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Baba is Born
Baba was born "in 1933" the same year "two younger brothers "struck and killed a Hazara husband and wife"(24). Baba's birth is a significant part of the book since the same year he is born, Ali's parents are killed. The death of Ali's parents leads Ali to be adopted into Baba's family, and the pair become playmates. -
Hassan is Born
Hassan "was born in the winter of 1964"(6). inside a small shack in the end of the garden. Not only was Hassan born, his mother also left him and Ali to become a gypsy. In her absence, Baba hires the Hazara woman that nursed Amir. It reminded Amir of how the connection between two people who nursed from the same person will never be broken. -
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Kite Runner & the History of Afghanistan
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Amir Wins the Kite Competition
Flying his kite in the competition, Amir heard, “Bravo! Bravo, Amir agha!”(66). To his surprise, Amir had won. Amir thought of all the happy moments he and Baba would have because of his victory. However, this event also led to Hassan’s violation as he runs for the losing kite. -
Amir's Birthday Party
Amir’s birthday party was a spectacular success with “the house packed...guests with drinks in hand chatting, smoking on the stairs”(94). However, the party wasn't exactly for Amir. It was more of an excuse for Baba to throw a lavish party. The packed house and backyard were filled with strangers that Amir barely knew. -
Hassan and Ali Leave
When Hassan “admits” to stealing the watch and money, Ali says that “we are leaving, Agha sahib”(106). After Hassan tells Ali everything that has happened to him, and that things that Amir have done, Ali makes the decision to leave. Ali’s decision greatly impacts Amir and Baba as Baba’s son is leaving and Amir isn't able to make up what he did to Hassan. -
Soviet Union Invades
Afghanistan's troubles were first triggered by the "first Soviet troops [who] parachuted into Kabul on Dec. 27, 1979"(New York Times 2). -
Amir and Baba Move to the US
As a result of the violence in Afghanistan, Amir and Baba leave to go to America. Unfortunately, “Baba loved the idea of America. It was living in America that gave him an ulcer”(124). America was an escape from the violence, but Baba had a very difficult time adjusting to life in the Bay Area. Baba’s inability to conform to the new environment led to Amir having power over him with his ability to speak English. -
Baba Dies
Struggling with cancer, Baba takes pain medications before he sleeps, but one day, “Baba never woke up”(173). Moving to America allowed Amir and Baba to have a closer relationship because of their reliance on each other. After Baba’s death, Amir had to now make his own choices as he was no longer “Baba’s son.” -
Amir marries Soraya
Not long after he meets Soraya at the flea market, Amir requests of Baba to “ask General Taheri for his daughter’s hand”(161). With Baba’s death an imminent future, Amir decides to ask to marry Soraya. Their prompt marriage allowed Soraya to move in with Baba and care for him in his last days. -
Last Soviet Troops Leave Afghanistan
After negotiations, "the last Soviet troops left Afghanistan in February 1989, in what was in effect a unilateral withdrawal"(New York Times 2). -
Amir and Soraya Try Having Kids
Soon after becoming a published novelist, “Soraya and [Amir] began trying to have a child”(187). After year of trying, Soraya isn’t conceiving and the couple learn that Soraya has “unexplained infertility.” Adopting is out of the question because of Afghan values, but later on, their lack of children factor into Amir’s decision to adopt Sohrab. -
Sanaubar Returns
The same year that Farzana became pregnant with Sohrab, “a woman covered in a sky blue burqa knocked on the front gates one morning”(209). The woman who knocked was Hassan’s mother, Sanaubar. Her return showed that even after wrongdoings, one can still make up for their past actions. -
Sohrab is Born
Shortly after Sanaubar returns, she “delivered Hassan’s son that winter”(211). To make up for leaving Hassan, she deeply cares for his child and devotes every minute to Sohrab. Additionally, Sohrab provided a spark of happiness for Farzana and Hassan after their first child was stillborn. -
Power is Divided
Following the departure of Soviet troops, "power was anarchically divided among competing warlords and individual fiefdoms"(New York Times 2). -
Pakistan Aids With Supplies
The Taliban were heavily supported by "Pakistani intelligence officers [who[ began funneling arms, money and supplies to Mullah Omar's men"(New York Times 3). -
Mullah Omar Starts Movement
Mullah had many followers for his movement and his "promise of restoring the centrality of Islam to daily life...[was] a popular movement in a country weary of corruption and brutality"(New York Times 2). -
Taliban Takes Control
With help from neighboring country Pakistan, "the Taliban by 1996 had taken control of Afghanistan, imposing strict enforcement of fundamentalist Islamic law"(New York Times3). -
Amir visits Rahim Khan
Amir receives a phone call from Rahim Khan telling him to visit him because “there is a way to be good again”(192). Amir had not contacted Rahim in many years, and his urge for him to visit was sudden. Rahim’s words reminded Amir of all the wrongs he had committed towards Hassan and all the memories they shared together in Kabul. -
9/11 Terrorist Attack
Attacks on the World Trade Center were led by Al Qaeda leading to how "the United States [have] been miliarily involved in Afghanistan since 2001"(New York Times 1). -
Sohrab Attempts Suicide
When Sohrab learns that he will have to go back to the orphanage, he “cut himself deeply and lost a great deal of blood”(348). After being promised that he would never have to go back, the shock of returning leads him to attempt to commit suicide. All the abuse he received from Assed and the bad memories were too much for him to handle so Sohrab panics. -
President Bush Launches Campaign on Taliban
The Taliban refused to hand over Osama bin Laden leading to "an air and ground campaign that began to [drive] the Taliban out of major Afghan cities by the end of the year"(New York Times 3). -
Amir and Assef's Fight
Amir goes to find Sohrab and discovers that the person who bought him was Assef. As he leads Sohrab out of the door, Assef says that he “didn't say you could take him for free” and how Amir has to “earn him”(286). To gain, Amir has to lose, so he lets himself get beat up in return for Sohrab. The physical pain gives him relief from all the guilt he has inside him and in the end, Sohrab saves his life. Sohrab’s actions remind him of Hassan and Amir attempts to atone for his actions through Sohrab -
Hamid Karzai Becomes Leader of Country
The Taliban were replaced by "Hamid Karzai...[who] was named chairman of an interim government...making him the leader of the country"(New York Times 3). -
Sohrab and Amir Fly a Kite
Amir offered “the string out for him, [and] his hand lifted from his pocket. Hesitated. Took the string”(369). Sohrab had been mute ever since arriving to America and the small step he took to accepting the string to the kite was overjoying. When Amir cuts the other kite’s string, he offers to run the kite for Sohrab, just like Hassan did for Amir. -
Mr. Obama's Speech
In a speech delivered at West Ppoint, President Obama "announced his plan to deploy 30,000 additional troops. He vowed to start bringing American forces home from Afghanistan in the middle of 2011"(New York Times 4).