Hassan's slingshot is significant in a couple of ways.
First, Amir discusses the slingshot in reference to his and Hassan's pelting animals
with it. They sit in a tree and aim their "weapons" at unsuspecting creatures below.
In this early scene from the book, the slingshot demonstrates Amir's control over
Hassan. Hassan is normally a kind, gentle soul, but when Amir suggests that Hassan do
something, Hassan often complies. So, even though Hassan thinks of his slingshot as a
toy and a skill that he can develop, Amir holds enough power over Hassan to cause him to
use the slingshot for whatever he wills.
Secondly, the
slingshot is Hassan's defense against Assef. Although Assef tries to act as if he is
unafraid of anything or anyone, Hassan is able to ward off the bully and his crew when
he and Amir run into them. Later, of course, Hassan's son Sohrab uses his slingshot to
injure Assef so that he and Amir can escape. In both incidents, a David-and-Goliath
battle occurs. Assef is big for his age in the early scene and still outsizes Amir and
Sohrab near the novel's end. But even Assef's giant-like bullying cannot stop a small
boy with a slingshot. In this aspect, the slingshot empowers the underdog, whether it
be Hassan or Sohrab, and advances one of the themes of the novel--the triumph of the
underdog (whether it be Baba excelling at business when everyone thought he would fail,
or Amir becoming a successful writer, or a small boy conquering a
sociopath).
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