How does the pomegranate tree represent Amir and Hassan's innocence?

The pomegranate tree is located on the northern hill of Baba's property and is where Amir and Hassan spend the majority of their time playing together as children. As children, Amir and Hassan would climb into the tree and read for hours as they ate juicy pomegranates. The two boys even carve "Amir and Hassan, the sultans of Kabul" into the side of the tree. The pomegranate tree comes to symbolize a time of innocence in Amir and Hassan's life and represents their close friendship. As naive, innocent children, Amir and Hassan enjoy their carefree days playing together in harmony in the pomegranate tree.
Unfortunately, Amir witnesses Hassan being raped by Assef after the kite-fighting tournament and does not intervene. Amir becomes consumed with guilt and goes out of his way to avoid Hassan. Both boys tragically lose their innocence and no longer spend time playing together in the pomegranate tree. When Hassan finally convinces Amir to read to him in the pomegranate tree, Amir begins throwing pomegranates at Hassan in an attempt to provoke Hassan into hitting him. However, Hassan takes a pomegranate and smashes it on his own head. At this point in their lives, Amir and Hassan's friendship is ruined, and their innocence is lost.
As an adult, Amir travels back to Kabul and visits the pomegranate tree. He mentions that Hassan stated in his letter that the pomegranate tree had not borne fruit in years. When Amir looks at the pomegranate tree decades later, it is wilted, leafless, and he doubts it will ever bear fruit again. The dead pomegranate tree symbolizes Amir and Hassan's loss of innocence. Both men have experienced significant trauma throughout their lives, and the unhealthy state of the pomegranate tree reflects their struggles.

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