Friday, December 27, 2019

The Kite Runner By Khaled Hosseini - 1911 Words

The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini was published in May 29, 2003 by Riverhead Books and contains 400 pages. The story is about a privileged Pashun young boy Amir, who lives in Wazir Akbar Khan, a district of Kabul with his best friend Hassan, a Hazara who is the son of Ali, a servant of Amir’s father. The two boys spend their days kite fighting in Kabul. Hassan is a successful kite runner for Amir because Hassan always knows exactly where the kite will land. Amir s father, Baba, a wealthy merchant, loves both boys, but favors Hassan over Amir, because he thinks that Amir is weak and lacking in courage. Amir turns Rahim Khan, Baba s closest friend, for fatherly love because he is well educated and supports his interest in literature. One day while Amir and Hassan are playing, they run into Assef, Wali and Kamal, notorious violent boys, one who threatens to beat Amir up with brass knuckles for socializing with a Hazara. In the end, Hassan threatens to use his slingshot against Assef so the boys back down, promising revenge. The story then skips to winter where Amir wins the local kite fighting tournament and finally earns Baba s praise. Hassan runs for the last cut kite, a great trophy, saying to Amir, For you, a thousand times over. After waiting for Hassan for a while, Amir goes after him and finds Wali, Kamal and Assef in an alleyway, pinning Hassan to the wall. Hassan refuses to give up the kite, and Assef beats and rapes him. Amir witnesses the act, but is tooShow MoreRelatedThe Kite Runner, by Khaled Hosseini883 Words   |  4 Pagesregret from past encounters and usually feel guilty and bitter about the situation. The Kite Runner, by Khaled Hosseini, revolves around the theme of redemption. Redemption can be used as a cure for guilt. Throughout the novel, the author shows that redemption requires some sort of sacrifice and the only way that is possible is if you can forgive yourself from the mistakes you have made in the past. Khaled Hosseini effectively portrays redemption through motifs such a s rape, irony and flashbacks, symbolismRead MoreThe Kite Runner By Khaled Hosseini1651 Words   |  7 Pages  Ã‚  Ã‚   The novel â€Å"The Kite Runner† by Khaled Hosseini describes the life of a boy, Amir. Amir’s best friend and brother (although that part isn’t known until towards the end), Hassan, plays a major role in Amir’s life and how he grows up. Hosseini portrays many sacrifices that are made by Hassan and Amir. Additionally, Amir seeks redemption throughout much of the novel. By using first person point of view, readers are able to connect with Amir and understand his pain and yearning for a way to be redeemedRead MoreThe Kite Runner By Khaled Hosseini1655 Words   |  7 PagesSarah Singer Major Works Data Form Title: The Kite Runner Author: Khaled Hosseini Date of Publication: 2003 Genre: Historical Fiction Historical information about the period of publication: Since the September 11th attacks in 2001, the United States has been at war with Afghanistan. Their goals were to remove the Taliban, track down those in charge of the attacks, and destroy Al-Qaeda. Biographical information about the author: Khaled Hosseini was born in Kabul, Afghanistan, in 1965. HIs motherRead MoreThe Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini1098 Words   |  5 PagesIn The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini, we learn a lot about Amir the main character, and Hassan his servant/brother. In the beginning Hassan and Amir’s relationship was one of brotherly love despite the fact that Hassan was a Hazara and Amir a Pashtun. Back in the 1970’s race and religion played a big part in Kabul and these two races were not suppose to have relationships unless it was owner (Pashtun) and servant (Hazara). Baba Amir’s father had an affair with Hassan’s mother, but it was kept aRead MoreThe Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini1313 Words   |  5 Pagesis not unique to just J.K. Rowling. Khaled Hosseini also incorporates life experiences into some of his novels. A prime example of this is The Kite Runner. The storyline of this novel reflects his past to create a journey of a young Afghanistan boy, whose name is Amir. This boy changes drastically throughout his lifetime from a close minded, considerably arrogant boy to an open hearted and minded man. This emotional and mental trip is partially based on Khaled Hosseini’s own life. Throughout Hosseini’sRead MoreThe Kite Runner By Khaled Hosseini1908 Words   |  8 Pages​In the novel, â€Å"The Kite Runner†, written by Khaled Hosseini, was taken place in Afghanistan during the 1970’s to the year of 2002. Many historical events happened during this time period and Hosseini portrayed it into his novel. Kabul, the capitol of Afghanistan, was a free, living area for many Afghanistan families to enjoy the life they were given. Until one day, Afghanistan was then taken over and attacked. In the novel, Amir, the protagonist, must redeem himself and the history behind his actionsRead MoreThe Kite Runner By Khaled Hosseini1050 Words   |  5 Pagesâ€Å"There is a way to be good again.† (Hosseini 334). This quote given by Rahim Khan to Amir holds a great amount of force and symbolism. In theory, this quote symbolizes the beginning of Amir’s path to redemption. The eye-opening Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini tells about the struggles of Afghanistan before and during the Taliban, and one’s struggle for redemption and acceptance. With regards to the opening quote, some see Amir’s actions as selfish. However, others may believe that Amir truly changedRead MoreThe Kite Runner By Khaled Hosseini1583 Words   |  7 Pagesnovel the Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini, Amir, the main character, shares his thoughts and actions due to his poor decisions. The problems he encountered were all because of the sin committed in his youth. His sins taunted the beginning of his life and gave him a troublesome memory full of guilt. As the novel continued, Amir attempted to disengage the memory of his sin and forget about it. Amir then faced the long bumpy road to redemption. Khaled Hosseini’s novel the Kite Runner is about sinRead MoreThe Kite Runner, by Khaled Hosseini871 Words   |  4 Pagesthat person is trying to fix that mistake. This also applies to the novel The Kite Runner. The story revolves around the main character Amir, and his childhood friend, Hassan. After Amir came to America with Baba, his father, he still regrets the things he had done to his childhood friend. He left Hassan getting raped by Assef in a small alley in 1975. Thereafter, Amir always feel regret and seeks for redemption. Hosseini -the author, argues that redemption can be achieved by helping others, teachRead MoreThe Kite Runner By Khaled Hosseini3402 Words   |  14 Pagestitle â€Å"The Kite Runner† is symbolic as fighting kites and the kite runnings are impacting moments in the novel. Hassan was the best kite runner in Kabul, if not the whole country, after Amir won the kite fighting the running of that last blue kite triggered the monumental changes for Amir. For the beginning of the story the kite running was associated with Hassan’s rape and Amir’s grief. As kites appear throughout the story, they begin Amir’s story and also end it. Amir flying the kite with Sohrab

Thursday, December 19, 2019

An Analysis of Descartes’ First Meditation Essay example

Brian Snelgrove Introduction to Philosophy (Phil 100) Prof. Michael Rosenthal November 13th, 2012 An Analysis of Descartes’ First Meditation In Descartes’ First Meditation, Descartes’ overall intention is to present the idea that our perceptions and sensations are flawed and should not be trusted entirely. His purpose is to create the greatest possible doubt of our senses. To convey this thought, Descartes has three main arguments in the First Meditation: The dream argument, the deceiving God argument, and the evil demon â€Å"or evil genius†. Descartes’ dream argument argues that there is no definite transition from a dream to reality, and since dreams are so close to reality, one can never really determine whether they are dreaming†¦show more content†¦Descartes first presents this idea with the statement How often does my evening slumber persuade me of such ordinary things as these: that I am here, clothed in my dressing gown, seated next to the fireplace -- when in fact I am lying undressed in bed! (Descartes 490). By using an expe rience of his own, Descartes shows how dreams can be asymptotic to reality. Descartes implies that he often sits next to his fireplace, clothed in his dressing gown, so his dream that he is doing so is very believable. In conclusion, one cannot distinguish between a dream and reality because the gradient between them is so finitely small at times. To expand on his first argument, Descartes deceiving God argument states that our deceptions are caused by an all powerful God. Humans are capable of being deceived because we are imperfect, unlike God, who is essential flawless. If we can agree on the definition of God, an all powerful and omnipotent being who created us, then we can argue that he has the power to deceive even our most reliable senses. Descartes expresses his compounding doubts as How do I know that he did not bring it about that there is no earth at all, no heavens, no extended thing, no shape, no size, no place, and yet bringing it about that all these things appear to me to exist precisely as they do now? (Descartes 491). This excerptShow MoreRelatedAnalysis Of Descartes Meditations On First Philosophy Essay1758 Words   |  8 Pages The Role of God in Descartes’ Meditations on First Philosophy In his work Meditations on First Philosophy, published in 1641, Renà © Descartes sets out to establish a set of indubitable truths for the sciences. He begins by discarding all of his beliefs, then works to rebuild his beliefs based on careful thought. Descartes clearly states this goal, saying in the First Meditation, â€Å"I will work my way up†¦ I will accomplish this by putting aside everything that admits of the least doubt† (I, 17). HeRead MoreAnalysis Of Rene Descartes s Meditations On First Philosophy 1399 Words   |  6 Pages Rene Descartes was born in in La Haye, France, in 1596 and he studied at La Fleche Jesuit College and University of Poitiers. Descartes also lived in Germany, Holland and Sweden. He then worked in the army as a private councillor and then as a court philosopher. Descartes book ‘Meditations on First Philosophy’ was first published in 1641. The edition used to write this essay was edited by John Cottingham and was published by the Cambridge University Press in 1996. Descartes was the first philosophyRead MoreAnalysis Of Rene Descartes s Meditations On First Philosophy1066 Words   |  5 Pagesis reality? Among these writers were Renà ¨ Descartes and George Berkeley, who respectively argued that everything perceived must be real due to God being unable to deceive, and that the physical world only exists in one’s mind. In my view, it is not certain that the physical world is real, but one should act as if it is. Renà ¨ Descartes, in Meditations on First Philosophy, wrote each section after successive â€Å"meditations.† In Descartes’s first meditation, he claims it is unable to be proven whetherRead MoreDescartes’ Cogito Argument Successfully Shows the Evil Demon Argument is Unsound888 Words   |  4 PagesDoes Descartes’ Cogito argument successfully show that the Evil Demon Argument is unsound? In this essay I will attempt to show that the philosopher, Renà ¨ Descartes’ Cogito Argument successfully proves the Evil Demon Argument to be unsound. By an analysis of the structure of the arguments and what they prove, I will show the evil demon argument to be unsound. An argument is unsound when the premises as false and the argument is invalid. This analysis of both structure and content will eventuateRead MoreThe Nature Of The Human Mind878 Words   |  4 PagesRene Descartes second meditation is titled, Concerning the Nature of the Human Mind: That it is Better Known than the Body. In his second meditation, Descartes argues that the human mind exists merely by itself without any physical representation in the world. This argument lead to many of his later meditations and allowed him to really build the framework for Western Philosophy. The cogent argument is arguably the most crucial argument, which lead us to our philosophy of the mind. In some respectRead MoreDescr ibing a System of Knowledge 1447 Words   |  6 Pagesbehind Rene Descartes’, who is recognized as a prominent philosopher of the 17th century, attempts at creating a system of knowledge that can withstand even the most skeptical disbeliever in absolute truths. It is best to begin by describing this system of knowledge through the qualifications that an idea must pass in order to be in the system. An idea must be able to be defended in every way by a skeptic and in no way present any situation in which the idea could be proven false. Descartes describesRead MoreIn Philosophy, There Are Going To Be Some Agreements And1393 Words   |  6 Pagesall is Descartes’ and Spinoza’s take in regards to mind and body, and God and free will, God existence. I will compare and contrast Descartes’ and Spinoza’s perspectives on the relationship between mind and body, and God and free will. Maria, there is no fast way to explain all of this as this takes time, so please brace yourself as I hope to provide you with a better understanding of the agreements/similarities and disagreements/differences between the two philosophers’. Similarities Descartes andRead MoreThe On First Philosophy By Rene Descartes1699 Words   |  7 PagesIn his work Meditations on First Philosophy, published in 1641, Renà © Descartes sets out to establish a set of indubitable truths for the sciences. He begins by discarding all of his beliefs, then works to rebuild his beliefs based on careful thought. Descartes clearly states this goal, saying in the First Meditation, â€Å"I will work my way up†¦ I will accomplish this by putting aside everything that admits of the least doubt† (I, 17). He is able to establish his own existence, but struggles to move beyondRead More Weaknesses of Descartes Arguments Essays1641 Words   |  7 PagesDescartes was incorrect and made mistakes in his philosophical analysis concerning understanding the Soul and the foundation of knowledge.   Yes, he coined the famous phrase, â€Å"I think therefore I am,† but the rest of his philosophical conclusions fail to be as solid (Meditation 4; 32). De scartes knew that if he has a mind and is thinking thoughts then he must be something that has the ability to think. While he did prove that he is a thinking thing that thinks (Meditation 3; 28), he was unable toRead MoreDescartes Six Meditations on First Philosophy Essay1347 Words   |  6 PagesThroughout the six meditations on First Philosophy, French philosopher Rene Descartes seeks to find a concrete foundation for the basis of science, one which he states can only include certain and unquestionable beliefs. Anything less concrete, he argues will be exposed to the external world and to opposition by philosophical sceptics. The sense of the Cartesian reform is the imposition of a new method of thinking. Descartes’ method to begin with is reductive, removing all knowledge acquired without

Wednesday, December 11, 2019

The Anschluss free essay sample

This paper explains how Hitlers annexation of Austria was beneficial to Germany during World War II. This paper explains how the Anschluss, or the annexation of Austria to Germany, was one of the most important events in World War II. The author believes that had Hitler not taken over Austria, he would not have been able to gain as much power and domination over Europe as Austria provided the Nazis with land, people and natural resources. Annotated bibliography. Austrias land was a major advantage to the Nazis. Though the country is not enormous in size, its 83,858 kilometers gave Hitler land that he did not have before.(Steeb 1999, pg 2) The country, about the size of Maine made up for Germanys insignificant amount of land. The two countries together could make a much bigger empire then if they were not joined. With more land, the Nazis could take more power over Europe and expand out to other countries as well. We will write a custom essay sample on The Anschluss or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page

Tuesday, December 3, 2019

The Stranger and Emotions Essay Example

The Stranger and Emotions Essay The Stranger, by Albert Camus, is pre-existential novel centering around a   man named Meursalt.   Meursalt, the main character, is described as being logical, placid, and emotionless.   Camus is an Algerian writer born in 1913.   His early life was spent in poverty and through his experiences he developed a personal philosophy of hopeless optimism which is similar to the concept of existentialism displayed in his writing.   Camus suffered as a young adult losing his father in World War I   and had to work his way through his university studies which ended prematurity because he became sick.   I was through his experiences that he asserts that life is meaningless and absurd.   A major theme in Camus The Stranger is importance of having and understanding emotions.The setting of the novel is in Algeirs, Algeria, during the first part of the 20th century.   This particular time in history is defined and often referred to as French colonialism.   The majority of the c haracters are French.   The Arabs in the novel are not referred to by name which is reflective of the French attitude toward Arabs in.   The novel is written in first person narrator through the eyes of the main character, Meursault, from his jail cell.   He is waiting to executed.   Much of the first chapters are flash back where Meursault recounts the events of his life and the actions which brought him to prison.As the novel begins Meursault is seen as an emotionless man.   He has walked through life with little understanding of his emotions.   However, once imprisoned he has time to think about his life and his lack of true feeling.   He displays indifference many times throughout the novel.   It is not until, his life might be taken that he finds emotion and truly understands them.   It is only after a rough confrontation with a priest that Meursault is able to break into his emotions and they come flowing out.   Meursault experience in life and in death par allel the levels of existential though.   Once he is able to make sense of his past, and understanding his emotions he is able to to meet his fate head on. There are really two Meursault in this story.   The first is the repressed individual who had gone through life indifferently, never taking the time to invest himself, emotionally or otherwise, in anything real or time worthy.   Even after his mother dies, he is emotionless. His reaction to his mothers death in the very first paragraph of the book is to say, Today, Mother died. Or maybe yesterday, I dont know. I received a telegram. He is unable to express grief as well as love.Marie, the girlfriend of the main character, knows that Meursault does not love her.   She simply pretends because she is content with her position.   Lack of emotion also plagues her. A conversation between the two follows â€Å"a minute later she asked me if I loved her. I told her it didnt mean anything but that I didnt think so. She looked s ad. But as we were fixing lunch, and for no apparent reason, she laughed in such a way that I kissed her (Part 1, Chapter 4, pg. 35). She is in an indifferent relationship with a man that is unable to express love for her.   It is only after Meursault is imprisoned that she seeks out a new relationship with a man that is able to love.   She finally came to understand her emotions and her emotional needs.In contrast to Meursault, who feels nothing, Raymond feels too much.   He is an abusive man who beats his wife.   He is unable to control emotions.   He is so emotional he plots revenger against her to degrade her.   He [Raymond] asked if I thought she was cheating on him, and it seemed to me she was; if I thought she should be punished and what I would do in his place, and I said you cant ever be sure, but I understood his wanting to punish her (Part 1, Chapter 3, pg. 32 ). Raymond is the polar opposite of Meursault who does not want to hurt anyone because he does not ca re and is not in touch with his true emotional self.The climax of the novel is intense and is essential to the transformation of Meursault.   The climax occurs when Meursault kills the Arab. Camus writer (His) whole being tensed and (he) squeezed (his) hand around the revolver. The trigger gave (59).   This is the turning point in multiple ways.   It is the end of the flashback portion of the novel.   It is also the beginning of Meursault journey into the level of existentialism.   These stages leave to his emotional release and ultimately, Meursault understanding his emotions.   Camus writer as if that blind rage has washed me clean, rid me of hope; for the first time, I that night alive with signs and stars, I opened myself to the gentle indifference of the world. Finding it so much life myself so like a brother, really I felt that I had been happy and that I was happy again. For everything to be consummated, for me to feel less alone, I had only to wish that there b e a large crowd of spectators the day of my execution and that they greet me with cries of hate (Part 2, Chapter 5, pg. 122-3).The theme of emotion is supported by major literary elements within the text.   Imagery is extremely important in developing this theme.   The images for the most part are in black and white represents Meursault emotional state.   In particular this imagery shows his responses to the physical environment which parallels his emotional state.   The explanation given for shooting the Arab is â€Å"because of the sun†.   The bright and glaring sun represents the rageful emotion being experience but repressed by Meursault.   When the main character feels, but represses, his feeling of grief at the funeral.   What he does feel is hot and tired.   This symbolizes his true feelings which is unable to express, or understanding.   In addition, Meursault speaks in concise none complex sentences.   This symbolizes Meursault lack of emotional d epth.A major theme in Camus The Stranger is that of the importance of emotions and what happens when those emotions are not expressed.   Through the duality of Meursault and his character development the reader is able to see his journey through indifference, accountability, and, ultimately, true understanding of his emotions.   This theme is supported by the character of Raymond which is Meursaults foil or exact opposite.   He represents what happens when an individual feels too much.   In addition, the imagery in the text also revolves around hidden and repressed emotion.   It is not just the understanding of emotions but confrontation of emotion that must occur for an individual to fully understand the absurdity of life.   There is no book that I know of that better captures modernitys sense of spiritual dissolution than The Stranger. Meursault is quite weary, after so many centuries. He has had enough. This novel is well worth the time and a great read.Works CitedCam us, Albert. The Stranger. Trans. Matthew Ward. New York: Vintage International, 1989.