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Period: to
Afghanistan-Kite Runner
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General Mohammed Daud Khan becomes prime minister
In 1953 in Afghanistan "General Mohammed Daud becomes prime minister. Turns to Soviet Union for economic and military assistance. Introduces social reforms, such as abolition of purdah (practice of secluding women from public view" -
Women have equal work/school rights
PBS states that in 1957 "As part of Daoud’s reforms, women are allowed to attend university and enter the workforce." -
Hassan was Born
Amir narrates "It was there, in that little shack, that Hassan was born in the winter of 1964, just one year after my (Amir's) mother died giving birth to me (Amir)" (6) This is an important quote because it shows the beginning of Hassan's life. It also foreshadows that Hassan was born in a dirty old shack which implies that his life isn't going to be great. -
Hassan gets Lip surgery
Hassan says "Oh. He looked from Dr. Kumar to Baba to Ali. His hand touched his upper lip. Oh, he said again. It's an unusual present, I know, Baba said" (46) This is how Baba gives Hassan a gift. It shows how Baba loves Hassan like a son and that he will pay for his lip surgery. -
Khan abolishes monarchy and names himself president
PBS says that in 1973 "Khan overthrows the last king, Mohammed Zahir Shah, in a military coup. Khan’s regime, the People’s Democratic Party of Afghanistan, comes to power. Khan abolishes the monarchy and named himself president. The Republic of Afghanistan is established with firm ties to the USSR" -
Amir and Hassan win the Kite flying competition
When Amir and Hassan win Hassan yells "Bravo! Bravo, Amir agha! I opened my eyes, saw the blue kite spinning wildly like a tire come loose from a speeding car." (66) This quote shows how happy Amir and Hassan where and the connection they felt with each other. They felt as they were almost brothers. -
Hassan Gets Raped
The novel says "(Assef) positioned himself behind Hassan. Hassan didn't struggle. Didn't even whimper. He moved his head slightly and I caught a glimpse of his face. Saw the resignation in it. It was a look I had seen before. It was the look of a lamb." (75-76) This quote shows how brutal Assef is and how Hassan doesn't even let Assef have the victory of Hassan struggling or showing a sign of weakness. Hassan wants to be strong and in the end, Amir says Hassan looked like a lamb. -
Amir's 13th Birthday
Amir has a party and thinks to himself "Baba's motto about throwing parties was this: invite the whole world or it's not a party. I remember scanning over the invitation list a week before my birthday party and not recognizing at least three-quarters of the four hundred-plus..." (93) I believe this shows that Baba wants Amir to be happy to and he throws him a big party. I also think this quote means that Amir appreciates the party Baba is throwing him but he would be okay without it. -
Ali and Hassan leave Kabul
Ali says to Baba "We are leaving, Agha sahib, Ali said. What? Baba said, the color draining from his face. We can't live here anymore, Ali said. But I forgive him, Ali, didn't you hear?" (106) This quote is an example of power dynamics, this is because in most situations Baba holds the power of Ali and Hassan but now Ali has power over Baba. Baba is pleading with Ali not to leave and that shows how the decisions are no longer up to him. -
Soviet Army invades
In december of 1979 "Soviet Army invades and props up communist government" -
American Ambassador killed and ties with U.S. cut off
According to PBS "American Ambassador Adolph Dubs is killed. The United States cuts off assistance to Afghanistan. A power struggle between Taraki and Deputy Prime Minister Hafizullah Amin begins. Taraki is killed on Sept. 14 in a confrontation with Amin supporters." -
Babrak Karmal installed as ruler with Soviet backing
In 1980 in Afghanistan "Babrak Karmal installed as ruler, backed by Soviet troops. But opposition intensifies with various mujahideen groups fighting Soviet forces. US, Pakistan, China, Iran and Saudi Arabia supply money and arms to the mujahideen.: -
Russians invade Afghanistan, Baba and Amir leave
Amir thinks "My innards had been rolling since we'd left Kabul just after two in the morning. Baba never said so, but I knew he saw my car sickness as yet another of my array of weaknesses. I saw it on his embarrassed face a couple of times." (110) This quote shows how Baba is still embbaresed for Amir because he is not a man and is showing signs of weakness. This quote also portrays that Baba will still continue to feel embarrassed by Ami. He will become more proud of Amir overtime. -
Baba and Amir arrive in San Francisco
While eating dinner one night Amir thinks to himself "I missed people milling in and out of the house, missed walking down the aisles of Shor Bazaar and greeting people who knew him and his father, knew his grandfather, people who shared ancestors with him... For me, America was a place to bury my memories. For Baba it was a place to mourn his." (129) This quote shows how Amir accepts that he is in America and enjoys it a bit while Baba is sad and it is a place for him to forgive his sins. -
Amir Graduates High School
Amir recounts "I smiled for him-in a way, this was his day more than mine. He walked to me, curled his arm around my neck, gave my brow a single kiss. I am moftakhir, Anir, he said. Proud." (131) This quote shows us the first time Amir made Baba very proud. When Amir says that this is more Baba's day than his he means that he made Baba happy and proud and they want to celebrate that and his graduation. -
Osama bin Laden travels to aid anti-Soviet fighters
In 1984 PBS says "Although he claims to have traveled to Afghanistan immediately after the Soviet invasion, Saudi Islamist Osama bin Laden makes his first documented trip to Afghanistan to aid anti-Soviet fighters. The United Nations investigates reported human rights violations in Afghanistan." -
Amir meets Soraya at the Flea market
Amir thinks "of Soraya Taheri's sickle-shaped birthmark, her gently hooked nose, and the way her luminous eyes had fleetingly held mine. My heart stuttered at the thought of her. Soraya Taheri. My Swap Meet Princess." (142) This quote foreshadows how Soraya will end up playing a bigger role in Amir's life later on. This quote also shows how much Amir likes Soraya and that he wants to be with her. -
Alliance formed with Soviet forces
In 1985 in Afghanistan "Mujahideen come together in Pakistan to form alliance against Soviet forces. Half of Afghan population now estimated to be displaced by war, with many fleeing to neighbouring Iran or Pakistan" -
Amir and Soraya get married
The wedding is described as "Baba spent $35,00, nearly the balance of his life savings, on the awroussi, the wedding ceremony. He rented a large Afgan banquet hall if Freemont-the man who owned it knew him from Kabul and gave him a substantial discount." (169) This quote portrays how much this means to Baba and how he is proud of Amir and how he has grown and become a man. This quote also shows that because he was kind and giving in Kabul he can get favors from people he knows in America. -
US starts to help Afghanistan to fight off Soviets
In 1986 "US begins supplying mujahideen with Stinger missiles, enabling them to shoot down Soviet helicopter gunships. Babrak Karmal replaced by Najibullah as head of Soviet-backed regime" -
Baba decides not to take Medicine and die
Soraya says to Baba "I'll come back with your morphine pills and a glass of water, Kaka Jan, Soraya said. Not tonight, he said. There is no pain tonight, Okay, she said. She pulled up his blanket. We closed the door. Baba never woke up." (173) This quote is significant because it describes the night that Baba dies. It shows how Soraya respects him and feels close to him because she calls him Kaka jan which is a sign of respect. -
Peace treaty signed
According to PBS "Afghanistan, USSR, the US and Pakistan sign peace accords and Soviet Union begins pulling out troops." -
Sohrab is Born
The day Sohrab was born "Sanaubar handed him to Hassan and he handed him to me and I sang a song of prayer Ayat-ul-Kursi in that little boy's ear. They named him Shorab, after Hassan's favorite hero from Shahnamah, as you know, Amir jan." (211) This quote is significant because it describes Hassan's son, Sohrab's birth. This quote also shows how Sanaubar also atoned for abandoning Hassan in the past by delivering his child. -
Taliban takes control and makes new laws
in 1996 the "Taliban seize control of Kabul and introduce a hard-line version of Islam, banning women from work, and introducing Islamic punishments, which include stoning to death and amputations." -
Hassan and Farzana are killed by Taliban
Hassan's death is described as "Hassan protested again. So they took him to the street-- No, I breathed. -and order him to kneel- No, God, no. -and shot him in the back of the head. No. -Farzana came screaming and attacked them- No.-shot her too. Self-defense, they claimed later-." (219) This quote is significant because it portrays how aggressive the Taliban is and how they killed Hassan and his wife without mercy. Later in the novel, you can imply that Assef was the Taliban Killer. -
Sohrab smiles and Flies a kite with Amir
Amir says to Sohrab "Do you want me to run that kite for you? His Adam's apple rose and fell as he swallowed. The wind lifted his hair. I thought I saw him nod. For you, a thousand times over, I heard myself say. Then I turned and ran. It was only a smile, nothing more." (371) The significance of this quote is that Sohrab is finally warming up to Amir and becoming more of his friend or even parent. The ending where Amir says for you a thousand times over is ironic because he said that to Hassan.
