The Moon and Irony

     On his wedding day at the alter, he remembers escaping Afghanistan only a few years previous. What triggered his memory was a traditional Afghan wedding song. The song is as follows: Make morning into a key and throw in into the well, go slowly, my lovely moon, go slowly. Let the morning sun forget to rise in the east, Go slowly, my lovely moon, go slowly. According to Cooper’s book, the moon has many meanings. Firstly, the moon is represented as the feminine power. Indirectly, the author is referring to not only his newly wed wife, but also his mother. When it comes to feminine power one thinks of the gift of childbirth. Therefore it is ironic that his new wife will never bear children suggesting that she does not have this feminine power. Another female power is the gift of nourishment for example breast feeding. Amir is aware that himself and Hassan were fed from the same breast as newborns, which gave them a close companionship. Little does he know Hassan is his half brother, representing more irony.

     The moon can also represent the dark side of nature. This displays that every good thing has a dark side. And also, as discussed in class, everyone is capable of committing evil deeds. This dark side is the guilt that Amir has that he never helped his friend when he was being raped.  

     And further, Amir says that the last time he heard this song was when he heard a Russian soldier at the Mahipar checkpoint the night him and Baba left Kabul. Leaving Kabul means leaving his past and deepest secret, to the bright side of the moon in America.