Kite Runner & the History of Afghanistan

By atancinco220

  • Amir Writes a Story

    Amir made the story that he usually read to Hassan his own which was met with great enjoyment from Hassan. With Hassan's positive feedback, "that same night, [Amir] wrote [his] first short story" (Hosseini 30). This was Amir's first real step into the writing world. The response he gets from his story telling, from both Hassan and Rahim Kahn, encourage him later on in his writing career. It is the foundation for his writing and his dreams.

  • Hassan's Birthday

    For Hassan's birthday, "[Baba] summoned Dr. Kumar...a plastic surgeon" from New Dehli (Hosseini 45). The fact that Baba went to such great lengths for Hassan was rather suspicious. It suggests that the relationship between them may not have been merely servant and master.

  • Kite Tournament

    The winter of 1975 is the day Amir watched Hassan get violated and won the kite tournament also happens to be the day that "changed everything...and made [Amir] what [he is] today" (Hosseini 2). Like the quote said, the kite tournament had a large impact on Amir's life and is also the main catalyst for the plot's development. Because of Amir's choice that day, he never forgets what was done to Hassan and the guilt changes him and the choices he makes for himself.

  • Communist Coup D'etat

    Amir considers "the official end...April 1978" since that was the day the Russian commmunists succeeded in their coup d'etat (Hosseini 36). The quote serves to forebode a change in Afghanistan. It's when events in the book begin to build up.

  • Soviet Union Invades Afghanistan

    The Russian government's desire for influence in Central Asia led to them "[descending] into a prolonged and bloody occupation" in Afghanistan (The New York Times 2).

  • Baba's House Belongs to Rahim Kahn

    Baba "sold" his house to Rahim Kahn, but Rahim Kahn later says that it was "arranged between Baba and him" (Hosseini 199). It shows the close relationship between Rahim Kahn and Baba. In a way, that house and Rahim Kahn's possession of it are responsible for Hassan's demise and move back to Kabul.

  • Amir Meets Taheri

    Amir meets Taheri for the first time and is immediately taken with her. The night he meets her, Amir "[lays] awake in bed....[thinking] of Soraya Taheri's sickle-shaped birthmark, her gently hooked nose, and the way her luminous eyes had fleetingly held [his]" (Hosseini 142). This is important because it is when Amir meets his future wife. It changes the type of man he becomes and his priorities.

  • Rahim Kahn Goes to Find Hassan

    Rahim Kahn was lonely and was having trouble maintaining the house "so one day, [he fueled] up the Buick and drove to Hazarajat" to find Hassan and invite him back to the house (Hosseini 204). Rahim Kahn seperated Hassan and his wife from the safe and happy lifestyle they were living in Hazarajat. By bringing them to Baba's house they met misfortune along with some good, such as Hassan's reunion with Sanuaubar.

  • Amir Finishes His First Novel

    A month after Amir finishes his first novel, "[he] was informed that he was going to be a published novelist" (Hosseni 183). This is a major milestone in Amir's life. He isn't just a writer anymore. He has recognized talent.

  • United States Aid Against the Soviet Union

    The United States supplied Stinger antiaircrafts to the rebels . This weaponry was so advanced that the Soviet Union's Air Force was "rendered largely useless" (The New York Times 2).

  • Soviet Leaves Afghanistan

    Partly due to efforts by the United Nations, "the last Soviet troops [left] Afghanistan in February 1989" (The New York Times 2).

  • Farzana's Pregnancy

    After Farzana had given birth to a a stillborn the first time around, she "[becomes] pregnant again" and later "that same year, a woman covered in a sky blue burqa knocked on the front gates" (Hosseini 209). This was later identified as Hassan's mother, Sanaubar. Farzana's pregnancy is important because Sohrab becomes a major part of Amir's atonement. Sanaubar's return introduced possible atonement even after many years.

  • Sohrab's Birth

    Sohrab "became the center of [Sanaubar's] existence" (Hosseini 211). Sanaubar was able to atone for leaving Hassan by taking care of his son. It gave her the chance to get rid of her guilt. His birth was also important to many other people.

  • Pakistani Support for Taliban

    Taliban survival is largely due to Pakistani intelligence officers "funneling arms, money and supplies...as well as military advisers to guide them in battle" (The New York Times 3).

  • Taliban Grows

    The Taliban grew from "a student movement dedicated to purifying the country" to a largely popular group with nearly 12,000 followers by the end of 1994 (The New York Times 2).

  • Taliban Takeover

    when the Taliban took over many were excited because it "put an end to the daily fighting" (Hosseini 213). What many didn't expect were the harsher restrictions placed on their lifestyles and unnecessary violence. The Taliban is responsible for many major events, including the death of Hassan and his wife.

  • Amir Gets a Call From Rahim Kahn

    Rahim Kahn tells Amir that "[he] is very sick" and that "there is a way to be good again" (Hosseini 192, 193). This phonecall spurs something in Amir that he doesn't quite reognize. In the end, it encourages him to act on his guilt and begin to atone for what he didn't do for Hassan.

  • Amir Finds Out Hassan is Dead

    Rahim Kahn tells Amir that Hassan and his wife were shot by the Taliban. Amir proceeds by imagining "Hassan [slumping] to the aspalt, his life of unrequited loyalty drifting from him like the windblown kites he used to chase" (Hosseini 219). Amir's konwledge of Hassan's death further pushes him to atone. His description of Hassan as he dies also shows he regards Hassan in a positive light.

  • Assef and Amir Reunited

    Amir goes to save Sohrab from a Taliban member, who is later shown to be Assef. Assef and Amir then partake in a fight for their lives. After being put in critical condition, Amir realizes that "for the first time since the winter of 1975, [he] felt at peace" (Hosseini 289). In my opinion, it was at this point that Amir began to accept what he was doing as atonement. The guilt began to dissipate and I noticed that his car sickness disappears as well.

  • Amir and Sohrab Arrive in America

    After their long journey, "Soraya [picks Amir and Sohrab] up at the airport" (Hosseini 357). It signals the end of their troubles in Afghanistan and their success in reaching freedom for Sohrab in America. Sohrab may be damaged, but he has a better chance in America than he did in Afghanistan.

  • Twin Towers Bombing

    Americans begin to miltarily involve themselves in Afghanistan "after the Sept. 11 attacks by Al Qaeda" that took down the Twin Towers (The New York Times 1).

  • Hamid Karzai Becomes Chairman

    Because Karzai became chairman when the Taliban was defeated, he became "leader of the country"(The New York Times 3).

  • General Patraeus Takes Command of US Central Command

    General Patraeus who was given "much of the credit for the success on the surge [in Iraq]", became the head of United States Central Command (The New York Times 4).

  • President Obama Makes a Speech

    Obama declares that he plans to "deploy 30,000 additional troops" (The New York Times 4).

  • Obama Promises to Bring Troops Home

    Obama starts to bring troops from Afghanistan back home because "the United States could not afford and should not have to shoulder an open-ended commitment" (The New York Times 4).

  • Amir Graduates High School

    Amir graduates at twenty and his father shows him the most affection so far. Baba "walked to [Amir], curled his arm around [Amir's] neck, gave [Amir's] brow a single kiss" and said he was proud of him (Hosseini 131). This shows how Baba and Amir's relationship has changed and environmental impacts on relationships. His graduation and Baba being proud of him shows how he is grown and matured as well.