A summary of Part X (Section7) in Jhumpa Lahiri's The Namesake. Learn exactly what happened in this chapter, scene, or section of The Namesake and what it means. Perfect for acing essays, tests, and quizzes, as well as for writing lesson plans.
The Guide warns Gawain that the Green Knight is the most horrible creature in the world, dangerous, wild man who loves to kill, bigger and stronger than four of Authors a ruthless man who kills priests, peasants and monks, and states that killing is …
Chapter 4 opens with the back story of Ali, who was orphaned and welcomed into the home of Amir's grandfather, a respected judge. Ali and Baba grew up as playmates. Yet Amir comments that Baba never refers to Ali as his friend. Amir rationalizes this due to the history of the region, their religions, and their culture.
While Amir and Hassan are young and carefree and as close as a servant and master can be , they carve their names in the tree, and it bears fruit. Thus, the tree symbolizes their relationship. Years later, after Hassan is dead and Amir is wracked with guilt, the tree — just like Amir's memories — still exists but no longer bears fruit.
The two main kite fights in the novel — the tournament Amir wins and the one at the end of the book — not only also represent Amir and Hassan but also symbolize the juxtaposition of roles, for at the end Amir has become the kite runner.
The scar Amir has after being beaten by Assef symbolizes his brotherhood with Hassan.
Amir wants Hassan to hit him with the pomegranate fruit in order to inflict a physical punishment and lessen his guilt ; instead, Hassan breaks the fruit over his own head. Amir's Scar.
The Kite Runner . Kites and everything associated with them (kite flying and kite fighting) are the most important symbols in the novel.
For Gogol realizes that the Ratliffs are fundamentally a different family from the Gangulis. They observe different social codes, different traditions. And for Gogol, mourning is not something to be done alone, in comfort. It is instead a public act of grieving, done close to one’s blood relations. Maxine, despite knowing Gogol well ...
For Maxine, despite her best efforts, cannot know a part of Gogol’s world, especially the part that becomes present during periods of mourning—a complex set of social rituals to be observed by direct family members only. Finally, the idea of solitude and human bonds reemerges.
Although Maxine does not always understand the ceremonies in which Gogol and his family takes part, she does her best to talk to Gogol in his grief, and to look out for his wellbeing as she might imagine her own, in similar circumstances. But this is precisely the problem.
The traditions do not, perhaps, mean so much to him in themselves—it is not that, overnight, Gogol becomes an observant and faithful practitioner of Bengali religious rites. But the ceremonial aspects of his father’s mourning period are important to him.
Hassan's response to Amir's story furthers his character's development. Hassan's line, "people…will read your stories" not only foreshadows Amir's future vocation but also illustrates Hassan's knowledge, insight, and dedication to Amir. Unlike Amir, Hassan is not morally ambiguous.
Amir writes his first short story, attempts to share it with his father but instead receives encouragement from Rahim Khan. After receiving the note of encouragement, Amir wakes up Hassan and shares his story with him. Hassan loves the story but also points out "the Plot Hole" that Amir had missed.
Amir rationalizes this due to the history of the region, their religions, and their culture. Amir describes his relationship with Hassan and the role each played in the daily workings of their lives. Education, and the lack thereof, is a major difference between the two boys.
Amir would later placate his own guilt by giving Hassan an old shirt or broken toy. Hassan's favorite book is the Shahnamah, and his favorite story is "Rostam and Sohrab," the story of a father who knowingly kills a man who is unknowingly his son.
Unlike Amir, Hassan is not morally ambiguous. Instead, his character serves as a foil to demonstrate Amir's shortcomings and to provide a point of comparison. Throughout The Kite Runner, Hosseini blends character, plot, and thematic development, while intermixing flashback with foreshadowing.