Why does Amir say that the last time he sacrificed for Baba he damned himself?

• A. He didn't sacrifice at all; it's a misinterpretation.
• B. He sacrificed for Baba and Baba rewarded him.
• C. He sacrificed by taking the kite and Hassan was raped; he was selfish and will pay.
• D. He sacrificed for himself.

Answer: (C)

The situation hinges on what counts as a real sacrifice and what it costs another person. Amir believes that winning the kite contest will earn Baba’s pride and love, so in his mind that moment is his way of sacrificing for Baba. But the act that secures that prize—having Hassan fetch the kite while Amir watches, afraid and silent as Hassan is attacked—shows that his apparent sacrifice is really about his own desire for Baba’s approval, not about protecting Hassan or doing what’s right. When Hassan is harmed, Amir’s choice to prioritize his own comfort and Baba’s praise over Hassan’s safety reveals the selfish motive behind the sacrifice. That recognition—that his action was self-serving and morally damaging—explains why he says he damned himself. Other options miss this crucial link between the supposed sacrifice and the harm it causes, or they suggest outcomes (reward, no sacrifice, or self-interest only) that don’t fit the scene and Amir’s guilt.