At the end of chapter 17, Rahim Khan drops the bombshell on Amir that Hassan is actually his brother. Explain the significance and irony of this revelation. How does this make you re-evaluate the entire story up to this point? How would you react if you discovered something similar about your own background or family? Discuss.

In Chapter 17, Amir finds out that Hassan has been shot and when he finally he asks about Sohrab, learns that he was taken to an orphanage, and hears Rahim’s request: he wants Amir to go to Kabul and bring Sohrab to Peshawar, where an “American couple” would welcome him into their home.

Although Rahim continues to tell Hassan‘s story here, the perspective is returned to Amir so that he can show his reactions. Amir doesn’t seem to have much of an outward reaction to Hassan’s letter. Instead of asking about anything specific, he asks Rahim a very general question, almost as if he doesn’t believe what he had read, this is also shown through his need to read the letter twice. However, some may argue that his lack of questions could be due to the fact that Hassan answered many of them. But in contrast to the many questions Hassan asked, it makes Amir seem less caring and enthusiastic towards his friend. Amir’s reactions to Rahim’s request show how cowardly and privileged he is. He doesn’t want to go to Kabul because it is a dangerous place, and is not willing to risk his life just to save Sohrab. His suggestion to pay someone else to go comes from growing up with servants who did all the physical work so that his life could be safe and easy. This made me reconsider everything I have learned about Hassan. The fact that Hassan was actually Amir’s half brother must have been such a painful truth for Amir. It would have been difficult for Amir to accept it and he must have doubted Rahim. However, Amir should man up and own up to the fact that Hassan has done everything for him and it’s time to do something and pay him back.

Personally, if I had been told something like that, I would be really confused. Given the situation, Amir has a right to be frustrated and angered. He had just found out something that shows how his entire childhood was based on a lie. It would be reasonable for him to freak out and not accept any outrageous demands. 

link to rough draft: https://docs.google.com/document/d/17sfSqX__UugqRgHwBeimyfm6yXgMkO8J0yiCiSUBHqE/edit

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