Focus on page 174. What does Amir realize about Baba?
Later he says "I realize how much of who I was, what I was, had been defined by Baba and the marks he had left on me" (174). Think about yourself? Do you share Amir's realization? How have your parents/loved ones defined you?
13 comments:
Amy
Amir realizes that Baba influenced many aspects of his life and much of what of Amir is known as is because of Baba. Putting myself in Amir's shoes, I can agree that how my parents are, molded who I am. For example, my mom is very loving and nice and extremely funny. My mom's humor and looks have been imprinted on me. Plus, my mom is a teacher and has helped many struggling kids, whether it was personal issues or educational issues, my mom always tried to help. I had always admired that about her, and I think that's what encourged my desire to be a teacher.
Carole Surfus...
I am very much in agreement with Amir. My father was a lot like the character of Baba. He was hard for me to relate with, he was more often dissappointed in me than not, he worked for everything he earned, and he was one of the most selfless people i knew. Every thing my father said to me/did with me has shaped me in some way. I learned from all the lectures and bloomed whenever he showed me his affections. He made me the respectful person i am today and always will be.
So long as I am in Starke County, I am defined by my last name. Both sides of my family are very large, but it is the Palm side that is known, most likely because it is spread throughout the country in just about every occupation. My dad has five siblings, four of which are men. So when I walk into a new place and people hear my name they ask "Which Palm are you related to?" or "Are you related to Mike, Danny, or Joe?" My cousin (before they were married) all shared my last name too, so I was known by teachers as being related to them. It's something I'm used to, but it is also something I wish to escape from as well. I love it and hate it at the same time.
Bethanie
Up above is mine again.
Darienne
I think that this statement holds true for everyone. We learn by observing and understanding the actions of those around us. For instance, I developed a lot of my diction based off of my mother's. Often times people will comment that I sound just like her, because we both have a similar vocabulary and inntonation, not because we have similar voices. I have also defined myself through morals and ethics that have been taught to me by my grandmother. My open mindedness is a trait I developed from my mother. My aspirations to be different have also been gained from observing the mistakes and flaws in my family. A lot of who I am is defined by things, both good and bad, that I have learned from my loved ones.
Elisabeth,
Amir finally realizes just how important and the influences Baba had not only on his life, but on the lives of others as well. He also realizes how respected Baba was and how much he helped others. Amir finally sees how much Baba had to go through in his life and how many "bears" he had to wrestle, but Baba never was slowed down by these, but acted the complete opposite and became stronger because of them.
I sort of share Amir's realization because your parent's raise you to become the person you are today. Sometimes people even define you by who your parents are and by what they do. On the other had I still think you are your own individual and sometimes make decisions based on what you think and not by what your parent's think.
Tabi
Amir realizes that Baba was the guiding light of his life. Baba tried to clear the pathways of Amir's future and raise him as a man. Amir finally sees that no matter how different he seemed to be from his father, Baba was still the potter that formed the clay pot known as Amir. It's the same way in my family. Without realizing it my parents are slowly forming my siblings and me into what they want us to be. No matter how different I try to be, I still have their blood running through my veins and at times their thoughts running through my head.
I honestly can't relate...I'm not defined by my last name in Indiana probably because I'm from Chicage and have no family members living anywhere close to here. Most of my family I don't even know. I've never known my father's side of the family. I'm nothing like my biological mother. She's had a rough life, but I don't think people care enough for her to have a reputation. So I think people see me for me. I'm the only female in my family that's going to graduate high school so far. My biological mom never graduated. And the rest of them got GEDs. So I don't see how they define me.
Elisabeth,
I've been waiting for somebody to point out that Amir finally realizes that life hasn't been that easy for Baba either. Do you think this realization in part is because Amir is now an adult?
Darienne
@ Nameless Anonymous
But hasn't their flaws driven you to be someone better? Has your father's absence somewhat defined your view on relationships? "Marks" aren't always cut and dry. You may define yourself to be unlike them, but that means that they have still made an impact on who you are.
Ashlie McGuire
Baba was Amir's guide throughout life, even if he didn't realize it sooner. Baba's opinions guided Amir's decisions. Baba apparently loving Hassan more than Amir drove him to framing Hassan for theft. Amir wanting Baba's approval led him to sacrificing his best friend.
My parents are the main reason that I am me, but I would never hurt other people to gain their approval. I'm more like my father than I am my mother, just like I get along better with him than I do her, but I'm still quite a bit like her. I look like both of my parents, and it does annoy me at times. I have many traits from both of them as well. From my mother I get her caring, her compassion, and her love of reading. From my father I have inhereted the knowledge of knowing when the time has come for me to keep my mouth shut, but generally not listening to that thought. I have his temper in some ways, but mine is far less heated than his. They have both shaped me in other ways too. I look at them quite a bit and think of the things they do, that I pray I never do. They both scream first and find out what happened later. My mother does tend to pay more attention to her computer and the facade of a happy family she has put up to actually pay attention to her "happy" family. My dad is with someone that he doesn't love anymore, but he's not trying to get out of the relationship. Both of my parents don't get along with their mothers, and my father never made up with his while he had the chance. I am defined by their good in me, as well as some of the bad, but I am also defined by what I see as bad in them and will never let be a part of me.
Jasmine Duplechin
@Darienne
lol my bad I forgot my name. :) yes I suppose that the things they have done has driven me to do better. Good point.
Shayna
I have been waiting for Amir to say something like this. Baba has shaped him in many ways into the young man he is. Amir was known as Baba's son in Kabul, Amir was important because Baba was important. Amir finally realizes that Baba has had such a large infulence on the way Amir has developed and who he has become today. I myself am so much like my grandfather. He has raised me to always express my opinion but in a compassionate way when they may be harsh. Everyone is influenced by their family in one way or another. I have bad influences and good ones as does everyone else, you just have to know how to hold back on the bad ones. I share so much in common with my grandmother also, she raised me to be just like her. I am so much like both by parents and that is because they have made me the person i am today, and i admire them both for what they have been able to accomplish with me.
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