-
Baba and Ali's friendship
"Ali and Baba grew up together as childhood playmates – at least until polio crippled Ali's leg – just like Hassan and I grew up a generation later." This is important because in a way, their friendship shaped Hassan and Amirs friendship, causing them to have a very close bond. Also, both Amir and Baba betray their friend, one by having a son with the others wife, and one witnessing the other getting raped and doing nothing about it. -
Period: to
History of Afghanistan
-
Hassan gets raped
" He positioned himself behind Hassan. Hassan didn't struggle. He didn't even whimper." This shows that by not struggling, he had given up trying to fight Assef and had just let him hurt him. He had realized that he should give up trying to fight Assef due to the fear of him coming back and hurting him, or something or someone he loved worse. That is foreshadowing Assef continuously raping Hassan's son, Sohrab, Aven if assef didn't know exactly who it was that he was sexually abusing. -
Hassan gets his Harlip fixed
''Baba had hired a plastic surgeon to correct Hassan's harelip.'' By doing this, he caused extreme jealousy from Amir due to the fact that hassan was given more special attention than he was. Amir did not just feel the jealousy, he acted upon the jealousy changing bot Amir and Babas life forever. -
Amir wins the kite running tournament
"I was going to win. There was no other viable option. I was going to win, and I was going to run that last kite. Then I'd bring it home and show it to Baba. Show him once and for all that his son was worthy." (45) This quote shows the importance of winning this tournament, which could lead to all Amir ever wanted, Babas approval of him. At the time, the approval meant more to him than anything such as his friendship with Hassan. -
Hassan gets bullied
"I'll tell you why, Hazara. Because to him, you're something he can play with when he's bored, something he can kick when he's angry. Don't ever fool yourself and think you're something more."Assef bullying Hassan plays a huge role in the novel because bullying him causes a long chain of events that are very significant. The abuse played a huge role in all of the characters towards the end of the book causing life changing events, such as sohrab being in Amirs care, to occur. -
Soviet Union Invasion
Since 1979, " Afghanistan, officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, has known little peace since 1979, when the soviet union invaded." (New York Times, 2011) -
Baba and Amir in America
"For me America was a place to bury memories. For Baba a place to mourn his." (129) This quote shows how both of them feel about America, and why they did or did not enjoy their life there. This is significant because Amir was able to escape all of the regrets by going to America, but for Baba, his life was never the same, and he could never truly be happy in America, -
Amir gets married
“Up to this? It’s the happiest day of my life, Amir,” [Baba] said, smiling tiredly... Baba spent $35,000, nearly the balance of his life savings, on the wedding ceremony." This is a very important time in both Amirs adulthood and his childhood, because in one day both versions of Amir got what they had long wished for. Present day Amir wanted nothing buy Soraya, and young Amir wanted nothing but his father approval and for his father to be proud and that day, both this needs were met. -
Amir meets Soraya
"I heard you write...How did she know? I wondered if her father had told her, maybe she had asked him.'' This was one of the first conversations he has had with Soroya, and that moment changed his life forever. This not only allowed him to marry her, but it also allowed him to consider (and accept) the task of raising Sohrab. -
Baba dies
" I turned around and found Baba on the ground. His arms and legs were jerking... call 911!" (135-136) This chapter Baba dies leaving Amir fatherless and heartbroken. This quote is significant because it shows him letting go of his childhood dependence on Baba and learning how to provide for not only himself, but his new wife as well. -
Hassan moves back into Babas house
"What will he think when he comes back to Kabul after the war and finds that I have assumed his place in the house?" Then, in mourning for your father, Hassan wore black for the next forty days." This quote shows Hassans kindness and how much he cares for others, which is a very important trait for him. Even though all the bad memories he had faced in or near that house, he still went back to care and tend for an od friend, which is a true act of kindness. -
Soviet Troops leaving
After killing over 15,000 people " the last Soviet Troops left Afghanistan in February 1989" (NYT) -
The Taliban
Because they were " Buoyed by Pakistani aid, the Taliban by 1996 had taken control of Afghanistan..." (NYT) -
War
In 1996, "Pakistani intelligence officers began funneling arms, money and supplies to Mullah Omar's men, as well as military advisers to help guide them in battle." (NYT) -
The Ultimatum
Because of " the attack on the world Trade Center in New York on Sept. 11, 2001, President George W. Bush gave the Taliban an ultimatum to hand over Mr. bin laden." (NYT) -
Amir saves Sohrab
"We are driving to Islamabad to find a home for [Sohrab]This quote show that even though he could not save Hassan, he attempted to make it up to him by saving Sohrab from the horrible conditions he was living in. Amir risked everything that he had worked so hard to achieve in order to save Sohrab, to make it up to Hassan. -
Assef fights Amir
"Another rib snapped, this time left lower. What was so funny was that, for the first time since the winter of 1975, I felt at peace...my body was broken--just how badly I wouldn’t find out until later--but I felt healed. Healed at last. I laughed." This is significant because during this point in the book Amir finally forgives himself for his actions. It allows his guilt to go away and he finally is able to put his biggest mistake behind him. -
Amir finds out he and Hassan were brothers
"Father never said he had a brother."
[Amir:] "That's because he didn't know."
[Sohrab:] "Why didn't he know?"
"No one told him," [Amir] said. "No one told me either. I just found out recently." This quote is important because it shows the part of the book when Amir finds out he and Hassan were brothers. this pushes Amir to save Sohrab, which results in Amir forgiving himself for his actions back in his childhood. -
The 2001 Invasion
Luckily, " The 2001 invasion succeeded in dislodging Al Qaeda and removing the Taliban from power..." (NYT) -
Amir gets called by Rahim Kahn
"One day last summer, my friend Rahim Khan called from Pakistan. He asked me to come see him. Standing in the kitchen with the receiver to my ear, I knew it wasn’t just Rahim Khan on the line. It was my past of unatoned sins." This is a very important part in the book because it causes Amir to go back to Pakistan and face all of his guilt and sins. This is significant because it leads up to Amir finally forgiving himself by saving Sohrab. -
9/11 attack
For both our and the country of Afghanistan's safety, "The United States has been militarily involved in Afghanistan since 2001, when it led an invasion after the Sept. 11 attacks by Al Qaeda." (New York Times, 2011) -
Hamid Karazi's Presidency
In sight of saving Afghanistan, " He took office as interim president in June 2002, saying he hoped to secure peace of Afghanistan..." (NYT) -
Sohrab smiled
" It was only a smile, nothing more... But I'll take it. With open arms." This quote shows Sohrab finally showing a sign of breaking out of his shell in America, and finally showing happiness. This is important because it shows Amirs life with Sohrab getting better and it shows -
Taliban's strongholds
For the safety of civilians, " the architect of the 2007 "surge" in Iraq, in command of American forces in Afghanistan, and the pace of American operations stepped up enormously, initially in the Taliban's strongholds in the South." (NYT) -
Obama's Plan
Obama announced " In a speech delivered Dec. 1, 2009, at est Point, Mr. Obama announced his plan to deploy 30,000 additional troops." (NYT)