How does Hassan respond to Amir's provocation with pomegranates, and what is Amir seeking?

• A. Hassan refuses to fight back, and Amir seeks punishment to feel better
• B. Hassan retaliates, ending their friendship
• C. Hassan begs for forgiveness
• D. Hassan steals the pomegranates and runs away

Answer: (A)

The moment tests how loyalty and guilt play out in the two boys. Hassan’s response shows his moral restraint and steadfast loyalty: he endures Amir’s provocation without striking back, choosing not to retaliate even when provoked. Amir, on the other hand, isn’t seeking retaliation from Hassan; he’s looking for some form of punishment to feel himself absolved or to ease his guilty conscience. That desire to be punished reveals a repeating pattern in the story: Amir’s longing for atonement through suffering, contrasted with Hassan’s unwavering, forgiving nature.