Amir being Hassan’s brother is significant as it makes what he did to him all that more powerful. Instead of betraying and lying about his slave, he has betrayed and lied about his own flesh and blood. This is ironic as Amir has stated time and time again that he had never considered Hassan his friend, let alone his brother, but Hassan always considered Amir to be his brother. The ironic twist that Amir actually betrayed his brother and that he let his brother die acts as a way to fuel his redemption. It is also ironic as Hassan and Amir had not previously known of their blood ties as a result of the lie Baba perpetuated throughout their lives. This acts as evidence that even a man as great as Baba has things that he is ashamed of.
This makes me re-evaluate the entire story as it connects Amir and Hassan yet again. Despite Amir’s attempts at separating himself from Hassan, he is always pulled back towards him, ironic since Soraya’s father once said that blood is powerful. Since they are now brothers, I see his path to save Sohrab as not a choice, but a mandatory quest. This gives a new atmosphere to the story as, for once, Amir is saving Hassan and not the other way around.
If I were to find out that I had a sibling who was someone I knew all along, I would be surprised and pissed off at the same time. It wouldn’t have been something I could’ve guessed, but I also would be quite angry at the person who had kept that secret from me.
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