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Hassan's Split lip is Repaired
For Hassan's birthday Baba got his split lip surgically repaired. Hassan,"was smiling," (Hosseini 47) with joy because of how he was no longer different from the other boys. People would stop making fun of him as well. -
Assef bullies Hassan
Assef is constantly harassing Hassan especially one time when he said,"'Put it down, you motherless Hazara,'" (Hosseini 42). This quote shows how cruel and heartless Assef truly is. Hassan doesn't know where his mother is, knows she is most likely dead, making this comment extremley rude and harsh. -
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History of Afghanistan (Kite Runner)
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The Rape
In the winter of 1975, Hassan was raped. Amir witnessed it and described it when, "Assef knelt behind Hassan...and lifted his bare buttocks. He unzipped his jeans. Dropped his underwear... I stopped watching, turned away from the alley. I was weeping. From just around the corner, I could hear Assef's quick rhythmic grunts," Hosseini 76-77). In this quote, Hassan is raped by Assef in an alley way. Amir turns away, as he is afraid Assef will assult him too. This causes much guilt for Amir later. -
Ali and Hassan leave Baba's house for Good
Amir's frustration towards Hassan prompted him to put some of his money under Hassan's mattress as if he stole it. This showed that Amir was,"capable of causing this kind of pain," (Hosseini 105). This quote shows that ever since Amir backed down from Assef while Hassan was raped, he has felt anger towards Hassan. This anger is really just cover up the extreme guilt and regret he feels. -
President Mohammed Zahir Shah is killed
On April 27th, of 1978, "Saur Revolution: Military units loyal to the PDPA assaulted the Afghan Presidential Palace, killing President Mohammed Daoud Khan and his family." -
Troops occupy Kabul
On the 27th of December, 1979, "Operation Storm-333: Soviet troops occupied major governmental, military and media buildings in Kabul, including the Tajbeg Palace, and executed Prime Minister Amin." -
Regret on the Way to America
Amir and Baba are going to America and are in a taurpalin, when a the soldier watching over them laid eyes a woman. Amir realized that, "the soldier wanted a half hour with the lady in the back of the truck... That was when Baba stood up...'War doesn't negate decency. It demands it, even more than in times of peace,'" (Hosseini 115). In this quote, Baba stood up to the soldier who was going to rape the woman. This reminds Amir that he should have done the same for Hassan, causing sadness/guilt. -
Pain of California
Amir starts his life in America by talking about his dad and how, "Baba loved the idea of America. It was living in America that gave him an ulcer... But the Bay Area's smog stung his eyes, the traffic noise gave him headaches, and the pollen made him cough," (Hosseini 125-126). In this quote Amir is describing how America is causing Baba discomfort and hard living conditions. The way life was in Afghanistan was different for the two of them then life in California. -
Loneliness
Amir went back to Afghanistan and specifically Hazarajat to find Hassan for many reasons, and he said that,"The biggest one, Allah forgive me, was that I was lonely. By then, most of my friends and relatives had either been killed or had escaped the country to Pakistan or Iran," (Hosseini 203). In this quote, Amir explains his reasoning for visiting Hassan. He misses him, and wanted to see an old childhood friend who meant something to him. -
Death, Love, and Success
Amir describes his current living situation about,"Shortly after Baba's death, Soraya and I moved into a one-bedroom apartment in Fremont, just a few blocks away from the general and Khala Jamila's house... I got my acceptance at San Jose State that summer and declared an English major," (Hosseini 180-181). In this quote, unfortunately, Amir's father has passed away, however Amir has a loving wife, and an English major. His writing career will propel from this opportunity he has been given. -
Soviet War in Afghanistan
On the 14h of April in 1988, "The Soviet government signed the Geneva Accords, which included a timetable for withdrawing their armed forces." -
The First Novel
Amir's writing career starts when he said,"In the summer of 1988, about six months before the Soviets withdrew from Afghanistan, I finished my first novel,... Six weeks later, a man named Martin Greenwalt called from New York and offered to represent me," (Hosseini 182-183). In this quote, Amir publishes his first official book. Less than two months later, a man called to represent him. Amir found his talent in America, and is going to build his career off of it. -
Soviet War in Afghanistan
After a war in Afghanistan, on February 15th, 1989, "The last Soviet troops left the country." -
Civil War in Afghanistan
This civil war took place on April 24th, 1992 when, "Afghan political parties signed the Peshawar Accord which created the Islamic State of Afghanistan and proclaimed Sibghatullah Mojaddedi its interim President." -
Durand Line Treaty Expires
In January of 1993, "The Durand line Treaty is expired and all Afghans lands are supposed to be returned but Pakistan refuses to." -
Taliban Military Campaign
In January 1995, "The Taliban, with Pakistani support, initiated a military campaign against the Islamic State of Afghanistan and its capital Kabul." -
Taliban Terror Attacks
On September 27th, 1996, "The Taliban conquered Kabul and declared the establishment of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan. Former President Mohammad Najibullah, who had been living under United Nations protection in Kabul, was tortured, castrated and executed by Taliban forces." -
Search For Sohrab
When Amir later returns for his last living blood relative and is told of the Taliban taking orphanage children, the owner of the orphanage says,"'He took Sohrab a month ago,'" (Hosseini 257). This quote explains that Sorhab was take by the Taliban, and that Amir will have to search elsewhere for Sohrab. He is worried for his safety and determined to find him as soon as he can. -
Painful Relief
When Amir finally organizes a meeting with the Taliban member who took Sohrab, he is shocked to discover that the man is Assef. Assef proposes that they duel for Sohrab all Amir remembered was,"His brass knuckles flashing...shattering my jaw... blood from my split upper lip... the sound of my ribs snapping..." (Hosseini 288). In this quote, Assef brutally beat Amir. However, Amir laughed as he got what he deserved for not helping Hassan in the past, and Sohrab slingshotted Assef in the eye. -
Sohrab's Struggle in Coming to America
Once Amir had healed, he asked Sohrab,"'Would you like to come to America with me and my wife?' He didn't answer. He sobbed into my shirt and I let him," (Hosseini 320). In this quote Sohrab has a break down about coming to America with Amir. The breakdown is mainly because of the trauma and shock he is in, and on top of that, he is being asked to leave his home country with a man he barely knows. -
Sohrab's Life Saved by a Prayer
Sohrab cut himself with Amir's razor and was severely injured. Amir described his prayer for the first time in years by saying,"I throw my... prayer rug, on the floor and I get on my knees, lower my forhead to the ground, my tears soaking through the sheet... I pray that He is as merciful, benevolent, and gracious as His book says He is..." (Hosseini 345-346). In this quote, Amir prays to God that Sohrab will be okay, which is later proven when the doctor says he is going to survive. -
The Kite
When Sohrab and Amir were in America they went to fly kites. For the first time Amir saw that Sohrab was enjoying himself and Amir asked to fly it for him and said,"'For you, a thousand times over,'" (Hosseini 371). In this quote, Amir expresses how he truly cares for Sohrab. He just wants to make him happy, and be a father to him to carry out Hassan's parenting job. -
Sohrab is Silent, the World is Not
Amir explains that when Sohrab was still recovering in the hospital that,"One Tuesday morning last September, the Twin Towers came crumbling down and, overnight the world changed," (Hosseini 362). In this quote, the 9/11 attacks occurred. This quote was important as this attack was launched by Arabic people like Sohrab and Amir, which could cause suspicion towards them from others in their futures. -
Bush Confronts the Taliban
Bush had had enough because right, "After the September 11 attacks in the United States, U.S. President George W. Bush demanded the Taliban government to hand over al-Qaeda head Osama bin Laden and close all terrorist training camps in the country." -
International Security Force is Born
On December 5th, 2001, "The United Nations Security Council authorized the creation of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) to help maintain security in Afghanistan and assist the Karzai administration."