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Baba Shows Power
Later in the novel, the reader is shown the importance of Baba's power. Early in the novel, Amir shows his want for acceptance from Baba, his father. Because Amir wants acceptance from Baba, he also sometimes feared him and admitted "You can't love a person who lives that way without fearing him too. Maybe even hating him a little." (p12) Amir admits that while he loves his father, he often tries very hard to find acceptance, and ends up fearing him at times. -
Amir is born
In the first chapters, Amir educates the reader on how he was born. The reader learns that Amir was born in 1963 and he was born to his mother Sofia Akrami, and his father Baba. Although Amir was born safely, his mother die while giving birth to him. We learn much about his life, but Amir doesn't give much information of what happened in 1975, but tells the reader that "I thought of the life I had lived until the winter of 1975 came along and changed everything. And made me what I am today" -
Amir and Hassan's Friendship
In chapter four of The Kite Runner, Amir shows tells the reader about Hassan and his friendship. He says that he "spent most of the first twelve years of [his] life playing with Hassan. Sometimes, [his] entire childhood seems like one long lazy summer day with Hassan." (p.6) This quote said by Amir is very significant to what will later happen in the novel. Amir shows that him and Hassan have always had a nice relationship. They looked at each other as friends, not as a master and a hazara. -
Hassan Shows Loyalty towards Amir
In chapter two of the Kite Runner, by Khaled Hosseini, the reader showed how Hassan protects Amir, which will foreshadow later events in the novel. We are shown that Hassan always protects Amirs, and "will never deny [him] anything." (p.23) This quote Amir said in the novel is significant because it foreshadows how Hassan will always protect him no matter what. -
Hassan is Born
Just 2 years after Amir is born, so is Hassan. Hassan was born a Hazara. He was born to a mother named Sanaubar, and the father is unknown to many in the beginning of the novel. When Hassan was born, his mother didn't want him, she wouldn't even hold him. Just five days after giving birth, she "ran off with a clan of traveling singers and dancers." Hassan is a Hazara to Baba and his family. Although he was a Hazara, he was never treated as one, especially by Baba -
Hassan Was Raped
In chapter seen of the novel, the reader learns that Hassan was raped by Assef. When Amir found out that Hassan was raped, he immediately treated him differently, he even admitted that "he was just a Hazara, wasn't he?" (104) The reader is immediately exposed to a power shift. Amir and Hassan have always been best friends to each other, but now their relationship is close to a master and a Hazara. This shows that even though they were friends before, Amir no longer treats Hassan like a friend. -
Assef Shows Power With the Taliban
In chapter five of this novel, the reader is exposed to more foreshadowing that is very important to the end of the novel. the readers learns that Assef believes that "Afghanistan for Pashtuns, [Assef says].That's my vision." ( 45) This quote said by Assef is significant to the novel, and shows what he truly believes, and what he might do to make that happen in the future. -
Amir Shows Power Against Hassan
In chapter eight of the novel, Khaled Hosseini shows the reader a great amount of foreshadowing. After Amir saw Hassan was raped, he felt ashamed. Amir stopped treating him as a friend, and asked Baba "have you ever thought about getting new servants?" Amir no longer saw him as a friend, but saw him as shameful. Baba says no because he is like family. Khaled Hosseini shows that Hassan is family, and will not be getting rid of. -
The Kite Tournament
In chapter 6 of The Kite Runner, the reader learns about the important kite flying tournament. Amir realizes that this is a way to gain acceptance from his father, Baba. He enters the tournament and sates that "in Kabul, fighting kites was a little like going to war." (7) We learn that it is important for Amir to enter in the tournament, even though he doesn't want to. We see that the only reason he enters the tournament, is so he can empress his father by winning, and gain acceptance from him. -
Invasion by the Soviet Union
turmoil and extremism have dominated it's history and can be traced back to the 1979 invasion by the Soviet Union -
Soviet Union Troops "Parachute"
the first Soviet Union troops started in Kabul on December 27. The wanted to assist Babrak Karmal, president in a coup in the Afghan Communist leadership. Moscow wanted the troops to come in response for help from a real constituted Karmal Government -
Soviet Union Troops
Soviet union troops stayed in the country for over 9 years. They fought conflicts and ended with around 15,000 lives ended. Not only did they seem as almost useless, but so did the Soviet Union Air Force -
Departure
After a peace talk in the United Nations, Soviet Union troops departed Afghanistan in February for an unilateral withdraw. -
Vicious Strife is Found for Afghanistan
After the departure of Soviet Union troops, they "descended into vicious internecine strife" in the summer of that year. Power from leaders was divided by many "competing warlords and individual"
fiefdoms. Although this was the case then, only one group would gain control -
Mullah Omar Gains Followers
he gained nearly 12,00 followers and was rolling up the warlords to the north and east. He promised he would restore the centrality of Islamic daily life. He created a popular movement. -
Plans Begin
Pakistani intelligence starts to fuel army, gain money, and give weapons to Mullah Omar's men. They asked military advisors to help guide them in the battle -
Aid is Needed
The Taliban took control of Afghanistan. they added strict fundamentalist laws, that banned movies and music forcing women out of schools and into making clothes -
Rahim Khan Dies
In chapter 17 of the novel, the reader learns that Rahim Khan is very sick, and dies. While he is sick, he tells Amir "it's not too late to be good again." Amir learns that he can atone for how he treated Hassan when they were children. This event is very significant to to novel not only because Rahim Khan dies, but because Amir learns that it isn't too late to atone for the actions he showed towards Amir. This leads to an important adventure Amir goes to, to get atonement from Amir. -
Hassan Dies
In chapter 16 of the novel, Amir learns that Hassan dies. Although Hassan dies, Amir knows that it is not too late to gain atonement. Rahim Khan tells Amir that Hassan has a son, and that he must get him out of an orphanage. He tells Rahim Khan that he cannot go, but he will pay to get him out. Amir learns that he cannot atone for what he did by not going on the adventure to get his son, Sorhab, himself. -
Amir Finds Sohrab
Amir goes to Kabul and tries to rescue Sohrab. Once he gets information on where to find Sohrab, he learns that it's be easy to find him, but it may be difficult to rescue him. Later, he is close to Sohrab, but not close to rescuing him. He confronts Assef and gets in a fight with him. Amir admits that his body "was broken—just how badly I wouldn’t find out until later—but I felt healed. Healed at last." He was able to rescue Sohrab and he finally felt atonement for how he treated Hassan. -
9/11
An Attack on the World Trade Cent in New York happened in 2001. A plane crashed into it causing the twin towers to come crashing down, and causing thousands of deaths of the people in the building. -
Sohrab Stopes Talking
After Sohrab is saved in the hospital, he wasn't happy. He believed that he should have been left in the bath tub to die. Sohrab was very mad at Amir because he didn't want to go to orphanage again. Even after Amir adopted Sohrab, he still didn't talk, until later. -
Sohrab Attempts to Commit Suicide
Amir is finally able to rescue Sohrab, Hassan's son, and feel atonement for how he treated Hassan. Although Amir was able to rescue Sohrab, he will still have trouble adopting him. They both learn that Hassan may have to go back to an orphanage, and tries to commit suicide. Sohrab is grateful to be taken to California with Amir, but would rather end his life than go to another orphanage. -
Sohrab lives
Amir shows care for Sohrab when he takes him to the hospital. Amir realizes that it is his duty to take care of Hassan's son for atonement. When Amir took Sohrab to the hospital for committing suicide, he wanted to make sure that he would live. Amir prayed for the first time in 15 years. By praying for him, Amir showed love and care for Sohrab and even did what was unusual for him to do to make sure Sohrab was protected -
Sohrab Finds Happiness
Although Sohrab stopped talking, he was able to find happiness once Amir taught him how to fly kites. The reader is shown how kites are symbolic from the beginning of the novel, to the end. The author, Khaled Hosseini, shows the importance of the kites through Amir's childhood, and how he passed it on into Sohrab's. Not only did it show Sohrab's happiness while flying the kite, but it also showed Amir's. Even when Sohrab asked to run the kite again, Amir said "for you, a thousand times over." -
Change is Needed
After the attack in 2001 know as the 9/11 attack, President George W. Bush gave the Taliban and ultimatum to hand over Mr. Bin Laden. This action forced the U.S. to join with rebel groups.