JavaScript seems to be disabled in your browser. For the best experience on our site, be sure to turn on Javascript in your browser. Parents Home Homeschool College Resources. Study Guide. By Khaled Hosseini. Previous Next. Chapter 9 The day after his birthday party, Amir opens all his presents. He gets two from Baba: a Schwinn Stingray, which is "the king of all bicycles," and a brand-new wristwatch 9. He throws most of his gifts in the corner because he realizes Baba wouldn't have thrown him such a lavish party if he hadn't won the kite-fighting tournament.
While everyone is sleeping, he says aloud that he saw Hassan raped, hoping someone will hear him. But no one does, and Amir recognizes that his curse is getting away with it. Rather than gain everything he wants, Amir loses the happiness he had. At first, he tries to keep away from Hassan, who becomes a constant reminder to Amir of his own cowardice and selfishness. But Hassan is a part of the household, so Amir can never escape him completely.
When the two are face-to-face, Amir wishes Hassan would punish him. He pelts Hassan with the pomegranates, for instance, because he wants Hassan to hit him back. Punishment, Amir feels, would at least begin to make up for the way he wronged Hassan. Hassan, however, will not retaliate, and this becomes the greatest torment for Amir. Hassan proves his love and loyalty to Amir are unshakable, whereas Amir proves that his love and loyalty are weak.
Amir cannot tolerate this truth and engineers a plan to make Ali and Hassan leave. Yet his guilt is only heightened when Hassan admits to stealing the money and watch. Amir recognizes that Hassan is sacrificing himself again, despite knowing that Amir did not do the same for him when he was raped. There are also more examples in this section of the injustices against Hazaras. Similarly, to resolve the tension between Hassan and Amir, Ali decides that they will leave.
But perhaps the most poignant image of the injustice toward Hazaras is the moment Amir witnesses Hassan serving drinks to Assef and Wali from a silver platter. Hassan cannot do anything about the rape because of his inferior status as a poor Hazara, and Assef, whose family is rich and powerful, knows it. Hassan dutifully serves Assef, the boy who raped him, and Assef expresses no remorse or shame during the encounter. Instead, he grins at Hassan and kneads him in the chest tauntingly with his knuckle.
Ace your assignments with our guide to The Kite Runner! SparkTeach Teacher's Handbook. What happened to Hassan in the alley? Why does Rahim Khan lie about the American couple? Why are Ali and Hassan both deformed? Why do Amir and Baba go to America? Why does Amir sometimes treat Hassan badly in childhood? Why does Amir want Hassan to hit him with pomegranates? The day after his birthday party, Amir feels as if all of his gifts — except the notebook from Rahim Khan — are blood money gifts.
Although Amir receives a new copy of Shahnamah from Ali and Hassan, that generous gift is not enough for Amir to change his plans. One night, he casually asks his father if he has seen his new watch. The next morning, when Hassan and Ali are shopping, Amir enters their living quarters and plants the watch and some money under Hassan's mattress. Amir does not anticipate Hassan lying about stealing the money and watch. Amir realizes that Hassan is sacrificing for him one last time. And Amir does not anticipate Baba forgiving Hassan.
Unbeknownst to Baba, Amir realizes that Ali now knows the truth about what has happened and must have been convinced by Hassan to not accuse Amir. Amir watches as Hassan and Ali pack all of their worldly belongings into one suitcase before Baba drives them to the bus station.
Amir describes this scene as if it were a movie, yet this movie has no happy ending.
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