What did you think of Khassan's decision to spare his son?

What did you think of Khassan's decision to spare his son?

I would have understood had he taken Ramzan's life but I loved him for not killing him - to make a moral choice to step aside from the cycle of destruction and not become part of it elevated him.

I loved the truck being available to take Khassan away. A gift from God to tell him he did not need to sacrifice his son. A way to escape the cycle of violence and start a new life even at his advanced age. It made me want to know what happened next to him.

I thought that Khassan sparing his son's life was a very appropriate and necessary turn. It was appropriate in the sense that at the point where Ramzan's life is spared, nearly all of those Khassan had loved were already gone. To me, it served little purpose to kill him after all the devastation was complete. Khassan had lost everyone, and leaving Ramzan to live alone and confused seemed the greater punishment. Also this decision was necessary to fully execute Khassan's character development. He was a good man, killing his son after the fact would have served little purpose other than to diminish his honorable character. Killing Ramzan after the first villager lost his life, now THAT would have made complete sense....but then we wouldn't have this beautiful and compelling story.

After all is said and done he's still a father. Understandable he spared his sons life.

Wow, I am very conflicted. In some ways Khassan contributed to his son's behavior by his benign neglect. He helped make him what he was. And, he was not all bad. He was a broken man.

This was, to me at least, the most compelling and beautifully done parts of the book. I am not a parent, but killing his son would have served no purpose and I loved the way the author handled that.

I do not think it was Khassan's decision. His decision had been long contemplated and, at last, resolved. Ultimately, Ramzan's life was spared by Akhmed.

I thought it worked out perfectly because of all that had come before. They each seemed dead to each other for most of the novel (and the not speaking for two years--not sure what that was about since we discover the events that occur over just a few days that would make his father more upset). And we learn that the son will wonder why his father left (I guess or maybe that is Khassan's projection of the future). It's possible the people who kill everyone will kill him as well. Humanity has lost all meaning to those engaged in the violence. Killing is just what they do. Plus, we can't really just say Razman was bad because of his father. No one has perfect parents. We have to make choices and are responsible for the choices we make. Resentment is a feeling/attitude/condition that will only harm one's self. And he, too, has been shaped by the crazy war. That has shaped everyone--he is definitely still a casualty alive or dead.