, prejudice, class structure
-Master/Slave relationships; loyalty, devotion and duty

Please choose one of the subjects listed, then suggest a thematic statement related to that subject, then explain how that theme is relayed in the chapters you have read.
I would also like you to comment on some emerging symbols and motifs as related to Foster's book. There are several ironies that occur in these chapters, and there should be some things that jump out at you as symbols. Explore those in your responses as well. You did a great job with this in Hurston's novel. I think you'll find that Hosseini's novel is just as rich. I look forward to reading your responses.

20 comments:

Terry Burgess said...

The themes I am seeing emerging are the role of books and literacy; discrimination, prejudice, and class structure; and master/slave relationships. All of these themes come from Amir and Hassan's relationship. The role of books and literacy theme comes from Amir's ability to read and Hassan's inability to read. This gives Amir an element of control over Hassan. This also gives Amir the ability to make up his own stories without Hassan knowing any difference which helps to ignite Amir's creative writing. The theme of discrimination, prejudice, and class structure comes from the fact that Hassan is both an ethnic (Hazara) and religious minority (Shia) and Amir is in the majority on both his ethnicity (Pashtun) and his religion (Sunni). This regulates the Hazaras to being servants to the Pashtuns. The theme of master/slave relationshios is also a prevalent theme so far in the novel. Even though Amir and Hassan play together a lot, Amir does not really regard Hassan as a friend (Baba also never refers to Ali as a friend even though they grew up together)and does not play with him when some of Amir's other friends come over. But Hassan does not seem to mind. Hassan also protects Amir from Assef (loyalty, devotion, and duty), but Amir does not protect his servant Hassan from Assef. And even though I chose three of the subjects instead of just one they all have one source, Amir and Hassan's relationship.

I believe that the pomegranate tree is a symbol of their friendship/relationship because they gather at the tree to read stories, they climb it for fun, they it the fruit, just many different things that would make the tree symbolize friendship. All of those actions vould be actions of communion like in chapter 2 of Foster's book. They are sharing the same food (the fruit) and the same experiences(reading and climbing). These acts bring them closer together.

Terry Burgess said...

I am not sure what a thematic statement is. Tell me what it means and I will make one. I also hope it is okay that I chose more than one subject from the list.

BritNichole said...

The theme I see emerging quite clearly in the is guilt and redemption. I must say that Hosseini’s character, Amir, disgusts me. I have no sympathy for him, he is by far the biggest coward I have ever encountered in my readings. The theme became clear to me when Amir stood at the end of the alley and watched his only friend, his brother, be raped and he didn’t stop it because of his fear of Assef. This scene was painted so clearly it brought tears to my eyes and I couldn’t believe he wouldn’t protect Hassan knowing that Hassan would have done anything for him. The guilt that Amir feels is evident from that point on that Amir regretted not standing up for Hassan. He hides from Hassan because he knows that when he looks in Hassan’s eyes he will see the loyalty that has always been there. He tries to redeem himself through his tears and he realizes that nothing he does will ever redeem him. When the chance emerges for Amir to tell his father figure, Rahim Khan, the burden that he has been carrying on his shoulders he cowers, afraid of disappointment and rejection. I know from the immediate guilt that Amir feels that the night in the alley will keep reoccurring through his thoughts and his life. In guilt-minded attempts to redeem himself, Amir mistreats Hassan, throwing fruit at him and humiliating him. Knowing his father’s revulsion for thief, Amir plants his watch and some money, all of it given to him for his birthday, under Hassan’s mattress and tells his father that Hassan stole it from him. I wish I could say I saw the good in his intentions but I just can’t. He obviously knows the only way to clear his conscience is to admit to someone, preferably Hassan, that he watched the friend that had always taken up for him several times, take the ultimate punishment for him. This is the only way I see him getting the redemption that he craves. So far Hosseini is trying to prove the affect guilt can have on a person. Amir constantly wishes someone would punish him, and look pass the fake smiles and sorry attempts to hide his guilt; he wants someone to yell at him and make him feel like the low pathetic mongrel he believes he is. In my eyes, having someone blow up on him would be too easy of an escape, he deserves the guilt and pain that he is feeling. One thing that Amir has failed to realize is that that night didn’t just change his life, it changed Hassan’s too. He thinks he feels terrible and is unable to sleep, he should try to imagine the horror that Hassan is feeling. In a time when his best friend needs him the most, Amir hides from him in an attempt to avoid the confrontation of what happen that night.

The biggest symbol so far to me is the rape of Hassan. If anything, this event shows that Amir will always protect himself before anyone else. In just a few pages, Hosseini shows Amir’s cowardice and selfishness. Amir has a conscience battle in his mind when deciding if he is going to help Hassan or if he is gonna try to pretend like it never happened and his initial reaction should have been to help Hassan. This event shows that Amir would rather sacrifice the innocence and dignity of the one person who loves him than try to save him. The fact that he could witness such a horrific crime and live with himself afterward, whether he was in guilt or not, is despicable to me. This shows Amir true colors, that night changed the lives of all who were involved and I think it is beyond stingy and selfish of him to think that he is the only one suffering. His suffering is nothing compared to Hassan’s. I can’t even come close to imagining how Hassan must have felt having been raped because of his loyalty to Amir and then Amir shunning him. This event has made me both hate and love this book. It has been a while since a book has moved me to tears and I was shocked.

cassandra said...

The theme that I would like to talk about, that sticks out mostly to me, is friendship, guilt, and redemption. In the book you can tell that the two boys are friends, devoted to each other. Amir does not express his as publically as does Hassen but you know by his words that he is friends and would not survive without Hassen in his life. As far as guilt, with what Amir does to Hassen, whether small are big throughout these chapters, I am just glad that Amir feels any kind of guilt whatsoever. I thought that I would have to hate Amir's character throughout the whole story and I hate it when the main character is the bad guy. Since Amir feels honest guilt though I can understand at least why he does what he does and that at least he does feel guilt over doing it. In his way Amir tries to redeme his bad habits and actions by giving things to Hassen which is the only way that Amir knows because it is how his father treats him. "The boy will go away if I give him toys" is the feeling I get from Amir's dad, but that delves into the father/son relationship. So when Amir commits his final act of betrayal I think that in his father deprived state he is commiting an act of friendship when he tells himself that 'one of them would have to go'. The friendship, guilt, and redemption kind of plays hand in hand with the father/son relationship. I would like to think that if Amir had not craved his father's love so much that he would have left if he had still come to the conclusion that 'one of them had to go'. The guilt over not helping Hassen in that alley would have propelled him to I think but as it is Amir just craves that love from his father way to much. Like I said before though, at least he does feel the guilt from it and even five years later he cannot move on like he thought he could.


Now a big symbol I would like to use is the war. Although the war has not been going on Amir's whole life it is the perfect symbol of how his life has been and how it is now since he is still living with the guilt of betraying Hassen's friendship. Although their friendship is at war now and has been for five years, Amir still thinks of Hassen and wonders how he is fairing. Also the memories of that betrayal and what led up to it haunt Amir like any traumatic war memory a veteran might have. It is proven when Amir overhears about Kamal. Every little encounter brings a memory of Hassen back but it is not all bad. Again with the friendship theme, Hassen's friendship still carries something to Amir for it is a memory of flying a kite with him that calms him down and is his happy thought away from the war.




I am continuing to read the chapters, though I didn't blog this till late because I had continued to read and forgot I was suppose to write for the first ten chapters, just a hint on how much I'm enjoying it. Anyways I'm leaving tomorrow to go on a camping trip and won't be back for a week so I will write back as soon I get back on the next chapters and will probably be able to comment on the other chapters as well. It is a very suspenseful book and I would like to see if Amir can redeme himself for the wrong he has committed and what Rahim Khan meant in the beginning of the book when he said "There is a way to be good again."

Katharine Anne said...

The theme I see emerging is the father son relationship. I guess I see this one more because whenever I read I get really into the characters relationships with eachother, thats just me. I would get so frustrated reading how Amir's father would act towards him. He let his frustration toward his son show. I have a problem with parents forcing their kids into things just because it's what they did when they were that age or what they like to do. Even though Baba stopped forcing Amir into things, Amir continued to feel like he had to make up for it or prove something to his father. This to me is not a real father son relationship. Amir is constantly craving his fathers attention and blessing. The only time he got it was when he won the tournament. This was sad to me. Amir's true father figure is Rahim Khan. Neither one of the three admit to this but it shows through the conversations and connection they have. I think the author is trying to get the theme of family across here. Your family does not have to be your biological kin, but the people who have the most influence on you and care for you the most. Your real "family" would do anything for you which is exactly what Hassan and Rahim Khan would do for Amir. They are his real family.

The symbol that stood out the most for me was the kite that Hassan ran down for Amir. To Amir this kite was two things: the key to his fathers heart and the beginning of a lifetime of guilt. All Amir ever wanted was for his father to be proud of him and to show him love and attention. The kite could give him this. What he did not plan on was his need for the kite for his fathers love out weighing the loyalty of his only true friend and basically brother, Hassan. He chose which was more important to him at the time based off of being scared and a coward. Amir immediatly regrets this decision and realizes where his fault was.

Josh Davis said...

The biggest theme I see emerging in this novel is the whole concept of discrimination, prejudice, and class structure, particularly between the two ethnic groups, The Pashtuns and the Hazaras. Historically, the Pashtuns have been persecuted and harassed for many years. However, Baba sets a good example for Amir when he is nice to Ali and Hassan and he treats them just like family. There are even sometimes when Baba treats Hassan better than his own son. When Baba was a child, Ali was orphaned and Baba's father took in Ali as his own son just as Baba took in Ali and Hassan as his brother and second son. However, despite Baba's efforts, there is still a class barrier in his household. Ali and Hassan serve Baba and Amir just like slaves. They do all the household chores, tend the garden, and do all the cooking. Ali and Hassan live in a hut in Baba's backyard and they sleep on mattresses on the floor. The strong class barrier between Baba and Ali or Pashtuns and Hazaras is still evident. This theme sort of melts into the master/slave relationship theme because Hassan shows unfailing devotion to Amir even though Amir doesn't always treat him the same. All Hassan has ever known is that he is a servant so even when Amir treats him badly, he just shrugs it off and thinks nothing of it. He can't seem to understand that Amir is only his friend when no one else better is around. Hassan stands up and defends Amir when Assef and his friends try to beat him up, but when Assef sexually assaults Hassan, who promises to get the last kite for Amir, Amir turns into a pathetic little coward and just watches when he could have stopped it. Afterwards, Hassan still tries to be friends with Amir again, but Amir's conscience is too burdened and he feels to guilty to hang out with Hassan.

The symbol I chose was kites and everything associated with them like kite flying and fighting. Kites are symbolic of Amir's and Hassan's friendship because kite flying can be a very fun and invigorating experience, much like Amir's and Hassan's friendship. They spend most of their boyhood together and they both grow through their experiences. Kite fighting, however, can also be hurtful because the glass string can cut your finger and trying to cut other people's kites can result in yours geting cut as well. This also true of Amir's and Hassan's friendship because after Hassan is raped, the two grow apart, so much that Amir even frames Hassan for stealing just so they will have to leave.

Billy P said...

this is a tough book so far. The major themes that i see emerging are- the Master/Slave relationships; loyalty, devotion and duty. Hassans loyalty to Amir is what ultimately results in his rape. i think that this is very controversial. Hassans father trained him to be a peace-keeping loyalty person, which in the end, caused him harm. This supports the fact that amir and baba and alike and meant to symbol each other and Ali and Hassan the same. they are like mirror cases of each other. AS far as the master to slave relationship, the master betrays his servant in both Amir and Baba's case. Not to mention their flaws may make them "flawed heroes" by the end of the novel.

The kite, symbolises peace and tranquility. a calm before the storm perhaps? hassan and amir are developing their relationship into a good one while flying the kite, yet it is also just before their relationship delves.

Billy P said...

this is a tough book so far. The major themes that i see emerging are- the Master/Slave relationships; loyalty, devotion and duty. Hassans loyalty to Amir is what ultimately results in his rape. i think that this is very controversial. Hassans father trained him to be a peace-keeping loyalty person, which in the end, caused him harm. This supports the fact that amir and baba and alike and meant to symbol each other and Ali and Hassan the same. they are like mirror cases of each other. AS far as the master to slave relationship, the master betrays his servant in both Amir and Baba's case. Not to mention their flaws may make them "flawed heroes" by the end of the novel.

The kite, symbolises peace and tranquility. a calm before the storm perhaps? hassan and amir are developing their relationship into a good one while flying the kite, yet it is also just before their relationship dives.

Amanda Robbins said...

The most prominent theme in this book so far to me is that of the master/slave relatinship; loyalyt, devotion and duty. Through out the chapters that were assigned, this relationship has never really progressed to a friendship. Amir does not see Hassan as more than a slave, and the same with his father and Hassan;s father. Thats where the relationship ends. Although they have both grown up with eachphter thay still do not consider each other friends.

I agree with Terry, about how he mentioned that the pomagranate tree is a symbol of Amir and Hassan's relationship. Not necessarily friendship but their relationship. Maybe the blossiming of the tree represents their relationship and then when the fruit is ripe or maybe when it falls it represent when they stop talking after Hassan got raped.

Courtney said...

I have enjoyed this novel way more than the last one so far. The Kite Runner seems to be one of those books that just sucks you in and keeps you reading.

The themes that I have seen the most are friendship and jealousy. Amir and Hassan are friends who don't really know how to say they are. I think that Hassan probably thinks of Amir as not only his boss but also his friend. Amir says in the beginning of the novel that he has never considered Hassan a friend, but through out the novel he usually treats him like one. There are times when Amir is cruel to Hassan, like when he tricks him or gets him in trouble, but that is also just how little boys(and little girls) are sometimes. Amir thinks that he can't be friends with Hassan because they are different and Hassan is his servant. Amir also gets jealous of Hassan a lot. Amir loves his father very much and is jealous when his father shows that he likes Hassan, like when he treats Hassan the same as him. When they were out buying kites Amir even said that he wished his father would like him best. I also think that Amir is jealous of the relationship that Hassan has with his father.
A symbol to me is that Hassan and Amir both feed from the same woman when they were babies. This symbolizes that they will always be connected. They also have a kind of brotherhood that will always be there. The two of them will always have something special that no one else can take away.

Terry Burgess said...

Josh, I hate to tell you this but the opressed minority in this situation is the Hazaras instead of the Pashtuns.

Mrs. Hollifield said...

I am glad to read that you are all enjoying this novel. It is a difficult read, and there are parts of it that bring me to tears every time. Hosseni creates very real and complex characters. As readers, we struggle with Amir - we hate him, we pity him, we root for him...isn't that the way relationships are in real life? We don't always love and admire people who are closest to us. That is just one of the things I like about this book. You all are doing an excellent job discussing the subjects I listed, but some of you are summarizing a bit much. As far as thematic statements, I get a sense that you haven't had much practice with this, so if you did not identify a thematic statement in your post for last week, I'd like you to attempt to do so for next week. Please see the new post for further explanation, but remember that a thematic statement is a declarative statement that reveals what the author is trying to say about a particular subject.
Moving on to symbols, you all are really doing an excellent job with this. The pomegranate tree is a poignant symbol for sure. Think about the qualities of a tree and then compare them to the qualities of Amir and Hassan's relationship. The tree grows and flourishes in phases, just like the relationship. And carved in that tree is a constant reminder of the boys' relationship, one that tortures Amir after the rape in the alley. The war is also a significant symbol. The war is an outward event that definitely symbolizes that conflict raging within Amir. It's the perfect backdrop for his inner turmoil. I am pleased that you are recognizing both objects and events as symbolic. You could also recognize the changing seasons as symbolic. The sweltering heat of the summer when Amir goes back to school after the rape suffocates him just as his guilt does. The kite is an important symbol and you notice that Amir sees kites throughout the novel, and of course it is in the title of the book. I feel like you all are applying Foster's ideas and thinking like literature professors as you read.

Trent Brock said...

I am sorry that I didn’t get the chance to post before today. I was away this past weekend at my sister’s softball tournament and didn’t have access to a computer.

When I started reading this novel, I found that it was difficult to follow where the story was leading and such. One reason was because this story is complex when pertaining to the different characters throughout the novel. However, it was easier to understand once I delved into the book further.

I believe that one of the stronger subjects occurring throughout this novel is the father-son relationship. Baba is real affectionate towards both Amir, his son, and Hassan, his servant’s son, in differing ways. He acts like a father figure to both, even though Hassan isn’t his biological son. Amir, his biological son, is looked upon as a son that isn’t manly enough. Baba is very critical of Amir.

The symbol that I am going to focus upon is kites. This book is entitled “The Kite Runner”, meaning that it probably is a strong symbol throughout the novel. In Kabul, many of the boys spend some of their free time not playing sports, but kite fighting. Through kite fighting, Amir and Hassan form a strong relationship with each other. Kites that are used in this fighting aren’t the same type of kites you think of when flying a kite on a windy spring day. These kites have sharp, glass strings. These strings can help you win by cutting other kites, but can be detrimental to your kite as well. I think that this symbol can be looked further into.

A kite used in kite fighting can be used to symbolize the lives of Afghans. Many Afghans live normal lives like Americans: working, having fun, etc. Other Afghans have different lifestyles. Some are harmful to other citizens and even other countries. This parallels the kites. They can be fun and exhilarating, yet they can cause harm to others and even yourself.

Josh Davis said...

Sorry, I meant that the Hazaras have been persecuted for many years. The Pashtuns were the persecutors and not the persecutees.

Also, I'd like to make my thematic statement a little better and not just state the themes: Discrimination, prejudice, and class structure in the end have the power to override close family ties and friend relationships.

*christina* said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
*christina* said...

Sorry i'm posting a little late. I have found this book interesting but sometimes a little hard to read. Amir is an unusual character and i dislike him as a boy very much. The theme i see is father and son relationship. Amir is growing up without a mother, so his father raises him. Throughout the novel Amir tries to get closer to his father. He tries to impress him in any way. He wants more of his attention and love. He doesn't want his father to love and treat Hassan the same way he treats him. He knows that he is not the son his father has wished for. It makes me sad to think of a boy growing up without a mother and not really having the fathers love and attention. And throughout the novel that is what he is fighting for. He won that by winning the kite tournament but he lost his best friend and brother. Father and son relationships aren't always great, but with some work and sacrifices they can become better.

A symbol that stood out to me the most was the Kites. It symbolized the relationship between Amir and Hassan. Kite flying can be fun and entertaining, just like Amir and Hassan would do sometimes. They got closer to each other and played together like real friends. Then the Kite Fighting would be when Amir would get mad at Hassan or tease him about something. What stood out the most wat the kite cutting. It can be painful. This kind of symbolized the cut of Amir's and Hassan's friendship. It was cut pretty much at one moment and wasn't put back together. I look forward to reading on and finding out if Armir can redeem himself from his guilt.

Kelly said...

Sorry for posting late. I had to catch up after i got home from the beach.

I see all of these themes emerging in The Kite Runner. However, the one that stands out most to me would have to be Friendship and Guilt. Hassan is Amirs servant. But by growing up together they formed a very strong friendship. Its almost as if they are brothers. Brothers should do anything for each other. Hassan would definitley do anything for Amir. But I can't say the same about Amir. Amir witnesses Hassan being raped by Assef. Instead of stopping Assef and protecting his friend, Amir just stands there and watches as Hassan is abused. He immediatley begins feeling the guilt and it stays with him for many years. He does many things to Hassan hoping that his guilt will subside. But it never goes away.

I believe the main symbol would have to be the kites and the kite tournament. The kite represents many things. It represents the relationship Amir wished he had with his father. By winning the kite fight, Amir felt he had finally made his father proud. It also represents the start of his guilty life. I believe the kite is symbolic of Amir and Hassans relationship and social class differences. Hassan caters to Amir in the kite fight by feeding him the string, just as he caters to him in their everyday lives. The glass on the kite string that is used to take down opponents could symbolize Afghanistan and the problems within the country.

Sonia Kaur said...

Thematic Statement: When friendship is one-sided it can result in resentment on the part of the person, who does not have the same feelings, and that person can lash out at the friend but they end up feeling guilty. However if they allow themselves to be guided by their consciences, they can find redemption by doing good deeds to others.

The relationship between Amir and Hassan is central to the understanding of the novel. Amir is privileged; Hassan is the son of a servant. Amir is a Pashtun, who are believed to be superior, and Hassan is a Hazara, who are believed to be inferior. Amir is oversensitive, insecure, and jealous and wants Baba’s affections entirely to himself. Hassan is devoted, loyal, saintly, and accepting. He knows his place in a hierarchy. After the kite flying tournament, Amir betrays Hassan by turning a blind eye when Hassan is tortured and bullied. This creates enormous guilt in Amir, which haunts him for the major part of the novel. Motivated by jealousy, Amir uses devious tactics to drive Hassan and his father out of their land. He plants his gift watch and some money under Hassan’s bed, and made it look like Hassan stole it. The rest of the chapters show the price of his selfishness and disloyalty. (Later in the book, Amir redeems himself by helping his Hassan’s son, Sohrab.

An important symbol in “The Kite Runner” is the sheep. A sheep is a traditional symbol of sacrifice, a victim offered to God so that the divine being will look down kindly upon his people. When Hassan is victimized by Assef, he is the sacrifice that will allow Amir to look better in the eyes of his father.

The significance of the irony in the first story Amir wrote has a more meaning than just the words on the page. After hearing Amir's story, Hassan asks, "Why did the man kill his wife? In fact, why did he ever have to feel sad to shed tears? Couldn't he have just smelled an onion?" The irony in the story is that, in order to satisfy his own greed, the man destroys that which he realizes too late is most dear to him. It is significant because it is a metaphor for Amir's own life in that, in his desperate longing for his father's love, Amir effectively destroys the safe and comfortable life of Hassan along with their relationship with each other, never realizing the great value of the friendship they share. A further irony is that both Amir and his fictional character could have easily gotten what they wanted without paying anywhere near such a drastic price. Amir's story illustrates major differences in Hassan's and Amir's characters. Hassan has a clear vision of things, picking up immediately the fact that the man could have found a more practical way of achieving his goals. Amir makes everything more complicated for him; the possibility perceived by Hassan never occurs to him, even though it is so obvious it is utterly stupid. The story also points out a basic difference between the two boys' perception of human nature. Hassan, even though he is constantly victimized because of his nationality, has a trusting spirit and cannot conceive of any reason why the man would have wanted to kill his wife, while Amir is more in touch with the darker side of human nature because it is so active in his own character

Elita said...

Master/Slave relationships; loyalty, devotion, duty, and guilt are themes that seem to stand out to me. all of which ultimately emerges from amir and hassan's relationship. hassan's loyalty and devotion to amir seems to be a mistake in the end. hassan shows his devotion to his "master" in many ways. for example, he protects amir from assef with his sling shot. however, the sad part is that when the tables are turned and hassan is in need of help, amir is not there. when hassan was being raped by assef, all amir could do was turn away and act as if he had not seen it happen. ultimately, if it wasnt for hassan's devotion to amir [getting the last kite], he wouldn't have been raped. even when he is no longer amir's slave and has his own family/new life, hassan still wonders about amir and if he is doing well in america. to amir, going to america was not just escaping danger but also escaping his problem. however, his guilty conscience still followed him. despite knowing that amir saw him getting raped and didnt do anything about it, he still cared for amir. for the most part, i find amir to be quite pathetic.

i also find the kites and the kite tournament to be a great symbol. the kite tournaments brought everyone together. for the most part, it brought what seemed like peace, especially before the fighting. amir winning the kite tournament brought him and baba together while also tearing him and hassan apart.

Shelby said...

The themes I see emerging are roles of books, literacy, father and son relationship, discrimination, friendship, guilt, prejudice, class structure and loyalty, devotion and duty.

The theme that sticks out the most to me is the master/slave relationships. Hassan is willing to do anything for Amir, and the same goes for Ali and Baba. Hassan goes through a lot for Amir, including sticking up for him against Assef, getting personally violated to make Amir proud of his kite running, and lying for Amir. Hassan is treated very unfairly by Amir, despite his never-failing loyalty. It shocks me how someone can be so heartless to someone who is so harmless and loyal. Amir never refers to Hassan as friend, even though Amir is Hassan's best friend. In return for Hassan's loyalty, Amir tricks Hassan with his reading, watches Assef rape him, and allows Hassan to take blame for something he didn't do. All of these things Amir did for his own selfish reasons.

A big symbol in these first ten chapters is the pomegranate tree. This tree symbolizes Amir and Hassan's friendship/relationship. Their names are carved into the tree, forever leaving a sign of their strong relationship. Amir reads to Hassan under the tree and first deceives him by making up his own story while 'reading'. This is also the first place where Amir tests Hassan's loyalty for himself. Although Amir never referred to Hassan as his true friend, this tree represents the real strength of their friendship.