Engraved in the Past

This picture represents Amir's relationship with his past and how instead of confronting it, he chooses to isolate himself. The sidewalk represents his path in life and the cracks engraved into the sidewalk symbolize the impact of his childhood, specifically with what happened to Hassan. It shows how the guilt of this event is permanent and will forever be engrained in his memory. The scooter represents how he wants to ride away from these worries, rather than face them and work through what is troubling him. The bareness around the scooter represents how Amir chooses to isolate himself from others rather than seek help, as he is unwilling to share his burdens and is afraid of how others might perceive him if he were to expose his situation. The helmet on the scooter symbolizes how Amir puts on a "helmet" in order to protect himself from the consequences he fears that will happen if he were to tell someone of the event. This is shown when Amir is given the chance to tell Soraya of his past, yet he halts himself as his guilt weighs him down and he is afraid of how she might view him if she knew the truth. Once Amir can remove himself from isolation by seeking some form of redemption, then he will be able to overcome his guilt.