~Question 6~

Amir understands the sacrifice of the sheep to be similar to the rape of Hassan, because he sees them as to be used for a higher purpose. At the Afghan celebration a sheep is to be killed because the people of Afghanistan would like it for a purpose beyond living. Amir says that the sheep understands that this is happening to it, because the sheep knows that it is going to be killed for a good reason. Amir puts parallel the sheep and Hassan because they are both less than the average Afghan citizen and they are both around for another purpose beyond just living. Hassan is a servant for Amir and his father, Baba and when he sees the rape going on in the alleyway he sees the servant in Hassan who is at a lower standard than Assef and his friend. Amir thinks that Hassan is going to be fine with this occurence because he realizes that he is only a "servant" and Assef and his friends are "Pashtun." Even before the incident with Hassan, Amir always saw Hassan as a "servant" when he was around other people, but a "friend" when they were by themselves. Amir does not have the ability to see Hassan as a loyal friend at all times for fear that he will not be accepted by his own kind. I think that this way of thinking plays a big part in both the rape of Hassan and the killing of the sheep. He does not want to feel bad for either of them because they are lower than him. Amir has the being that sees people and things, for the lowest standard they can be, which is one of his major downfalls.