"The class laughed along with him, but I always thought cliches got a bum rap. Because, often, they're dead-on. But the aptness of the cliched saying is overshadowed by the nature of the saying as a cliche. For example, the "elephant in the room" saying. Nothing could more correctly describe the initial moments of my reunion with Rahim Khan." -pg. 197
The author makes a point of defending his use of cliches. It has become a universal thought that cliches should never be used because they have lost their meaning. However, sometimes they do perfectly describe what is happening or being felt. Rahim Khan had knowledge of Amir's past sins, and Amir knew it. It produced an awkward moment because they both felt that there was something bigger in the room, hanging over them, like an "elephant". Amir knows that eventually they will have to address it, and it makes his reunion not one of immediate joy at seeing a long lost friend, but one of awkwardness and avoidance because of his secret. For the reader, it creates a sense of wonderment as to whether or not Rahim Khan really knows his secret, and a strong suspicion that he does. By pointing out his use of a cliche, the author created a connection between himself and the reader while showing a disconnection between himself and Rahim Khan.
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