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Period: to
1975-present
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Amir looks forward to the kite tournament
For kids in Afghanistan, "[the] kite-fighting tournament was a winter tradition.... It started early in the moring on the da of the contest and didn't end until only the winning kite flew in the sky" (51). Amir usually enjoys the day of and the days surrounding the kite tournament. But this year, an event that woul change the life of Amir and everyone around him would occur. Hassan's violation shaped almost the whole plot from that point. -
Hassan is Raped, and Amir Runs Away
Amir struggled to decide whether or not he should save Hassan when he said, "I could step into that alley, stand up for Hassan--the way he'd stood up for me all those times in the past--and accept whatever would happen to me. Or I could run" (77). Amir was weighing the risks of saving and abondoning Hassan in the alley. It was good of Amir to think about it, but he showed cowardice by running. Standing up for Hassan would have been the right thing to do. -
Amir and Hassan Win the Kite tournament
Amir remembers cutting the final kite, and "[then he] was screaming, and everything was color and sound, and everything was alive and good... 'We won! We won!' was all [he] could say" (66). This victory was very important because it seemingly led Baba to love Amir more. Baba's affection was the one thing that Amir craved the most, and now he finally had it. -
Amir Frames Hassan
After witnessing Hassan be raped, Amir describes how he framed Hassan; "I lifted Hassan's mattress and planted my new watch and a handful of Afghani bills under it" (104). The mental and emotional stress on Amir was too great after he left Hassan helpless. SInce he couldn't deal with the consequences of his actions, Amir chose to try to get Hassan fired to relieve that pressure. -
Soviet Union Invasion
Afghanistan was a peaceful, prosperous country until, but when "The first Soviet troops parachuted into Kabul on Dec. 27, 1979" (NYT 2), things got and stayed ugly. -
Baba and Amir flee Afghanistan
Amir remembers his escape from Afghanistan; "[Karim] was taking us to Jalalabad, about 170 kilometers southeast of Kabul, where his brother, Toor, who had a bigger truck with a second convoy of refugees, was waiting to drive us across the Khyber Pass and into Peshwar" (111). Amir and Baba chose to throw everything away in Afghanistan and start anew in America. The reader can infer that Afghanistan was in bad shape at this time because of all the risks that Baba and Amir were willing to take. -
Baba is diagnosed with cancer
Baba went through a series of tests after seeing the doctor for the first time. There, he and Amir learned that "cancer had many names. Baba's was called 'Oat Cell Carcinoma.' Advanced. Inoperable. Baba asked Dr. Armani for a prognosis. Dr. Armani bit his lip, used the word 'grave'" (156). Baba's diagnosis of cancer was a major change for Baba and Amir. Amir would soon have to find his was in life on his own. Baba passed away when Amir needed him most. -
Baba & Amir start to buy and sell things
To describe the early stages of the trading, Hosseini writes, "On Saturdays, Baba woke me up at dawn.... By midafternoon, we'd filled the back of the VW bus with used goods. Then early Sunday mornings, we drove to the San Jose flea market off Berryessa, rented a spot, and sold the junk for a small profit" (137). The flea market plays an important role in The Kite Runner. This is where Amir and Soraya met each other. They later married, whch was a huge event for both of them. -
Amir Passes his first year of college
Amir meets General Taheri just as he finishes his first year of college. Baba tells the General, "'Amir is going to be a great writer' ... 'He has finished his first year of college and earned A's in all of his courses'" (139). It is very impressive that Amir earned such high grades just a few years after moving to America. To become the type of writer that Amir wants to be, he must continue to do well in school. -
Amir Marries Soraya
Amir makes a huge desicion when he tells Baba, "I want you to ask General Taheri for his daughter's hand. ... [I'm more] sure than I've ever been about anything" (161). Amir, though he didn't know Soraya Taheri well, wanted to marry her. He asked Baba to go through the cultural process, and then married Soraya in a short amount of time. This change proved very positive for Amir. -
Soviet Air Force Rendered Useless
In the 1980s, the Soviets use their air force in the invasion of Afghanistan, but "After 1986, the Soviet Air Force was also rendered largely useless by advanced Stinger anitaircraft missiles supplied by the United States to the rebels" (NYT 2). -
Soviet Troops Leave Afghanistan
Finally, after years of war, the Soviets withdrawled, but "They left behind a country that was not ony devistated by the war but that had become a beacon to Islamic extremists from across the globe who had come to assist in the fighting" (NYT 2). -
Baba Passes Away
Soraya took the role of Baba's caretaker. One night, "[she] pulled up his blanket. We closed the door. Baba never woke up" (173). It was hard on Amir when his father died, but he got through it. However, Baba passed on when Amir needed the most guidance and advice for his life. This caused Amir to be more independent, but still lost at times. -
Pakistan Helps Afghanistan
The Taliban wouldn't have risen to power if it weren't for "Pakistani intelligence offiers," who "began funneling arms, money and supplies to Mullah Omar's men, as well as military advisers who helped guide them in battle" (NYT 3). -
Mullah Omar Gains Popularity
After the Soviets left Afghanistan, it was a mess. Warlords battled for power, and "By the end of 1994 Mullah Omar had nearly 12,000 followers and was rolling up the warlords to the north and east" (NYT 2). -
Taliban Takes Control
Mullah Omar's group, the Taliban, rose to power. Despite all the fighting, "the Taliban by 1996 had taken control of Afghanistan, imposing strict enforcement of fundamentalist Islamic law" (NYT 3). -
bin Laden Enters Afghanistan
As well as being very harsh, "The Taliban provided a haven for Mr. bin Laden, who arrived by chartered jet at Jalalabad Airport in May 1996, and for Al Qaeda" (NYT 3). -
Amir Goes to Find Rahim Khan
Amir wastes no time in getting to Pakistan and a "week later, I sat on a window seat aboard a Pakistani International Airlines flight... [Soon], we were airborne, cutting through the clouds" (194). After learning that Rahim is very sick, Amir rushes to meet him and talk about everything that has happened. Hossieni hints that there is something more lurking in Amir's journey than just a visit. -
Amir learns of his mission to save Hassan's son
After reading Hassan's letter, Rahim Khan tells Amir what he has to do to atone for his sins. Rahim Khans says, "'Amir jan, I summoned you here because I wanted to see you before I die, but that's not all.' ... 'I want you to go to Kabul. I want you to bring Sohrab here,' he said" (220). Rahim Khan is not asking that much of Amir, considering what Amir has done. Even if Amir does complete this request, he will not have fully atoned for his & Baba's sins. -
Amir is Beaten by Assef
In order to take Sohrab from Assef, Amir must pay in the way of a beating. Amir describes his encounter as, "[getting] thrown against the wall, a nail where a framed picture may have hung once jabbing at my back.... The knuckles shattering my jaw. Choking on my own teeth... The sound of my ribs snappng like the tree branches Hassan and I used to break..." (Hosseini 288). Amir was right to accept the abuse to save Sohrab. However, rescuing Sohrab didn't quite clear Amir's sins of the past. -
9/11 Attacks
Soon after the (attempted) attacks on the Pentagon, White House, and World Trade Center, "President George W. Bush gave the Taliban an ultimatum to hand over Mr. bin Laden" (NYT 3). -
Amir reads Hassan's letter
After finding Rahim Khan, Amir receives Hassan's letter to him. Hosseini writes, "'I read the letter twice. I folded the note and looked at the photograph for another minute. I pocketed both. 'How is he?' I asked" (218). After this excerpt, Rahim proceeds to tell Amir of Hassan's fate and also tell him that Hassan and Amir are brothers. This event is crucial to the plot of the book because it changes Amir's outlook on his life, family, close friends, and his mission in Afghanistan. -
Sohrab Attempts Suicide
Amir and Sohrab are almost set to return to America at this point in the story. Then, "[Amir] pushed the door open. Stepped into the bathroom. Suddenly [he] was on his knees, screaming... Screaming until [he] thought [his] throat would rip open and [his] chest explode" (343). Amir walked in and saw that Sohrab had tried to stab himself to death. This mortified Amir, and it also made the relationship between him and Sohrab very awkward. After this event, Sohrab was silent, which affected Amir. -
Obama Sends More Troops
On Dec. 1, 2009, "Mr. Obama announced his plan to deploy 30,000 additional troops" (NYT 4) to help combat the Taliban/Al Qaeda in the Middle East. -
Taliban Regains Power after fall
The Taliban were replaced by President Karzai, but "As the American military focus was diverted to the invasion and occuptaion of Iraq, the Taliban regrouped and began to extned its influence to the southern part of Afghanistan" (NYT 3).