Support:
All throughout his life, Amir has always been supported and has never done anything for himself. This is shown when Hassan steps up to Assef when Assef and his friends are harassing Amir. In the picture, the cement outline at the base of the tree show that it helps support and protect the tree from harm until the tree is fully grown.
Outward Appearance:
As a child, Amir constantly feared how other perceived him. For example, he would never play with Hassan in public for fear of being judged for having a Hazara friend. This is demonstrated through the tree because plants are judged solely based on outward appearance, just like how Amir views himself. He feels that it is accomplishments and success that would bring approval from Baba, but in hiding his true self, he betrays his only friend and puts onto himself a world of guilt and regret.
Solidarity:
Even through Hassan and Amir grew up together, Amir has always felt alone because he has never had anyone outside of Baba, Rahim Kahn, and Hassan. In the picture, the lone tree shows that Amir is standing alone even though he has grown as a person. Amir always pushes the people he cares the most away because he does not feel like he is “worthy” of friendship.
I thought that your connection of this picture to Amir's solidarity was very unique. The shadow cast by this tree also reminds me of Amir's dark past which follows him wherever he goes.
ReplyDeleteI like how you divided the post into a few different parts and that each one connects to a different part of the picture. I think that a connection could be made between Amir stepping out of his comfort zone to find Sohrab and the tree growing beyond the concrete.
ReplyDeleteI really like how you compared the tree to Amir wanting people to only see him on the outside and how he has hid who he really is. I didn't think of that but it is a really good comparison.
ReplyDeleteThe symbolism with the tree was really interesting in drawing parallels to Amir's distanced character. Another connection could be how the shadow represents the weight of his guilt holding him down.
ReplyDeleteI really liked how you fully analyzed the meaning of the photograph by breaking it down into individual sections. I think another meaning of this metaphor could be that the tree growing from the concrete is like he is breaking free from traditional societal expectations, and flourishing.
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