What prejudicial thought enters Amir's mind after he runs away?

• A. He deserved Hassan's assault because of his background
• B. Hassan's loyalty should be questioned
• C. Amir's own actions were justified by fear
• D. He was just a Hazara, wasn't he?

Answer: (D)

This moment tests how Amir’s thinking is shaped by ethnic prejudice and guilt, and how fear can distort moral judgment. After he runs away, Amir slips into a mindset that reduces Hassan to his identity as a Hazara—thinking something like “he was just a Hazara, wasn’t he?” This shows Amir trying to distance himself from what happened by viewing Hassan through the narrow lens of ethnicity, rather than as a loyal friend. It reveals the corrosive effect of social hierarchies in Kabul and how personal cowardice can mask itself as a harsh, dehumanizing judgment.

This isn’t about doubting Hassan’s loyalty, nor about justifying Amir’s actions because of fear, and it isn’t about blaming Hassan for the assault. It’s about Amir internalizing a prejudice that Hassan’s worth is defined by his Hazara identity, a perception that underscores the moral fault and sets the stage for the later exploration of guilt, redemption, and the consequences of betrayal.