Amir's Atonement

I think that Amir has a slight chance of achieving atonement in his life. He witnessed something that scarred him for life, and he is in bitter resentment that he witnessed it at all. I think that apologizing to his friend for not sticking up for him would be a great atonement for himself. Or admitting that he was a bad friend to Hassan and should have treated him better, and somehow made it up to him would prove as atonement. Amir seeks atonement by letting out the secret he holds about Hassan, and also all the wasted time he spent worrying about everyones opinion of him, especially his father.

I do not think that atonement exists, only personal relief that a problem was resolved that happened in the past. I think that when more then one person is involved in this wrong doing or mistake, you cannot makeup for it by masking it with apologizes or some gesture to make the sinful situation disappear. I think that a mistake you make stays buried in the past, but I also believe that not making that mistake in the future is a type of atonement. You can make all the promises in the world to never cheat on your spouse again, you can prove yourself loyal, but atonement is something that can never be reached because a mistake that large is unforgivable and you cannot possibly make up for it when another person is involved. I believe in personal atonement, in a way that you give yourself satisfaction as well as ease your consience for a mistake you made.