Quotations Chapter 21-25

"A man who has no conscience, no goodness, does not suffer." p. 301

• Amir reads the letter Rahim Khan wrote to him explaining important information.
• Rahim Khan is relating this quote to the experience that hasn't left Amir's mind since it occurred. He is basically saying that if Amir hadn't been feeling terrible about not sticking up for Hassan years before, then Amir wouldn't be a good person. Amir has suffered all these years but it means he knows he can do better and has a conscience. 

"Perspective was (is) a luxury when your head was (is) constantly buzzing with a swarm of demons." p. 356

• Amir talks about Sohrab's struggle to bring himself back to the real world.
• Sohrab is always reminded of what he is been through and cannot get it off his mind. He can't answer questions or give his perspective because he always has it on his mind. 

References 21-25

Les Miserables; p. 328

• "A Les Miserables poster was nailed to the wall behind Andrews next to a topographical map of the U.S." p. 328
• Les Miserables was a french novel and later made into a musical.

September 11, 2001; p. 36(could not find in book)

•  Terrorist training camps were built and stationed in Afghanistan. September 11th 2001, the day two planes were flown into the World Trade Center in New York City, and a plane crashed into the pentagon. This caused lots of destruction and deaths. After 9/11, the taliban refused to hand over Osama Bin Laden which lead to a United States led coalition military campaign.

Chapter 21-25 Questions

1. In chapters 21-22 the cruelty of the Taliban is clearly in evidence by the look of the destroyed villages and broken-down soviet tanks.

2. Amir finally sees Sohrab and realizes that Assef is the Taliban official. My reaction to Assef's reappearance as a Talib was I was very surprised. He justifies his transformation by using an epiphany he had in jail. No, I don't think this is a transformation because just because he is in a different setting doesn't mean he actually changed.

3. Three turning points of the plot are: Assef and Amir meeting up again which was awkward and still hadn't settled the past, Amir and Assef fight, and Amir and Sohrab run off together.

4. I was very shocked when I read what Rahim Khan had sent to Amir. I didn't see it coming, and I think it was perfect timing for Amir to get this letter. I think Baba is a good man, just because he makes a mistake doesn't mean he is a bad person.

5. In a way, I think there are parallels between the concept of my parents and Amir and Baba's. Amir tried so hard to impress or please Baba, but never felt like it was enough. I can relate to this.

6. Amir and Sohrab travel to Islamabad to get away from the violence and get to safety. Amir means by, "there are a lot of children in Afghanistan, but little childhood," that kids don't get to have much of a childhood in Afghanistan due to the unsafe conditions and violence. Hassan's childhood ended early due to getting raped and Sohrab was in an orphanage and then was sexually abused by Assef.

7.  A mullah is a muslim who is educated in islamic theology.

8. Raymond Andrews is the U.S. Embassy and in the book he is the one who proposed an idea to Amir on how he could get Sohrab to America.

9. Soraya agrees to adobt Sohrab.

10. Soraya's uncle Sharif helps Sohrab by getting him into America.

11. Amir promises to Sohrab that he will never go to the orphanage again, but he finds out he might have to in order to get him to America.

12. Sohrab tries to kill himself in the bathroom, this is significant because Amir is really trying to pay Hassan back for the sin he made and he is trying to make Sohrab's life better.

13. For the first seven months Sohrab is in Chicago he is very quiet, he hardly ever talks.

14. General Taheri is worried about a Hazara living with Amir. Amir tells him that he is not to refer to Sohrab as a Hazari boy.

15. They gather at Lake Elizabeth Park for Afghan's New year.

16. Sohrab sneaks a smile when Amir runs the kite for him.

17. This is another full circle because Amir runs the kite for Sohrab, just like Hassan did for Amir.