Cancer As A Role of Cosmic Evil

In chapter twelve, Amir could tell that his father was getting weaker and it wasn't just the fact that it was because he was getting older. Dr. Amani finally tells Amir that based on the CAT scans Baba had "Oat Cell Carcinoma," and it was advanced and inoperable.
   When one hears the news that they are infected with a disease, that is taking over their body and will soon destroy them, there are many reactions. Relating to cancer specifically, there are many different types and severity forms of this disease, "It turned out that, like Satan, cancer had many names." The different types of cancer also play a role in the person's reaction. Due to the fact, if a person has lymphoma and is reassured that if they participate in chemotherapy they have a higher chance of survival, they will feel much more relieved than a patient like Baba. In the phrase above, cancer is being compared to Satan. Satan is depicted as evil, a power of darkness that is blamed for the atrocities in the world. Therefore, cancer can be related to cosmic evil due to the fact that it "belongs to the work of the devil- who personifies evil." It is inflicting suffering and frustration of life and death upon the victims. However there is also a time of "Grievability" with whom is dying. Grievability is when a life can be mourned. If no one can mourn for a life lost than it can't count as a lost life. In this case, Amir grieved with his father as he was dying before his eyes but this allowed Baba to know that his life counted, that he actually mattered in the world.

Within the glooms of cancer, there is also a benefit and that is knowing that your time on earth is limited and you still have time to complete what you believe you were born to do. With Hassan's death he was not aware of the limited of time he had on the earth when he was shot by the Taliban. Therefore, he did not have time to do those last few things he wanted to accomplish nor say his last words to his family members. In this sense, Baba was extremely lucky. The irony in this is that Baba knew he was going to die but not once did he tell his son of his own sin years before nor warn him not to make the same mistake. There was never that bonding moment where one was able to confront all of their fears, purify their soul completely nor tell all their remaining secrets. This is where the symbol of death comes into play. Death symbolizes that in initiation the darkness of death is experienced before the birth of the new man. It is the change from one mode of being to another. Therefore, as Baba departs from the world, he is a changed man, reborn in a sense that will allow him to move on and live in peace.