The Sling shot

3. The Sling shot

The nature of children in the world is playing. During their childhood, Amir and Hassan are little boys who like to play around the neighborhood: climbing tree, annoying neighbor‟s

dog, watching new films in the movie, flying kite, and others. Sometimes, Amir would ask Hassan to use his slingshot to shot neighbor‟s dog or anything else. It is mentioned that Hassan is

very deadly with the slingshot. However, when Amir asks Hassan to shot his slingshot on something, Hassan would do it even though he is reluctant to do it.

“Sometimes, up in those trees, I talked Hassan into firing walnuts with his slingshot at the neighbor‟s one-eyed German shepherd. Hassan never wanted to, but if I asked, really asked,

he wouldn‟t deny me. Hassan never denied me anything.” (Hosseini 4).

Later, when they both get warned by Hassan‟s father because of what they do is wrong, Hassan would take all the blame on him as if shooting on the dog is his idea. Hassan prefers to take all the blame on him because the way I see it, Amir‟s words are like command to Hassan.

There are two important parts in the story where the slingshot is mentioned. Both these parts involve Assef. Therefore, when we are discussing about slingshot, then it is necessary to mention Assef before explaining the part in which the slingshot being used and the relation with Assef. Assef is one of the neighborhood boys Amir and Hassan know. Wherever he goes, he is There are two important parts in the story where the slingshot is mentioned. Both these parts involve Assef. Therefore, when we are discussing about slingshot, then it is necessary to mention Assef before explaining the part in which the slingshot being used and the relation with Assef. Assef is one of the neighborhood boys Amir and Hassan know. Wherever he goes, he is

is an Afghan. Through Amir, Assef is described as a “sociopath.” He is infamous around the neighborhood boys for his stainless-steel brass knuckles which he would gladly use to hit other

boys. He is also notorious as Assef “The Ear Eater. Once, he fights with a boy over a kite. The fight ends up with the little boy‟s right ear detached from the position it should be. All the boys

are afraid of him (Hosseini 38).

The very first time Hassan uses his slingshot for defense reason is when he and Amir are being threatened by Assef. One day, when they are on their way their way to their tree, they meet Assef accompanied by Walidan Kamal. Hassan is so frightened of Assef that he is hiding behind

A mir‟s back. Later on, Assef picks his stainless-steel brass knuckles with the intention to beat Amir up because Amir always plays with a Hazara boy, Hassan. For Assef, who admires Hitler very much, a Pashtun should not get along with Hazara, because Hazaras are dirty bloods. It is narrated that Assef really meant to hurt Amir. However, all of a sudden, Hassan moves behind Amir. He pulls his slingshot facing Assef, ready to shoot him if he dares to hurt Amir.

Assef gritted his teeth. “Put it down, you motherless Hazara.” “Please leave us be, Agha,” Hassan said. Assef smiled. “Maybe you didn‟t notice, but there are three of us and two of you.” … “You are right, Agha. But perhaps you didn‟t notice that I‟m the one holding the

slingshot. If you make a move, they‟ll have to change your nickname from Assef „the Ear Eater‟ slingshot. If you make a move, they‟ll have to change your nickname from Assef „the Ear Eater‟

(Hosseini 42)

As he threatens Assef, Wali, and Kamal, the three of them become twitch. This is very surprising since Assef is someone all the boys in the neighborhood are afraid of. However, the skinny Hazara is dare enough even though he is very nervous and scared at the same time. Hassan does this to protect himself and Amir, especially because Amir is in danger that Hassan stands for him.

The scene between the skinny little Hazara and the tall yet terrifying Assef unavoidably reminds me of the epic story between David and Goliath. Hassan resembles David while Assef resembles to Goliath. In first book of Samuel chapter seventeen, the story about David against the giant Goliath in the battlefield is mentioned. Goliath of Gath, in the book, is described as Philistine‟s champion, fully dressed in armor, six cubits and a span in height. For forty days he is humiliating the Israelis. Nobody from Israeli‟s troops dares to fight against the giant (Korfmann 35). This is a similar situation compares to the story: Assef is the tallest of all the boys in the neighborhood, all the boys are terrified of him including Amir and Hassan. Even the adult Assef who has become the leader of Taliban is a terrifying person feared by the society especially because of his cold-bold style of leadership (Hosseini 271).

On the other hand, totally different impression is shown through David. David is the eight son of Jesse which makes him the youngest one. Perhaps, due to his position as the youngest son, David is assigned to do trivial works such as tend the flock, to bring food to his older brothers in On the other hand, totally different impression is shown through David. David is the eight son of Jesse which makes him the youngest one. Perhaps, due to his position as the youngest son, David is assigned to do trivial works such as tend the flock, to bring food to his older brothers in

Slingshot was used as weapon in the warfare in Europe and the Near East, especially during the Bronxe Age until 17 th century (Korfmann). It is mentioned by Korfmann that not

many literature source mention the using of slingshot. During the War of Troy, Homer‟s Illiad, is slightly mentioned. This is probably because this weapon was considered as not honorable. What was considered as honorable fight was hand-to-hand fight, while slingshot was a long-range weapon. Moreover, this tool is mainly as a nuisance weapon rather than a destructive one. Therefore, the existence of slingshot is important but not as important as other weapons used in war.

Despite the fact that slingshot not considered as significant as other weapons, different point of view coined by Constable through the use of slingshot in the story of David and Goliath. Here, he states that the way David uses slingshot to defeat Golia th as the way „God used a humble weapon to give His people great victory in response to one faith.”(Constable). Furthermore, adds Constable, David‟s faith to God encourages him to challenge and defeat the giant Goliath. And he uses slingshot as the tool to express his faith to God. David is faithful and loyal to God he trust. He defeats the Philistines champion „not with the weapons of warrior, but with the tools of a shepherd.‟

Connecting this to the story, I consider slingshot used by David to defeat Goliath as tool to express how David express his trust and loyalty to God. On the other side, slingshot used by Hassan to threaten Assef, can also be considered as tool to express his loyalty to Amir. He might

be afraid of Assef, however, in time of danger, he dares to stand for Amir. Years later, Hassan‟s son shows the same quality as his father. In order to protect him and Amir from Assef who turns out to be the Taliban leader, once again, slingshot is used. Only this time, instead of threaten Assef, Sohrabrealy shoots the slingshot and it hits Assef‟s left eye.

In conclusion, slingshot might not be considered as honorable as other weapons back the in a warfare, however, the tool which is considered as humble tool due to always being used by the shepherds, can be as deadly as other weapon especially in the expert hands such as David, Hassan or Sohrab. These three persons might be underestimated, insulted, or humiliated by people around them. Nonetheless, they show their ability, faith, or loyalty true the humble weapon . Hence, in my opinion, this makes the three of them as well as the slingshot as honorable. The slingshot reflects humbleness, faithfulness, and loyalty, yet, deadly in time of danger, as long as it is in the right hands. Moreover, in the story, the sling shot that has started the hatred between Assef toward Hassan and Amir has become tool for redemption for Amir with the help of Sohrab. Amir has faced lll the quilts, regrets, hatred in the form of Assef and he earned it. Once again, it was redemption for him.