The Kite Runner - Chapter 4

SUMMARY-  Chapter four starts with an explanation of how Ali came to live with Baba. Amir says that he has never heard Baba refer to Ali as his friend, and that he doesn't see Hassan as HIS friend either. This suggests that the ethnic differences between the Hazara and the Pashtuns is too great for an friendship. Hassan does not go to school, so Amir reads to him. Amir is somewhat cruel when reading Hassan, and mocks him for his limited vocabulary. Hassan inspires Amir to write a story, that he reads to him. Hassan is greatly complimentary of Amir's story, but points out a flaw, which angers Amir. At the end of the chapter Afghanistan "changed forever", page 30.

ANALYSIS- Chapter Four involves a lot of foreshadowing the future.

Hosseini starts the chapter with an explanation of how Baba met Ali. In this story, the cultural differences are highlighted by the fact that Baba and Ali are not 'friends' and neither are Hassan and Amir. This is not necessarily something a Western reader can identify with, so it could lead to the reader disliking Amir. It does, however, build sympathy towards Hassan which is something Hosseini does throughout the novel to create more of an impact on the reader, as Hassan's miserable future unfolds.

Amir reads Rostam and Sohrab to Hassan, which involves betrayal. This is Hassan's favorite book and it foreshadows Amir's betrayal of Hassan. It can also be seen that Rostam killing the man he didn't know to be his son, is foreshadowing Baba abandoning Hassan, who could not be openly be known as Baba's son.

When Hosseini shows Amir to mock Hassan while reading to him, he is already showing the reader between Amir and Soraya, who later talks of her patience and love for teaching. Hosseini makes the character of Amir seem very unlikable with this contrast, so he can grow as a character, becoming more likable (bildungsroman)

At the end of chapter four Hosseini just says that Afghanistan changes forever. Not specifying leads the reader into suspense.

-Ronnie