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Baba Gives Hassan Plastic Surgery
Hassan had a hairlip and after the surgery it "was a grotesque mesh of swollen, raw tissue... [a] nurse handed him a mirror...Hassan took a long, thoughtful look into it... He whispered it again. 'Tashakor' Thank you"(Hossieni 46). This passage illustrates Hassan's gratitude for Amir and Baba. The loyalty is what causes Hassan to risk himself to get the kite for Amir. Through unwavering gratitude and loyalty, Hassan expresses his love for Amir and Baba -
Amir Throws Pomegranates
Amir wanted to atone for what he let happen to Hassan. Hassan wouldn't fight him but "Hasssan did pick up a pomegranate. He walked toward [Amir]. He opened it and crushed it against his own face like blood. 'are you satidfied? Do you feel better?" (Hossieni 93). By doing this Hassan conveys how he feels, and that simply fighting each other will not solve their problems. This is a very heavy moment in their relationship where the power dynamic is reversed. Hassan now holds guilt over Amir. -
Hassan was Violated
Throughout the book Amir refers to when Hassan was being violated by Assef and "[Amir] stopped watching, turned away from the alley...[Amir] had one last chance to make a decision... In the end, [he] ran" (Housseini 77). Amir's choice to turn away from Hassan was the basis for the entire book and would have a major impact on the characters and their lives. This specific moment of hesitation shows Amir's true character; a cowardly, meak boy trying his best to do the right thing. -
Amir's Thirteenth Birthday
After Amir turns thirteen, the events in the story start to spiral into unpleasant encouters and war. For example Amir was talking to Baba and "I think what started it was the stupid comment about I'd made about getting new servants" (Houssieni 93). By wanting new servants, Amir reveals his discomfort and guilt for what happended to Hassan. Amir's inability to confront what happened changes the dynamics of his entire life to revolve around guilt; affecting thedesicions he makes later in life. -
Soviet Union Invaded Afghanistan
In the New Yoek Times article the author states that, "Afghanistan, officially the Islamic Republic of Afghnistan, has known little peace since1979, when the Soviet Union invaded" (1). -
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Baba and Amir move to America
To escape the war ravaged land of Kabul, Baba and Amir moved to America. While "Baba loved the idea of America. It was living in AMerica that gave him an ulcer" (Houssieni 125). This ironic quote shows how Baba started to lose material power within the American culurte, compared to his vast amount of power and respect in Kabul. -
Amir Graduates Highschool
As a gift for graduating and for going to college Baba bougt Amir a car. After a moment of admiring the car Baba says "I wish Hassan had been with us today" (Hossieni 133). After years of not talking about Hassan, Amir is filled with guilt and dread at the mention of Hassan. By saying this Baba reveals his guilt for leaving Hassan in Kabul. This quotation foreshadows what Rahim Khan tells Amir, and it changes Amir's entire image of Baba. -
Baba Collapses in the Flea Market
Shortly after Baba collapsed in the flea market, "[Amir] ran to Baba. He was frothing at the mouth, the foamy spittle soaking his beard. His upturned eyes showed nothing but white" (Hossieni 158). Due to his illness, Baba has lost physical power over others. The description of this moment is quite upsetting because earlier in the book Baba was a strong, stoic hero figure, but now he is a frail man that has no control over his physical health. -
Amir Gets Engaged to Soraya
Baba was growing more ill every day so Baba "[hobbled] up the Taheri's driveway fo one last fatherly duty" and asked Soraya's father if Amir could marry her (Hossieni 163). By asking for Soraya's hand, both Amir and Baba finally attempt to mend thier broken relationship. Baba finally did something for Amir that was honorable and that brought them both joy. Because of Baba's illness, he felt pressured to find a realtionship with Amir, and was determined to see his son be married and bring honor. -
Baba's Death
Shortly after Amir is married Baba went to sleep and "never woke up" (Hossieni 173). Baba's death, after months of slowly succumbing to illness, was not a suprise, yet it took a toll on Amir. After he published his first book he thought "of Baba, wishing he could have seen me"(Hoissieni 183). This shows how Amir was never satisfied with he and Baba's relationship. Amir was always seeking Baba's approval. -
Hassan Goes to Live with Rahim Khan
As Rahim Khan grew older, he needed someone to help tend to Baba's house. Rahim Khan states that "there were a lot of reasons why I went to Hazarjat to find Hassan in 1986. The biggest one...was that I was lonely" (Houssieni 203). By asking Hassan to live with him, Rahim Khan set a series of events into motion. Rahim Khan's lonliness forced him to seek out Hassan, which later lead to reconnnecting with Amir. -
Amir's First Book
Amir finished his first book "six months before the Soviets withdrew from Afghanistanh" the book was "a father-son story set in Kabul'(Hossieini 182). This event is important because it is the first time Amir is a published author. Acheiving his goal is something he wanted to do since childhood, and it brings back memories of Kabul, which is occupied by Soviets. -
Soviet Invasion Ends
The Soviet Union had occupied Afghanistan but finally, "peace talks moderated by the United Nations, the last Soviet troops left Afghanistan in February 1989 ,in what was in effect a unilateral withdrawl" (1). -
Power Stuggles After Soviet Union Departure
Whithout the threat and control of the Soviet Union, " Afghanistan descended into vicious internecine strife; by the summer of 1994, power was anarchically divided among competing warlords"(New York Times 1) -
The Taliban Seizes Control
A land that ravaged by civil war was taken over by "the Taliban, the extemist Islamic group that had seized control in1996" (1) -
Rahim Khan Calls Amir
Amir had recieved a phone call from Rahim Khan asking him to return to Pakistan. Amir was hessitant to go but he "dreamed of Hassan running in the snow, the hem of his green chapan dragging behind him, snow crunching under his black rubber boots. He was yelling over his shoulder: For you, a thousand times over!" (Houssieni 194). This quotation reveals how the guilt drives Amir back to Kabul. The reincorpiration of Hassan's saying is excellent foreshadowing for how Amir seeks for atonement. -
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Amir Brings Sohrab to America
After recovering from attempted suicide and depression, Sohrab goes to live with Amir in America. Amir runs a kite for Sohrab and Amir "looked down at Sohrab. One corner of his mouth had curled up just so. A smile... 'For you, a thousand times over' [Amir] heard himself say" (Hossieni 370). This quotation shows how Amir has atoned for his sins by saving Hassan's son. Although Sohrab is unhappy, Amir has tried his best to save him; therefore atonning. -
U.S. Military Invades To dislodge Taliban
US lead an invasion to erraticate the Taliban as well as Al Qaeda. In the text it is stated that, "[t]he 2001 invasion succeeded in dislidging Al Qaeda and removing the Taliban from power, but not in eradicating either group" (1). -
Amir Fights Assef
Assef was beating Amir when thinks, "for the first time since winter of 1975, I felt at peace... I hadn't felt better, not at all. But I did now. My body was broken...but I felt healed...I laughed" (Hossieni 289). By laughing and refusing to be angry, Amir pays repspect to Hassan, who would not fight Amir. Although Hassan didn't want to hurt Amir, being hurt is the only way Amir would've felt free of guilt. -
Amir Puts Money Under the Children's Matress
The guilt Amir felt for Hassan's violation was so intense that Amir took almost every opportunity to make up for his actions. Amir even "planted a fist full of crumpled money under a matress" (Hossieni 242). This attempt at atoement illustrates Amir's guilt and change in character. Earler in the book Amir used his money/privilage for malicious reasons, but now he sees his errors and uses his material power to help starving children. -
Hamid Karzai
Hamid Karzai was a "supporter and relative of Mohammad Zahir Shah" and Karzai rose up in the power of conrtol " Mr. Karzai was elected to a five-year term as president in 2004"( Times 2). -
American Troop Deployment
President Obama made a speech and "announced his plans to deploy 30,000 additional troops... and he vowed to start bringing American forces home from Afghanistan in the middle of 2011" (times 2) -
General Stanley A. McChystal
General McChystal was in charge of counterinsurgency but of "contemptuous quotes from the general and his staff about seniior administration" he was removed from the head of affairs. -
Plans For Withdrawl
The Obama administration planned "to begin withdrawling [troops] from Afghanistan in the summer of 2011"(1). -
Extended Plans for Withdrawl
The Obama Administratin aimed for "the idea that United States will have forces in the country until at least the end of 2014, when it inteds to pass responsobility for security to the Afghan government"(1)