Chapter 13

Chapter 13:

123.The laftz ceremony is also known as the “giving word” ceremony. This ceremony entails the acceptance of both families for the new member of the family (the husband’s family accepting the wife and the wife’s family accepting the husband) this differs from American customs because American families don’t necessarily abide by the strict ceremonies and don’t have to be approved of by the opposite family to be wed.

124.The memory that comes to mind during his wedding is one of Hassan. He wonders if Hassan married and whose face he saw in the mirror under the veil. He wonders who the woman Hassan married was and what she was like.

125.When Amir sees the leather bound book given to him by Rahim Khan he feels sad. He goes off to cry away from Baba and Soraya.  Even though they like his writings, he still is emotional about others reading it. Baba did not take any interest in him before… why start now.

126.General Taheri doesn’t work and Baba does. General Taheri is very restrictive of his family and Baba wasn’t as strict on Amir. Baba and the general share a common pride for the Afghani people and for their country.

127.The standards are seen in different customs for male and female in America verses in Afghanistan. Amir and Soraya like the American dream… the American customs. However, their parents conform to the traditional customs from their home in Afghanistan. They may have liked the idea of America but their traditoion made them proud. The segregation of the male and female roles are seen strongly in the characters of the General and his wife. While more American conduct is observed in Amir and Soraya.

128.The fact that the general makes Soraya cut off her hair shows that the General is strict with traditional customs and hard on his daughter. Amir is different from any Afghan guy she has met- he is not a traditional maniac, and he is still willing to marry her despite his faults.

129.The presents they get from Soraya’s parents are: a leather couch, a set of dishes, and a typewriter with a note. “Amir Jan, I hope you discover many tales on these keys. General Iqbal Taheri” This signifies their acceptance of Amir as a writer and that they are proud of his profession, unlike Baba.

130.Amir wonders if he deserves all of the happiness in his life. This relates back to the attack on Hassan.

131.Afghanistan was forgotten because of china, Tiananmen square and other news that “was more important.”

132.Soraya and Amir cannot conceive children. They try but to no avail. After tests with numerous doctors, no answer is found for why they cannot conceive. They consider adopting but through the general they decide that adopting may not be the best idea for them.