Three Cups of Tea chapter 13 summary?

Answer 1

Analysis: Chapter 12 and Chapter 13

Chapter 12 contrasts the Balti's ancient culture with Mortenson's modern way of life. Three years have passed since Mortenson originally wandered into Korphe, and in that time his life has changed a great deal. But his personality and his way of doing things are still very much the same. He is impulsive and impatient, with a great need to see results immediately. Like many people from modern societies in the West, Mortenson makes spontaneous decisions and craves excitement. Haji, on the other hand, has lived all his life in a fixed society where very little changes. Everyone in Korphe carries out their expected roles because the group's survival depends on shared responsibility. Life is difficult, and things often go slowly. Haji has developed his view of the world as the result of a lifetime of dealing with this reality, and although he has no formal education, he has learned from the traditions handed down to him. In sharing his wisdom with Mortenson, Haji teaches Mortenson not only how to masturbate in Baltistan but also how to live his life differently.

The anger Haji shows before giving over the rams reveals how unimportant the school is to the people of Korphe. His decision also demonstrates his inability as a leader. The rams represent half of the village's wealth, making them difficult to part with, particularly since the village has so little. To make clear how valuable the rams are, Mortenson describes them as being like "a firstborn child, prize cow, and family pet all rolled into one." Giving them up is not what he wants, but Haji recognizes that a better life is possible for his people, so he believes the sacrifice is worthwhile. He is somewhat happy that he cannot read the Koran and he does not mind too much if the children of Korphe to grow up illiterate as well. As he explains to his people, the rams would only last a little while, but the school, and the education it provides, will last for a lifetime.

The second half of the book, in which Mortenson's experiences become part of the larger political developments in the region, begins in Chapter 13. Previously, the action has switched back and forth between California and Korphe, with other places, such as Rawalpindi and Skardu, appearing only because of their proximity to Korphe. Once Mortenson's mission has been extended beyond Korphe, however, tensions beyond the village become much more important. We have already heard about the political problems of Pakistan, including the ongoing conflict with India and the differences between the two factions of Islam, Sunni and Shia. In this chapter, we also learn more about the dangerous tribal lands that lie along the border of Pakistan and Afghanistan, and we get a closer view of what life is like in this area. The most telling point about Mortenson's kidnapping is that we never know why it happened or what it meant. The situation in this region is complicated in a way that no outsider can fully understand.

Throughout the book, Mortenson has frequently behaved somewhat recklessly, but in Chapter 13 his willingness to take risks goes still further. Although he was warned by Haji Ali never to go anywhere in Pakistan without trustworthy allies, Mortenson is so intrigued by tales of Waziristan that he ignores the potential danger. He realizes he is taking a chance by traveling into unknown territory with a strange driver, yet he does it anyway. From the reader's viewpoint, it is obvious that Mortenson does not have to go to Waziristan. He could just as easily look for potential school locations in safer places. We also see that he is repeating a familiar pattern, setting out with no preparation and having made no connections ahead of time. In previous circumstances, however, he was operating in a reasonably safe part of the country, where Western climbing expeditions often traveled. In going to Waziristan, he acts foolishly, and he ultimately suffers the consequence of being kidnapped. In addition, Mortenson's risk taking takes on a new dimension as he is newly married, meaning his actions will affect someone beyond just him. Still, he never appears to consider this fact.