Socratic Seminar questions for The Kite Runner, Ch. 8-9

“I thought about Hassan’s dream, the one about us swimming in the lake. There is no monster, he’d said, just water. Except he’d been wrong about that. There was a monster in the lake. It had grabbed Hassan by the ankles, dragged him to the murky bottom. I was that monster.”

Khaled Hosseini, The Kite Runner, p. 86

Group 1: Amir isn’t the one who hurts Hassan. Yet he stands by and does nothing – at the time, or afterward -- while his closest friend is being raped. He will feel guilty about this decision for the rest of his life.

To what extent is Amir responsible for what happens to Hassan? In thinking about your answer, you may wish to consider:

  • What might have happened if Amir had tried to rescue Hassan.
  • How Amir feels about Hassan – whether he sees him as an equal and a friend, as a servant, as a rival for his father’s affection, or all of the above.
  • How Amir and Hassan behave after the incident.
  • The distinction between doing something wrong (a crime of commission) and failing to do something right (a crime of omission).

“I thought about something Rahim Khan said just before he hung up, almost as an afterthought. There is a way to be good again.”

Khaled Hosseini, The Kite Runner, p. 2

Group 2: After witnessing Hassan’s rape, Amir distances himself from his friend – refusing to spend time with him, behaving cruelly to him and finally accusing him of theft. He believes he is doing the right thing by trying to have Hassan sent away, but still feels like a monster.

What must someone do in order to atone for a heinous crime? Are some crimes, by their very nature, unforgivable? In thinking about your answer, you may wish to consider:

  • Whether you believe Amir acts primarily out of selfish motives or out of concern for Hassan’s safety.
  • What it would take for Amir to earn Hassan’s forgiveness – and whether Hassan should forgive Amir for what he has done.
  • Whether Amir is primarily responsible for what has happened, or whether he and Hassan are caught up in a much larger conflict.
  • What Amir might be willing – and able – to sacrifice in order to achieve redemption.

During the seminar, each participant MUST provide:

  • At least one example drawn from The Kite Runner (it does not have to be from Ch. 8-9)
  • At least one example from the supplemental materials provided in class.