https://padlet.com/carlie_kulivan/f4gqh4jucnui en-us 2018-10-16 15:08:30 UTC 2024-05-21 15:16:40 UTC hello@padlet.com carlie_kulivan https://padlet.com/carlie_kulivan/f4gqh4jucnui/wish/294133330 Baba and Amir live in Kabul, Afghanistan. Baba and Amir are Pashtuns and are on top of society. Baba is very wealthy and lives in a very large house with Amir. Baba's wife (Amir's mother) died during child birth while having Amir. Ali and Hassan are Baba's and Amir's servants who live in a small house on Baba's property. Baba and Amir struggle to connect and do not have the natural father-son bond. ]]> 2018-10-17 23:38:21 UTC https://padlet.com/carlie_kulivan/f4gqh4jucnui/wish/294133330 carlie_kulivan https://padlet.com/carlie_kulivan/f4gqh4jucnui/wish/294134791 Baba acts very coldly towards Amir because he is ashamed of his son. Amir's jealousy over Baba's attention started when he was very young and Baba was off building an orphanage. Amir is very jealous that Baba is spending time with other children and not with him. Baba does not understand why Amir is not more like him. Baba struggles with the fact that Amir is not interested in sports such as soccer, but is into reading and writing. Baba rarely acknowledged Amir's accomplishments in activities that Baba had no interest in. Amir feels much shame when Baba tosses the stories that he has written to the side. Amir struggles with jealousy over his father again with Hassan. Amir does not understand why Baba can never buy something just for him. Amir is envious of Hassan when Baba buys the same three kites for him as he does for Hassan. Amir mentions that he wishes Baba would buy only him a fourth kite. Throughout Amir's childhood, he has always felt as if he was not important to his father and never has his father's attention or approval. When Baba tells Amir that he thinks that Amir will win the Kite Contest this year, Amir makes it his mission to win the contest. Amir believes that if he wins this contest he will not be invisible in his father's eyes and finally fulfill his father's high expectations. Amir gains his father's approval by winning the Kite Contest, but allows Hassan to be raped in exchange for the final cut kite for Baba to be proud of him. Although Baba and Amir did not share many interests, they did share the hobby of Buzhaski which they watched together once per year. Amir cherished the time that he and Baba shared during Buzhaski. Baba lacks compassion and showing interest in son, which makes Amir become very jealous and a coward. Overall, Amir spent his entire childhood being neglected by Baba because Baba could not understand Amir and his interests. ]]> 2018-10-17 23:49:41 UTC https://padlet.com/carlie_kulivan/f4gqh4jucnui/wish/294134791 carlie_kulivan https://padlet.com/carlie_kulivan/f4gqh4jucnui/wish/294144898 The move to America to escape the Soviet Union invasion strengthens Baba's and Amir's relationship. Amir's love and admiration for Baba is truly seen in the move to America when Amir is forced to take care of Baba. Baba becomes more dependent on Amir when he needs Amir's help navigating in the new American culture and language. Baba relies heavily on Amir in the flea market. Baba feels very uncomfortable in the American crowd and leans on Amir. Amir is more sure of himself in America and branches out more. Amir's confidence in himself makes Baba very proud and improves their relationship. Amir wins Baba's approval again when he commits to marrying Soraya. By marrying Soraya, Amir proves to his father that he is a brave man. Although the move to America was frightening for Baba and Amir, it strengthened their relationship. Baba now had to lean on Amir for help in the foreign land of America. Baba and Amir realized that they only had each other, which united them as father and son.  ]]> 2018-10-18 00:33:56 UTC https://padlet.com/carlie_kulivan/f4gqh4jucnui/wish/294144898 carlie_kulivan https://padlet.com/carlie_kulivan/f4gqh4jucnui/wish/294151536 Baba has also looked down on Amir because he sees Amir as a coward. Amir craves Baba's approval and will do anything to get it. Baba does not show concern, sensitivity, and warmth towards Amir. Baba's lack of sympathy causes Amir to become a jealous coward. Amir is seen as a coward when he chooses Baba's approval over saving his best friend from being raped. Amir eventually sees Baba as a coward when he discovers that Baba has been lying about who Hassan's real father is. In conclusion, Baba preaches to Amir to always be a brave, honest man and to never be a coward when he himself was hiding a very large secret. ]]> 2018-10-18 01:10:13 UTC https://padlet.com/carlie_kulivan/f4gqh4jucnui/wish/294151536 carlie_kulivan https://padlet.com/carlie_kulivan/f4gqh4jucnui/wish/294159618 "Baba slapped my hand away. 'Haven't I taught you anything?' he snapped." This quotation reveals the stress and tension in Baba and Amir's relationship. When saying this, Baba view's Amir with disgust and looks at Amir as if he is a stranger. Amir feels as if he is seen as a failure in his father's eyes and will never live up to his expectations. Baba's feelings in this quote are expressed by his lack of approval of Amir, disgust, and lack of understanding. ]]> 2018-10-18 01:48:51 UTC https://padlet.com/carlie_kulivan/f4gqh4jucnui/wish/294159618 carlie_kulivan https://padlet.com/carlie_kulivan/f4gqh4jucnui/wish/294160573 "Baba and I lived in the same house but in different spheres of existence. Kites were the one paper-thin slice of intersection between those two spheres." This quote reveals the distant relationship between Baba and Amir. Amir sees the Kite Contest as the only chance to win Baba's approval. Baba does not care for Amir's interests and only pays attention when Amir is doing something that he approves of. Amir craves Baba's affection and attention and will stop at nothing to receive it. ]]> 2018-10-18 01:55:31 UTC https://padlet.com/carlie_kulivan/f4gqh4jucnui/wish/294160573 carlie_kulivan https://padlet.com/carlie_kulivan/f4gqh4jucnui/wish/294161360 "'Think of something good,' Baba said in my ear. 'Something happy'"
This quote discloses the beginning of the character change in Baba. With the frightening move to America, Baba realizes that Amir is all he has in this foreign land. Amir loves the affection and attention his father is giving to him during the move to America. ]]> 2018-10-18 02:00:21 UTC https://padlet.com/carlie_kulivan/f4gqh4jucnui/wish/294161360 carlie_kulivan https://padlet.com/carlie_kulivan/f4gqh4jucnui/wish/294161988 “He’s always buried in those books or shuffling around the house like he’s lost in some dream…I wasn’t like that.’ Baba sounded frustrated, almost angry." In this quote, Baba is venting to his best friend Rashim Khan because he is frustrated with Amir. Baba did not understand why Amir was not a reflection of himself. Baba wants a son to carry his name and his business, but Amir shows interest in other activities which causes Baba to not develop a bond with his son. ]]> 2018-10-18 02:04:42 UTC https://padlet.com/carlie_kulivan/f4gqh4jucnui/wish/294161988 carlie_kulivan https://padlet.com/carlie_kulivan/f4gqh4jucnui/wish/294162627

“If I hadn’t seen the doctor pull him out of my wife with my own eyes, I’d never believe he’s my son." Baba feels very emotionally distant from his son. Baba feels as if there is no real connection because he and Amir do not share common interests. The only connection that Baba feels toward Amir is that he saw Amir come from his wife. 

]]> 2018-10-18 02:09:00 UTC https://padlet.com/carlie_kulivan/f4gqh4jucnui/wish/294162627 carlie_kulivan https://padlet.com/carlie_kulivan/f4gqh4jucnui/wish/294163423 This is a picture of Baba looking down on Amir for his love of reading and writing. Amir feels neglected and full of shame. ]]> 2018-10-18 02:13:46 UTC https://padlet.com/carlie_kulivan/f4gqh4jucnui/wish/294163423 carlie_kulivan https://padlet.com/carlie_kulivan/f4gqh4jucnui/wish/294163440 This is a picture of Amir and Soraya at their wedding. Amir feels Baba's love and approval here. ]]> 2018-10-18 02:13:54 UTC https://padlet.com/carlie_kulivan/f4gqh4jucnui/wish/294163440 carlie_kulivan https://padlet.com/carlie_kulivan/f4gqh4jucnui/wish/294163799 This image shows Baba's reliance on Amir in America. Baba feels out of place in the flea market and relies heavily on Amir for guidance. As Baba gets older and becomes sick, he truly needs Amir's help in America.]]> 2018-10-18 02:16:15 UTC https://padlet.com/carlie_kulivan/f4gqh4jucnui/wish/294163799 carlie_kulivan https://padlet.com/carlie_kulivan/f4gqh4jucnui/wish/294164135 This image shows Amir finally receiving Baba's approval after winning the Kite Contest. When Amir was younger, Baba only showed interest, love, and affection towards Amir when Amir did something that met Baba's high expectations. When Amir wins the Kite Contest, he cherishes and chooses the moment of Baba's approval over his best friends childhood. ]]> 2018-10-18 02:18:40 UTC https://padlet.com/carlie_kulivan/f4gqh4jucnui/wish/294164135 carlie_kulivan https://padlet.com/carlie_kulivan/f4gqh4jucnui/wish/294165000 This is a video of Amir winning the Kite Contest. The look of pure joy is spread across his face as he has finally done something right and good enough in Baba's eyes. Baba is cheering up and down when Amir wins because his son has finally done something worthy. ]]> 2018-10-18 02:24:43 UTC https://padlet.com/carlie_kulivan/f4gqh4jucnui/wish/294165000 carlie_kulivan https://padlet.com/carlie_kulivan/f4gqh4jucnui/wish/294166187 In this video, Baba stands up for a woman because a man is treating her poorly. Baba believes in standing up for others and not being a coward. Amir is mad at his father for causing a scene and standing up for the woman. Baba is ashamed at Amir for not wanting to stand up for the woman and being a coward. ]]> 2018-10-18 02:32:39 UTC https://padlet.com/carlie_kulivan/f4gqh4jucnui/wish/294166187