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The Kite Runner- Shah began his reign
In 1933, "Zahir Shah began his forty-year reign of Afghanistan..." (Hosseini, 24). They started killing innocent Hazara's, and got an evil reputation from it. The brothers made Afgans racist towards Hazara's, which caused majority of them to get abused and not respected. -
The Kite Runner- Hassans Birth
In Amir's house, "in that little shack [in the back], that Hassan was born in the winter of 1964" (Hosseini, 6).Amir and Hassan were both born and raised in the same house, and grew up together.This is significant because over the years, they grew a brotherly bond, that made them extremely close. -
The Kite Runner- Baba built an orphanage
When Amir was around the age of 5 or 6, "Baba decided to build and orphange" (Hosseini, 13). When Baba surprised everyone with his success, he was very respected. This impacted Amir's performance by people always having high expectations for him since his father was superior. -
The Kite Runner- Baba took a break from construction
In 1970, Baba took a break from construction, and flew to another country to watch soccer. Baba signed him up for soccer teams, "but [he] was pathetic...the harder [he] tried, [he] was ignored" (Hosseini, 20). This shows how Amir never met Baba's expectations, and was always a disappointment. He felt like no matter what he did, he would never gain Baba's respect. -
The Kite Runner- Amir tricked Hassan
Amir was tricking Hassan by reading another story. Hassan didnt realize what was happening since he was illiterate, and Amir took advantage of that to mock him. He "had abandoned the text altogether...Hassan was, of course, oblivious to this" (Hosseini, 30). This proves that Amir was inconsiderate, and just wanted to make a joke out of Hassan, even though Hassan wouldn't do the same. -
The Kite Runner- Hassan's harelip surgery
Amir said, "Baba, Rahim Khan, Ali, and I had huddled around Hassan's bed...Now everyone in that room was either dead or dying, Except for me" (Hosseini, 219). This proves that Amir noticed how fortunate he was that he survived in America. Everyone else besides Baba suffered in Afghanistan. Amir felt lonely because everyone he grew up with, died. -
The Kite Runner- Hassan's Rape
Hassan got raped to save Amir's kite because that was the kind of friend he was. Assef said, "Because today, it's only going to cost you that blue kite" (Hosseini, 72). Even though this wasnt Hassan's kite, he didn't even consider to give Assef Amir's kite. If Amir was in that situation, he would've never stood up for Hassan, despite everything he's done. -
Soviet Russia Invaded
The Soviet troops first "parachuted into Kabul on Dec. 27, 1979, to assist Babrak Karmal, who had become president in a coup within the Afghan Communist leadership" (New York Times, page 2). -
The Kite Runner- going to Jalalabad
In 1981, Amir and Baba were on their way to Pakistan. Amir said, "There would be no truck, Karim told us after we'd spent a week in the rat-infested basement. The truck was beyond repair" (Hosseini, 120). Since their truck wasnt working, everyone was forced to bond and get along. Amir realized the struggles of other families, and how fortunate he is. -
The Kite Runner- Amir and Baba live in America
When Amir and Baba moved to America, Amir said, "For me, America was a place to bury my memories. For Baba, a place to mourn his" (Hosseini, 129). This proves that Baba moved to America for Amir to have a better life. Baba misses Kabul because thats where he grew up, but now he has to be thoughtful of Amir's future. -
Soviet Air Force
The Soviet Air Force makes them "largely useless by advanced Stinger antiaircraft missiles supplied by the United States to the rebels" (New York Times, page 2). -
The Kite Runner- Amir went to find Hassan
Amir said, "There were a lot of reasons why i went to Hazarajat to find Hassan in 1986. The biggest one...was that i was lonely." Reconnecting with Hassan would give Amir closure, and would make him feel like he had his friend back. He felt lost in his own city, and being with Hassan would make him feel like he wasnt a stranger. -
Soviet Troups Left
After the United Nations moderated peace talks, "the last Soviet troops left Afghanistan in February 19989, in what was in effect a unilateral withdrawal" (New York Times,page 2). -
The Kite Runner-Sanaubar visited Hassan
When Sanaubar visited Hassan, she said, "I have walked long and far to see if you are as beautiful in the flesh as you are in my dreams" (Hosseini, 210). Seeing his mother since she left when he was born, was emotional for Hassan. She was trying to atone for her wrongdoings, so she came back to her son. -
The Kite Runner-Northern Alliance took over Kabul
When Amir came back to Pakistan to visit Rahim, he finds out that, "people just stayed put, prayed the next rocket wouldn't hit their home" (Hosseini, 199). This is significant because it proves how much times have changed since Amir left. He realizes how thankful he should be. -
Pakistan started funneling arms
In 1994, Pakistan started "funneling arms, money and supplies to Mullah Omar's men, as well as military advisers to help guide them in battle" (New York Times, page 3). -
Internecine Srife aka "Dark Age"
After the Soviet Union left Afghanistan, they "descended into vicious intercine strife; by the summer of 1994, power was anarchically divided among competing warlords and individual fiefdoms" (New York Times, page 2). -
Mullah Omar gaining followers
Near the end of 1994, "Mullah Omar had nearly 12,000 followers and was rolling up the warlords to the north and east. With his promise of restoring the centrality of Islam to daily life..." (New York Times, page 2). -
Al Qaeda removed power from Taliban
In 2001, "the invasion succeeded in dislodging Al Qaeda and removing the Taliban from power, but not in eradicating either group" (New York Times, page 1). -
U.S. Military Involved in Afghanistan
The United States' military has been "involved in Afghanistan since 2001, when it led invasion after the Sept. 11 attacks by Al Qaeda" (New York Times, page 1). -
The Kite Runner- Amir goes back to Pakistan
In 2001, Amir says, "I have to go back Pakistan... Rahim Khan is very sick" (Hosseini, 191). Going back is significant because he catches up with his family friend, and finds out everything that is going on in Afghanistan that he missed out on. It is important for him to visit Rahim because he needed to know how to help Rahim, since he was there for him for all of his childhood. -
The Kite Runner- Arriving home with Sohrab
In August 2001, "Soraya picked up [Amir and Sohrab] at the airport" (Hosseini, 357). When Sohrab came home, he was traumatized from everything he's been through. He was not excited for life in America since he missed his old life so much. -
9/11 Attack
After the bomb attack on the World Trade center on 9/11, "President George W. Bush gave the Taliban an ultimatum to hand over Mr. bin Laden. When it refused, the United States joined forces with rebel groups that had never accepted Taliban rule..." (New York Times, page 3). -
The Kite Runner-Reflecting on his Past
In December of 2001, Amir was reflecting on his past by saying, "That was a long time ago, but it's wrong what they say about the past, I've learned, about how you can bury it. Looking back now, I realize I have been peeking into that deserted alley for the last twenty-six years" (Hosseini, 1). The day Hassan got raped impacted Amir's life not only in that moment, but also as he was growing up. Even when he thought it was all over, the past repeats itself, by having Amir go back and atone. -
Combat forces withdrawed from Afghanistan
Obama called for "American combat forces to begin withdrawing from Afghanistan in the summer of 2011...the administration increasingly emphasizes the idea that the United States will have forces in the country until at least the end of 2014" (New York Times, page 1).