Reflect on how the concept of physical, outer journey; and an emotional and intellectual journey unfold in the novel.

Reflect on how the concept of physical, outer journey; and an emotional and intellectual journey unfold in the novel.

My name is Sohrab and I am the son of Hassan. I am presently living in America but the story of how I got here is an unforgettable journey for me both physically and emotionally. When I was a child living back in Kabul, my father used tell me many stories of his childhood, most of which was spent with his best friend Amir, who is also my half-uncle as I have recently found out. Life back in Kabul was a struggle to say the least. The Taliban were the cause of all our problems. When I was very young we moved into Amir agha’s old house so that we could watch it for Rahim Khan. The Taliban came in and ordered us to leave, but when my father refused, they killed him and my mother both. That left me as an orphan and I was taken into an orphanage with many other children that didn’t have parents just like me. One day, a man came and took me from the orphanage and took me to his home. Even though life in the orphanage was a challenge, I would much rather life there than live with that abusive man, Assef. He abused me and hurt me in many ways. This experience was definitely a rollercoaster ride for me both physically and emotionally. Losing my parents to begin was an emotional drawback for myself and adjusting to life without them was an apparent struggle for myself. Physically, I struggled when Assef captured me and physically abusing and hurting me. I had no choice but to endure this pain, or he would’ve just killed me. When Amir agha came to my rescue, I didn’t know whether it was safe to trust him, but I felt as though I had nothing to lose so I didn’t hesitate. Amir agha presented me with the opportunity to heal physically and emotionally. He pleaded for me to go back to America with him and he promised he would make my life better. Coming to America was a challenge and Amir agha worked very hard to bring me here. I am deeply sorry to Amir agha for having caused him so much trouble by attempting to commit suicide. The reason for that was I couldn’t bear the thought of going back to an orphanage and having the slightest chance having a repeated experience of all the things that happened with Assef. Life in America is much different, and Amir agha is trying very hard to make me feel at home and safe. Amir’s wife, Soroya jan is a very nice lady. I have taken myself into a dark place and isolated myself from everyone, but one day I hope to work my way out of this emotionally depriving place and live a normal and happy life with my new parents Amir agha and Soroya jan. 

http://campusprogress.org/articles/the_challenges_of_adopting_afghan_children/
This article basically outlines the difficulties of adopting a child from Afghanistan, just like Sohrab in this story. We saw that it was a struggle for Amir to bring back to America with him, but he did so with a lot of hard work and struggle. 

How is the resilience of the human spirit developed in the novel? How do the characters show their determination to break through the barriers of reality and set themselves or others free from all that burdens them?

How is the resilience of the human spirit developed in the novel? How do the characters show their determination to break through the barriers of reality and set themselves or others free from all that burdens them?

My name is Rahim Khan and I am a very close friend of Baba and also his business partner. I spent a lot of time with him and I feel as though he and his son, Amir, are my family because I spend so much time with them at their home. Amir is a very talented young fellow. Although his father thinks otherwise, I see that Amir will go far in life as a writer. He may not know it himself yet but there is a lot of talent locked up in that tiny body of Amir. Life in Kabul had gotten worse and worse because of the Taliban and one day, Baba thought it would be best to take Amir and head off to America where they could seek a better and safer life for themselves. I stayed behind and moved into Baba’s house to take care of it for them. Baba lived the life of a king here in Kabul. He was a very wealthy man and very highly respected by his peers. All of this did not move to America with him. When Baba left for America, he was forced to leave his whole life behind in Kabul. I talk to Baba on the phone every once in a while and I can tell, having been so close to him, that life has become a struggle for him and his son. Money, which was abundant for him in Kabul, here, now is scarce in America. He must work at a gas station for long hours just to keep a roof over their heads and sometimes that isn’t even enough to feed them. I remember Amir was recently telling me that Baba had gotten into an argument with the owner of a market because she was making it difficult for him to make a deal with him to pay her back later. It is not hard for me to realize that life is not easy for him now but he tried his very best to give Amir a good education and keep him happy. All of a sudden, he got sick and was diagnosed with a type of cancer, probably from all the smoking. This did not stop him from working hard for him and his son, Amir. He worked day in and day out until his health didn’t permit him to do so.  He was a very resilient man because despite his obstacles, he worked hard and died knowing that he left his son with a good education, brought him to a safe America, and married him to a wonderful young woman. This morning, I felt the need to call Amir in America. He doesn’t know I know this, before he left for America, he didn’t not leave in a good state of mind. He had a huge burden that h was bearing that he did not take care of before he left, which was his relationship with Hassan, who was his best friend and though he does not know yet, was also his half brother. I know to this day that he wishes he had saved Hassan from Assef when he raped him and regrets not doing anything, but what’s done is done and there is nothing that can be done about it. Hassan has a son, which him and his wife left as an orphan when they were killed. That poor child, Sohrab, is now missing as he has most probably been captured by members of the Taliban. Amir finally has an opportunity to make things right between Hassan and himself by finding Sohrab and taking care of him, to show the love and respect he has for Hassan. I am sure that Amir will take this opportunity, being a little reluctant at first, and save Sohrab, just as Hassan saved Amir from Assef that day. This is why I called Amir today and asked him to come back to Kabul so he could “make things right.”

http://www.military.com/NewsContent/0,13319,202225,00.html
This webpage consists of an article that talks about a real family that came to America as refugees to live in their dream country and life in a safe country. There are many connection that the family in this article can make to Amir and Baba such as the fact that when they come here they apply for low end jobs which in Baba's case was working at a gas station. 

Discuss the issue of ethics and the concept of free will in relation to the characters and the events in the novel

Discuss the issue of ethics and the concept of free will in relation to the characters and the events in the novel.

My name is Hassan and I am a Hazara, living as a servant in a very rich man’s home in Kabul. My father, Ali, is a best friend of Baba, the man that we work for. Baba has a son named Amir. I consider him and I to be best friends. We are so close that I can say we are almost like brothers. Amir and I go out to play everyday and we spend all our time together, except the time that he has to go to school and I must stay at home helping my father. One day, no different from any other day, we went out to play when suddenly we ran into Assef and his friends. Assef is the son of a very wealthy man here in Kabul and his mother is a German woman. He is also not a very kind boy. All the boys that live in Kabul live in fear of him as he loves to torment the children in the neighborhood, including Amir and I. Bumping into Assef could never be good, and I witnessed that first hand today. As usual, Assef threatened made some remarks about me, and how Amir should not be playing with a Hazara of all people. Assef went on to make a few more rude comments and at the end he began to threaten Amir that he was going to beat him and I up. I could not stand to see them bullying Amir agha the way that they were. I pulled out my slingshot at that moment and flung it Assef’s eye as a way to protect Amir. We then ran away with the words from Assef saying he will get us back. Today, I experienced the free willed nature of Assef. He feels as though he can do whatever he wishes and get away with it, as he does. Amir agha was flying kites and I was running them for him as always. I was so proud of Amir today as he won the competition and beat the blue kite in the sky. I was more than happy and obliged to run that kite for him. It was late and this blue kite had flown quite a distance, but despite that I still went, as I would do absolutely anything for Amir. On the way I ran into Assef. It definitely was not my lucky day. Assef said he would get me back for the slingshot and so he did. I knew whatever Assef would do, would be horrible and I had to take it. This time Amir was not with me and it was three against one. I had no choice but to face the punishment. It is as if this boy does not even know right from wrong, and even if he did, it is as if he doesn’t care at all. He had no shame in removing my pants and raping me in front of his friends as well. In terms of morals, I would say that he has none at all. He is such a free willed spirit, and not in a good way. I feel as though the fact that he has no morals causes his free will to steer him in the direction of making bad choices that hurt others. I think the part the hurt the most was the fact that Amir agha saw all this happen. I felt bad that he had to see this but I do not blame him for not helping me. Even if he tried, all that would have happened was Assef would have probably done the same to him. Amir agha is a sweet and innocent soul, he definitely has his morals straight unlike Assef but he just lacks the confidence to stand up to bullies such as Assef. I don’t think Amir knows I saw him hiding behind the corner but I definitely see in his eyes that he wished he had helped me. I doubt life will ever get back to the way it used to be between Amir agha and I simply due to the guilt he has within him and I am simply not the same anymore. I have been hurt in a way that has scarred me for my life.

This video is about bullying. The way that Assef treated Hassan was bullying both physically because he raped him, and emotionally because stereotypical remarks are made about the fact that Hassan is a Hazara and he shouldn't be friends with Amir.

Playlist

I Won’t Give Up- Jason Mraz

Amir changes his mind about Sohrab as the story advances and he feels a strong connection towards Sohrab near the end of the novel. The fact that Amir was willing to put so much time and effort into finding this young boy showed the resilient spirit that exists within Amir. Amir never gave up on trying to adopt Sohrab and bring him back to America to live with him. He never gave up on Sohrab. This song also shows the determination within Soroya and Amir that they won’t give up on trying to get Sohrab to speak.

Realize- Colbie Caillat

When Amir brings Sohrab back to America with him, Sohrab seems to be mute. This leaves Soroya and Amir yearning for Sohrab to speak to them, smile, and love them back. They want him to be happy and to show that he his happy. They want him to know that they are on his side and that they love him dearly very much. This song shows that they yearn for Sohrab to understand and realize that they are on his side and that they will protect him no matter what.

Sorry- Buckcherry

After the incident when Amir sees Hassan getting raped by Assef, Amir is filled with guilt for not doing anything to save Hassan from Amir. He just hid nearby and watched everything that happened. This song expresses the regret Amir has within him for not saving such a great man such as Hassan, who did absolutely anything ad everything in his power to keep Amir safe and happy.

You’ll Be In My heart- Phil Collins

Amir and Hassan both have a very strong attachment to each other and see themselves as best friends. We can see that is true through the events that take place in this story and through the fact that Hassan will do absolutely anything to help or save Amir. Although Hassan has passed, their friendship continues to live on through his son Sohrab and the bond between them will eternally last and Hassan will always be in the heart of Amir.

Sunday Bloody Sunday- U2

A major theme that is consistent throughout this story is war and violence. The overall setting is taken place in a war country, Afghanistan, and the war is the cause of many events in this story such as the cause for Baba and Amir fleeing to America, and the cause of Amir going back to Kabul to look for Sohrab. This song gives a taste of life during war explaining the consequences of war.