The statement about killing his wife and not turning out like his father is meant to convey what, and how does it affect Amir's relationship with Baba?

• A. Amir feels responsible for his mother's death, which strains his relationship with Baba.
• B. Amir is proud of Baba's resilience.
• C. Amir blames Hassan for the mother's death.
• D. Amir believes he could have turned out like his father anyway.

Answer: (A)

Guilt and the need for a father’s approval are at the heart of this moment. Amir reads his family tragedy through a lens that makes him feel responsible for his mother’s death, and he projects that burden onto his effort to live up to or diverge from Baba’s example. The idea of “killing his wife” and not turning out like his father signals Amir’s fear that he could somehow cause tragedy or fail to measure up to Baba’s masculine, honorable image. This tension shapes how he relates to Baba: he longs for Baba’s respect and love, but his guilt makes him feel unworthy, creating distance and a fragile dynamic between them.

In this light, the best explanation is that Amir’s sense of responsibility for his mother’s death drives his struggle to earn Baba’s pride, which strains their relationship. The other options don’t fit the underlying pattern as well: they don’t capture the guilt-driven push-pull between Amir’s need for approval and his fear of failing to live up to Baba.