-
Amir is born
As Amir is explaining his past life in the beginning of the novel, he mentions the "winter of 1964 [being] just one year after [his] mother died giving birth to [him]" (Hosseini 6). Amir says how he lives with his father and his servants in their home in Kabul. When he was born his mother died from hemorrhaging to death while giving birth to Amir. -
Period: to
Kite Runner and Afghanistan History
-
Hassan is born
In their shack in the backyard of Baba's mansion, "Hassan's mother, Sanaubar, gave birth to [Hassan on] one cold winter day in 1964" (Hosseini 6). Hassan was born a year after Amir was born. Similar to Amir, Hassan did not know his mother, but not from death because his mother ran away after giving birth. -
Assef and his friends confront Amir and Hassan
As Amir and Hassan are walking, Assef comes up to them and tells them how "Afghanistan is the land of Pashtuns" (Hosseini 40). Assef is making Hassan be ashamed of his race and Amir be embarrassed for talking to Hassan. Asset then threatens Hassan which leads to Hassan aiming his slingshot at Assef's eye. -
Amir wins the Kite Fighting Tournament
When Amir finally cut the blue kite's string, he hugged Hassan and said, "'We won! We won!"' (Hosseini 66). Amir had reached to the final two kites and was able to cut the blue kite free. He then asked Hassan to run the blue kite for him and Hassan happily accepted. -
Hassan is raped
As Amir watches Hassan surrounded by Assef and his friends in the alleyway, Assef "puts his hands on Hassan's hips and lifted his bare buttocks. He kept one hand on Hassan's back and undid his own belt buckle with his free hand. He unzipped his jeans. Dropped his underwear. He positioned himself behind Hassan" (Hosseini 75). When Amir went to look for Hassan after he had ran after the blue kite, he found him in a alleyway. Due to his cowardliness, Amir did not stop it, but instead ran away. -
Amir throws pomegranates at Hassan
Due to his guilt, Amir pelts Hassan with pomegranates and begs "'Hit me back!"' in hopes of being punished for his actions (Hosseini 92). Amir is hoping for Hassan to hit him back so he can be punished for letting him get raped. Hassan, being Amir's servant, refuses to and stands there letting himself get hit. -
Soviet Invasion
During Christmas time of 1979, the Soviet Union sent their army to Afghanistan; "invades and props up [a] communist government."
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-south-asia-12024253 -
Baba confronts the Russian soldier
When Amir, Baba, and Karim are crossing the border, Baba confronts a Russian soldier to stop a rape from happening. The soldier clicks the "safety on the gun [and] pointed the barrel to Baba's chest" (Hosseini 116). Since Baba believes heavily in doing the right thing, he risks his life to do so. Amir being the coward he is, told Baba to stop but to no use. -
Baba and Amir moved to America
In the 1980s, Amir and Baba moved to Fremont, California. Amir recalls "the two of [them] walking through Lake Elizabeth Park in Fremont" (Hosseini 125). Amir and Baba had arrived at America and started to live in an apartment in Fremont, California. There socioeconomic status went down due to Baba's job as a gas station manager. -
Mujahideen rebel group is formed
In 1985, groups of Afghani rebels called the "Mujahideen come together in Pakistan to form alliance against Soviet forces." http://www.bbc.com/news/world-south-asia-12024253 -
Baba dies of cancer
After Amir and Soraya get married, Baba goes to bed, but "never woke up" (Hosseini 173). Baba is able to witness Amir grow and get married before he dies. When he passes, he is happy and his relationship with Amir is much more open. -
US supply rebels with missles
As the war is escalting in Afghanistan, "US begins supplying mujahideen with Stinger missiles, enabling them to shoot down Soviet helicopter gunships."
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-south-asia-12024253 -
Soviet Union pulls out of Afghanistan
In 1988, Afghanistan, Pakistan, the US, and USSR sign peace accords having the "Soviet Union [begin to pull] out troops."http://www.bbc.com/news/world-south-asia-12024253 -
Civil war continues
During 1989 when the last troops of the Soviet Union leave, "civil war continues as mujahideen push to overthrow Najibullah."
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-south-asia-12024253 -
Communist government overthrown
The Mujahideen rebels managed to have "Najibullah's [communist] government toppled."
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-south-asia-12024253 -
Taliban take over
A few years after the fall of the communist government, the "Taliban seize control of Kabul and introduce hard-line version of Islam."
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-south-asia-12024253 -
US launch missile strikes
Due to his bombings of US embassies in Africa, the "US launch missile strikes at suspected bases of militant Osama bin Laden." http://www.bbc.com/news/world-south-asia-12024253 -
Hassan and Farzana are killed
Rahim Khan retells the story of how the Taliban had "shot [Hassan] in the back of the head" (Hosseini 219). Due to the Taliban's low tolerance for Hazaras, Hassan and his wife are killed and their son is put in an orphanage. Amir goes to look for Sohrab (Hassan's son), but finds out that he has been taken by a Taliban officer. -
Amir arrives in Afghanistan
After Rahim Khan persuades Amir to come back, he took a flight that "landed in Peshawar" (Hosseini 195). Rahim Khan is able to persuade Amir by telling his about his relationship with Hassan and about Hassan's son. Amir lands in Pakistan and then passes the border into Afghanistan. -
Amir fights with Assef
As Assef is pummeling Amir, Amir "started laughing" (Hosseini 289). Amir starts to laugh because he finally has found peace and is able to rid himself of his guilt for not saving Hassan. Sohrab's situation is metaphorically a continuation of Hassan's rape, so Amir sees it as his chance to redeem himself. -
Amir learns the truth
As Amir lie in the hospital bed, he is given a letter from Rahim Khan that reads "Amir jan: [Baba] loved you both, but he could not love Hassan the way he longed to, openly, and as a father" (Hosseini 301). Amir learns that Hassan was actually his half brother. Baba could not show his love for Hassan publicly, therefore stealing Amir and Hassan's right to the truth. The exact action he said was the biggest sin: theft. -
9/11 happens
On September 11th, the World Trade Center was crashed into with planes by "19 militants associated with the Islamic extremist group al-Qaeda."
http://www.history.com/topics/9-11-attacks -
US start bombings of Afghanistan
Following the September 11th attacks on the US, "US-led bombing of Afghanistan begin to follow [and] the Anti-Taliban Northern Alliance forces enter Kabul shortly afterwards."
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-south-asia-12024253 -
Sohrab trys to commit suicide
After Amir learns that there is a way for Sohrab to go to America without going back to a orphanage, he finds Sohrab bleeding. He goes onto "[his] knees, screaming" (Hosseini 343). Sohrab ends up attempting to commit suicide thinking that he has to go back to the orphanage. When Amir learns the good news, it is already too late and Sohrab cuts his wrists. Thankfully he survives. -
Amir runs the kite for Sohrab
As Amir is in the park with Sohrab, they see kids kite fighting. Amir shows Sohrab Hassan's favorite trick. Sohrab ends up cutting a kite and Amir asks "'Do you want me to run that kite for you?"' (Hosseini 371). Sohrab nods and Amir whispers to himself "'For you, a thousand times over"' (Hosseini 371). Sohrab finally smiles which gives Amir hope for his recovery. Amir sees Sohrab as Hassan and is now returning the favor to Hassan/Sohrab.