Overall, chapters six through ten were a good read apart from chapter seven which left me with a bad taste in my mouth. Through the duration of this chapter I had an unexplainable gut-wrenching feeling because of the uncensored atrocity that is the rape scene. After completing the chapter I had this bad feeling that something awful is to come. I cannot put into words though how disgusted I was. It got to the point where I only read because I knew I had to, to finish this entry; otherwise I would have left the book. For then next week, I couldn’t as much as look at the book without cringing. Hassan’s rape triggered a very strong feeling of anger and hatred, because of how offensive the scene was. The most poignant quote for me was:
“He unzipped his jeans. Dropped his underwear. He positioned himself behind Hassan. Hassan didn’t struggle. Didn’t even whimper. He moved his head slightly and I caught a glimpse of his face. Saw the resignation in it. It was a look I had seen before. It was the look of the lamb” (Hosseini 81).
I found this quote incredibly sad. Especially the last few lines of it. Inside of me swirled feelings of hopelessness and anguish, because I wanted to help the character escape, but I knew it was just a story. The interesting part of this passage is the shortness of the sentences. I believe this is due to the fact that the author had a hard time writing this chapter, but only finished because it was essential to the book’s storyline. One interesting part of the quote above was the line, “It was a look I had seen before. It was the look of the lamb” (81). I viewed this as a subliminal reference to the bible; the way Hassan was very silent and gentle, yet strong, even though he was involved in one of the most degrading acts, if not the most that is known to man. This parallels Jesus, and the way he was exploited, violated, and degraded but still remained at silent and peaceful. The character that most aggravated me was Amir. The way he did absolutely nothing, just standing there as Hassan was brutally raped. How could someone not get involved and fight for his friend. Through chapters one through five, I held some lingering distaste towards Amir, but now that distaste has turned to hatred and disgust. I wonder what will become of Amir and Hassan in the chapters to come.
