Wednesday, March 19, 2008
Wednesday's question...
America acts as a place for Amir to bury his memories and a place for Baba to mourn his. In America, there are "homes that made Baba's house in Wazir Akbar Khan look like a servant's hut." What is ironic about this statement? Why do they go to America? (I mean, they could go anywhere, right?)
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This is ironic because Amir always looked down upon Ali and Hassan's hut, and thought no one could ever have more money than Baba. They go to America because it is "the land of opportunity". Baba wanted to give one last present to Amir - the present of living free and having a great future.
Amir always pictured his father as one of the wealthest men in all of Afghanistan. While he was living in Afghanistan he explains his house as one of the most luxurious places, as a mansion. He never imagined in his entire life that he would see a house that was much more extravagant than his house in Afghanistan. Amir always looked at himself as superior to the servants that lived in the servants mud houses. Now he thinks of himself no better than a servant once he arrives in America. He sees America as a change for the better because he no longer has to live with his past. He can now move on and have the gift of education, something that will actually make Baba proud of moving to America.
The statement is very ironic because Baba's house in Afghanistan was considered to be the equivalent of a mansion there. In chapter one, Amir stated, "Everyone agreed that my father, my Baba, had built the most beautiful house in the Wazir Akbar Khan district, a new and affluent neighborhood in the northern part of Kabul." He continues to describe how some thought it was the prettiest house, with intricate tiles, a broad entryway, marble floors, a crystal chandelier, and gold-stitched tapestries. Amir was very affluent in Afghanistan and lived in the largest, most intricate home;yet, in America, he is amazed by the large mansions. One would think that, based on the conditions of his previous house, Amir would not be amazed by American mansions. Baba chose to go to America because he knew Amir would have a chance to live his dreams there. America is considered the land of freedom and opportunity, where anyone can rise to the top. Therefore, as a last gift to Amir, Baba moved to America, where he knew Amir could have a future. Furthermore, Baba believed that America, Britain, and Israel were the only "real men" in the world. He agreed with many of America's viewpoints, and considered America to be a safe haven for him.
This is ironic because in Pakistan they were important people, with a house that was one of the grandest in the area. Now, as immigrants in America, Baba and Amir have something similar to the status of a servant in Pakistan, yet are living better, in a grander house. In America, even if a person comes from no where, they can build their fortune and move up among the system. Now, Amir can no longer feel superior, and he is able to learn social classes aren’t as important as he thought.
Amir and Baba go to America because during this time, America is a safe haven. Baba is intelligent, he believes in justice, equality, and has a forward way of thinking; the same ideals as in America. He does not share the same beliefs as many of those in the Arab countries, either. America has always been the land where you can start over, and Baba knows that they can survive there.
This statement is ironic, because the house they used to live in was like a palace. It was the biggest and the most beautiful house in their town. Amir and Baba's apartment in America could not be compared to their old house. It was very small, dirty, and smelly, just like the servent's hut Hassan and Ali used to live in. Baba's final gift to Amir was moving to America. They chose to go to America, because in this land, Amir now has a chance of getting a great education and a strong foundation for his future.
It is ironic because all of their lives, Amir and Baba were top dogs in their society. Their house was always the biggest and the best. Baba was also one of the most respected men in Kabul. Now as Immgrants to America they are more like the Hazzaras. They aren't respected and they don't live in such an extravagant house. Amirs life is almost the opposite of what it was when he gets to America.
This statement is ironic because of the status that Amir and his father had. They were the rich ones. They had a big luxurious house and were used to that lifestyle. Most of their lives they also lived and to an extent disrespected their servants. These servants were a lot farther down on the totem pole. When Amir and his father moved to America they lived the life of the people they had waiting on them. This was not a bad thing because the moving to America was good for Amir. He was free, didn't have to deal with war, and was able to get education. Now that he was in America he was also able to start over and forget the things he did back in Kabul.
This statement is ironic because Baba and Amir used to be of high social class and wealthy in Kabul. Now in America there are houses much bigger than the one they had in Afghanistan and they are living in an apartment. It is ironic that they would move away from Kabul where they had the high quality life to live in America where Baba is forced to work at a gas station and live in an apartment. They went to America for education and opportunities and to get away from the war going on in Afghanistan, especially for Amir.
This is ironic because Baba was the wealthiest, highest respected man in the neighborhood, and everyone regarded his house as a amazing and beautiful house. Amir and Baba lived a luxurious lifestyle and were seen as top notch citizens. Everyone in the Wazir Akbar Khan district looked up to them with the highest respect. Baba and Amir went to America because America is the land of opportunity and freedom, and Baba wanted Amir to have that chance to become something. Baba gave Amir the gift of a future that led to success.
Amir's house was always larger than the houses around it, and he and Baba were the richest people in the region. He looked down upon the mud houses servants lived in. When he comes to America, he notices that some people around him are much more affluent than he ever has been. This is ironic because he never considered himself as less rich than anyone. They go to America for the promise of a good future and to escape their prosecution in Afghanistan.
This statement is ironic due to the fact that Amir had never known anyone more wealthy and famous than his own father, Baba. But as they go to America to find freedom, the tables turn and Amir realizes that in America, anyone can build a huge fortune with their lives. Although, Amir is not upset at all because of this. Baba gave him a true gift by going to America and Amir is honored. Amir can now get a real education while living in Amierca which will be one of the best gifts a person can receive. Also, they left to get away from all of the war and trauma going on back in their hometown of Kabul. Now they live in an apartment which is a lot smaller compared to the huge palace that they used to live in. But America is now a place where Baba and Amir can find a new life, a new future, and new expectations that they will surely look forward to as their lives go on.
The irony in this statement is that Amir once looked upon his house as one of the most beautiful and grand in Afghanistan. Yet during his stay in America, the houses seemed smaller, "like a servant's hut." Irony exists in there because it was Hassan who onced lived in a servant's hut. In a way this could be Amir telling us he is still being pursued by a shadow of guilt; a guilt caused by his disloyalty to Hassan.
Amir and Baba went to America because of the violence brewing in Afghanistan. America was chosen probably due to the fact the author's family was granted political asylum in the United States from the turmoil in Afghanistan.
That staement is ironic because he was always so proud of Baba's home and so proud that his was big, and he was rich. Amir thought of his servent's hut (Hassan and Ali's home)as small and unworthy almost. No he says that his ome was like a servent's compared to the homes in America. Ironic.
It seems to me that when people think immigration, especially for freedom, they find America as the place to go. They here about religious freedom, oppurtunity, good homes, and good food. So, they choose America because everyone chooses it. They have family or friends who have made a life in America, and so Amir and Baba decide they could too.
I mean why not, they find so many friends there, a little Afghan community too.
Sorry this is very late, I didn't know it was here.
Amir's statement about the size of the houses in America is ironic because Baba's home in Wazir Akbar Khan is always the biggest. Amir is proud of his huge house, and feels superior knowing that no one in his village has a bigger house than him and his father. In the statement, Amir also uses the words "servant's hut." Apart from showing how miniscule Amir and Baba's house is compared to the homes in America, this is also ironic because Hassan and Ali lived in a servant's hut right next to Baba's house. Amir alsways views the hut as small and inferior to his own home, showing that Amir will now know what it is like to live in a house lesser than those around it. Baba and Amir immigrate to America because Baba knows that Amir will be safe there. His life can begin anew in a country where he will not have to fear for his life. Baba beliees that America is the best place to go because he shares the country's beliefs in freedom, and believes that Amir will have the most successful life there.
This statement is ironic because in Afghanistan, Amir lived a higher class lifestyle that other citizens in Wazir Akbar Khan could only dream of having. Amir lived in a home fit for royalty that resembled a palace. Not only did he have an extravagant house but he also had servants working for their family and an endless supply of money to purchase whatever they wanted or needed. After arriving in America, Amir realized that his life was the total opposite of his life in Afghanistan. Now that Amir and Baba are in America, Baba works six days a week for twelve hours each day at a gas station while Amir continues to study at school. They live in a one bedroom apartment that is probably a sixteenth of the size of their previous house in Wazir Akbar Khan.
Baba and Amir go to America because America is a land where they can start fresh. Baba makes sacrifices to give Amir the opportunity to educate himself to have a great future such as being a lawyer or a doctor even though Amir wants to be a writer.
Having Amir describe houses as "homes that made Baba's house in Wazir Akbar Khan look like a servant's hut" is ironic because of Amir's status in Afghanistan. There, he had two servants, Ali and Hassan and Amir had always looked down on their simple home. Amir lived in a big house and had a lot of money. In America, Amir is now in the "servant" position when he used to be of a higher rank.
Baba and Amir go to America in order to escape from the Russian occupation of Afghanistan. Baba chose America because he had the idea that living there would be good. In chapter 11, it says, "Baba loved the idea of America," stating the reason for why he chose to move there.
This is ironic because Baba and Amir were the richest and had the most beautiful house in their town. Now that they are in America, Baba and Amir's apartment can be compared to Hassan and Ali's hut. They are at the bottom of society in America as Hassan and Ali were in Afghanistan. Baba and Amir go there because it is somewhere safe. America is a free and safe country and was always looked upon that way. Since Baba could afford to go there, he did because he wanted Amir to have a good life that Afghanistan at that time couldn't provide.
It's ironic because Amir and Baba were so wealthy in Afghanistan. They were on top in terms of social class. And when they go to America, they are suddenly at the bottom.
They went to America to escape the dangers of Afghanistan. Also, to get a better life for Amir.
It's ironic because Amir and Baba were so wealthy in Afghanistan. They were on top in terms of social class. And when they go to America, they are suddenly at the bottom.
They went to America to escape the dangers of Afghanistan. Also, to get a better life for Amir.
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