"We may be hardheaded and I know we're far too proud, but, in the hour of need, believe me that there's no one you'd rather have at our side than a Pashtun" (160). In terms of Amir, how is this quote ironic?
13 comments:
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said...
Katelyn Peters
In this quote Baba is basically explaining the makings of a true Pashtun. They irony is that his own son, Amir is none of these things. Amir is definately not the type of person you would want "in the hour of need", he has already proved that. When his best friend Hassan was in his hour of need, he betrayed him and ran away.
Kierstynn Combs This quote is ironic because Amir is Pashtun but he does not have these qualities. Amir is not hard headheaded or too proud. In Hassan's hour of need, Amir did nothing. Amir was not the one Hassan needed at his side. Even though Amir is not what Hassan needed, Amir is probably what Hassan wanted. Hassan maybe thought Amir would have done something. Hassan would have wanted Amir to be at his side but really Amir wouldn't have been the best choice.
You have a great point. Baba has this picture of a Pashtun and his own son isn't fitting the bill. I think its part of the reason why there is a tension between the both of them.
I agree with you two that Amir is not the person you'd want to be standing at your side in the hour of need.
Even more so, in the beginning of the novel, it was a Hazara who was at Amir's side in his times of need. Hassan, a Hazara, always came to the rescue.
The Pashtuns hardheadedness and pride doesn't make them heroes. It just makes them blind to the fact that they're not invincible and that other people are capable of helping.
Amy This quote is ironic because as Katelyn and Kierstynn said before, Amir is neither hardheaded nor proud. Baba is describing how Pastuns are the people you would want in an hour of need. The irony is, in Amir's case, that in his "hour of need" it was a hazara that helped him. Poor little Hassan had not only sacrificed himself to Assif, but also knowingly lied to Baba to prevent Amir from getting in trouble. Although Amir is higher on the social ladder because he's Pastun, he would be the last person I would want in an hour of need, seeing that he couldn't even defend someone who was like a "brother".
Bethnaie- Major irony, because Amir can't own up to being proud to be a Pashtun, because according to his father's definition of one, Amir isn't Pashtun. He is not proud, or hardheaded. He is meager compared to his father, and a selfish coward. He ran from his chance to prove himself as a loyal Pashtun, leaving his best friend alone to fight his own battles. Amir may have been wanted there by Hassan, but he sure wasn't there.
LaTausha: To Hayley, I agree completely with you arguement. It was not a Pashtun, it was a Hazara. Hassan is described in this quote, not a Amir. So if it was the way of a true Pashtun, why was Hassan not considered a Pashtun. The irony in this is, Amir is described in any part of this desciption. He is not hardheaded, too proud, or honorable. So how is he a Pashtun, other than by being a decedent of a Pashtun.
You make a very good point by saying that, "The Pashtuns hardheadedness and pride doesn't make them heroes. It just makes them blind..." And it is true. In order for me to want a Pashtun on my side, I would want them to get over their hardheadedness and bigheadedness and learn that you can't discriminate or not save them from rape just because they come from a different background. I'm sure Hassan would have preferred anyone but as Pashtun in his time of need.
I think you hit the nail on the head for both reasons.
One, Amir is Pashtun and he is a self proclaimed "coward" and, in my opinion, weak in both mind and body. He still isn't able to live up to his mistakes and confess what he did to Sonraya. Instead, he just envies her "courage". Not to mention, his "innards role" every time he is in a vehicle when he's nervous. That's not the kind of guy I'd want to have my back.
Two, the only people who have ever been on "[their] side" were Hazaras. Both Ali and Hassan, would have done and did do everything in their power to make Baba and Amir happy. Amir had been cared for by Hassan, a Hazara, for much of his childhood. The only Pastuns that were described were in fact bullies and very much on the opposite "side".
13 comments:
Katelyn Peters
In this quote Baba is basically explaining the makings of a true Pashtun. They irony is that his own son, Amir is none of these things. Amir is definately not the type of person you would want "in the hour of need", he has already proved that. When his best friend Hassan was in his hour of need, he betrayed him and ran away.
Kierstynn Combs
This quote is ironic because Amir is Pashtun but he does not have these qualities. Amir is not hard headheaded or too proud. In Hassan's hour of need, Amir did nothing. Amir was not the one Hassan needed at his side. Even though Amir is not what Hassan needed, Amir is probably what Hassan wanted. Hassan maybe thought Amir would have done something. Hassan would have wanted Amir to be at his side but really Amir wouldn't have been the best choice.
Katie
to Katelyn
You have a great point. Baba has this picture of a Pashtun and his own son isn't fitting the bill. I think its part of the reason why there is a tension between the both of them.
Are we talking only about 12 year old Amir? What about the adult Amir?
Hayley Windbigler
@Kierstynn and Katelyn
I agree with you two that Amir is not the person you'd want to be standing at your side in the hour of need.
Even more so, in the beginning of the novel, it was a Hazara who was at Amir's side in his times of need. Hassan, a Hazara, always came to the rescue.
The Pashtuns hardheadedness and pride doesn't make them heroes. It just makes them blind to the fact that they're not invincible and that other people are capable of helping.
Amy
This quote is ironic because as Katelyn and Kierstynn said before, Amir is neither hardheaded nor proud. Baba is describing how Pastuns are the people you would want in an hour of need. The irony is, in Amir's case, that in his "hour of need" it was a hazara that helped him. Poor little Hassan had not only sacrificed himself to Assif, but also knowingly lied to Baba to prevent Amir from getting in trouble. Although Amir is higher on the social ladder because he's Pastun, he would be the last person I would want in an hour of need, seeing that he couldn't even defend someone who was like a "brother".
Bethnaie-
Major irony, because Amir can't own up to being proud to be a Pashtun, because according to his father's definition of one, Amir isn't Pashtun. He is not proud, or hardheaded. He is meager compared to his father, and a selfish coward. He ran from his chance to prove himself as a loyal Pashtun, leaving his best friend alone to fight his own battles. Amir may have been wanted there by Hassan, but he sure wasn't there.
LaTausha:
To Hayley,
I agree completely with you arguement. It was not a Pashtun, it was a Hazara. Hassan is described in this quote, not a Amir. So if it was the way of a true Pashtun, why was Hassan not considered a Pashtun. The irony in this is, Amir is described in any part of this desciption. He is not hardheaded, too proud, or honorable. So how is he a Pashtun, other than by being a decedent of a Pashtun.
Kaitlyn Betz: To Hayley Windbigler
You make a very good point by saying that, "The Pashtuns hardheadedness and pride doesn't make them heroes. It just makes them blind..." And it is true. In order for me to want a Pashtun on my side, I would want them to get over their hardheadedness and bigheadedness and learn that you can't discriminate or not save them from rape just because they come from a different background. I'm sure Hassan would have preferred anyone but as Pashtun in his time of need.
Darienne
@ Hayley
I think you hit the nail on the head for both reasons.
One, Amir is Pashtun and he is a self proclaimed "coward" and, in my opinion, weak in both mind and body. He still isn't able to live up to his mistakes and confess what he did to Sonraya. Instead, he just envies her "courage". Not to mention, his "innards role" every time he is in a vehicle when he's nervous. That's not the kind of guy I'd want to have my back.
Two, the only people who have ever been on "[their] side" were Hazaras. Both Ali and Hassan, would have done and did do everything in their power to make Baba and Amir happy. Amir had been cared for by Hassan, a Hazara, for much of his childhood. The only Pastuns that were described were in fact bullies and very much on the opposite "side".
So what lesson can we learn from this?
Darienne
@ Mrs. Matysak
Genetics and stature (whether it's political, religious, or social) does not necessarily indicate their couragousness.
-their
+one's
:-)
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