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Amir and Hassan Encounter Assef
Assef and his friends came up to Amir and Hassan while they were climbing a tree and started insulting Amir by saying, “You’re a disgrace to Afghanistan” (Hosseini 41). However, before Assef could lay his hands on Amir, Hassan stood up for Amir and threatened to hurt Assef with his slingshot, which caused Assef and his friends to leave. Hassan’s courageous action demonstrated his care and loyalty he felt towards Amir. -
Amir Wins the Kite Flying Competition
When Amir won and became the kite flying champion, he experienced “the single greatest moment of [his] twelve years of life, seeing Baba [his father] on that roof, proud of [him] at last” (Hosseini 66). Amir had always strived to please his father and seldom succeeded. This moment, however, was one of the few times where his father was finally happy to have Amir as a son, showing the strained relationship between Amir and his father. -
Hassan was Sexually Harassed
When Hassan was running the last kite for Amir, he got cornered by Assef, who then raped Hassan. Amir saw the whole thing, but “in the end, [he] ran” (Hosseini 77). As a result of this event, Hassan’s life was ruined as he had experienced a horrific ordeal and there was no one to help him through it. Amir was the only one who might have been able to help, but he instead stayed in his room all day and did not talk to Hassan. After that day, Amir and Hassan were never true friends again. -
Hassan and Ali Leave Baba and Amir
After Amir framed Hassan for stealing his money and watch, Ali and Hassan announced that they “can’t live [there] anymore” and that “life [there was] impossible for [them]” (Hosseini 106). Baba was very upset by this and did not understand why they were leaving, but Amir knew that Hassan had admitted to his father what had happened. Amir had felt strangely content with that because someone finally knew him for what he truly was. After Hassan and Ali left, Baba and Amir’s life had a hole in it -
First Soviet Troops Land in Afghanistan
On this day, "the first Soviet troops parachuted into Kabul, [Afghanistan,]" in order "to assist Babrak Karmal, who had become president in a coup within the Afghan Communist leadership" (2,The New York Times). -
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Soviet Union Stationed in Afghanistan
The Soviet troops had stayed in Afghanistan, "fighting a conflicht that cost them roughly 15,00 lives and undisclosed billions of rubles"; finally, "after peace talks moderated by the United Nations, the last Soviet troops left Afghanistan in February 1989" (2,The New York Times). -
Amir and Baba Leave Kabul, Afghanistan
When life in Kabul had gotten too dangerous for Baba and Amir to live there, they “left Kabul just after two in the morning” headed towards Pakistan (Hosseini 110). The Russians had come into Afghanistan and turned society upside-down. Friends were telling on friends, even children were telling on their parents for breaking the absurd laws the Russians had put in place. Baba and Amir were just a couple of the many people who had snuck out of Afghanistan in order to improve their lives. -
Amir and Baba Live in California
Amir and Baba had “spent six months in Peshawar [Pakistan] waiting for the INS to issue [their] visas”, and finally they were able to go to America (129). This move to a different country was one of Baba’s last gifts for Amir. Baba had enjoyed life in Peshawar, but it was not the same for Amir, so Baba made a sacrifice in order for Amir’s life to be better. This shows how even though Amir may not be aware of it, Baba cares deeply for him. -
Amir Goes to College
After graduating from high school, Amir decided to “enroll in junior college classes in the fall” and “major in English” (Hosseini 134). Although Baba was slightly disappointed in Amir’s decision to major in creative writing, Amir finally stood up for his own opinion so he could do something he wanted to do, not something that was done in order to please Baba. Amir’s decision to do what he truly wanted to do shows a positive change in his personality and character. -
Baba and Amir Join the Flea Market
In the summer of 1984, Amir and Baba started selling at a flea market of which “Afghan families were working an entire section” (137). The preceding day, Amir and Baba would go together to different yard and garage sales around the bay and buy items that they would later sell for a profit. Not only did it bring in extra revenue, it also brought Amir and Baba closer together; they were with each other enough to begin to understand and appreciate each other’s personalities and characteristics. -
Amir and Soraya Get Married
After getting to know Soraya Taheri at the flea market, Amir asked Baba “to ask General Taheri for his daughter’s hand” to which Baba agreed and General Taheri accepted (Hosseini 161). Amir fell in love Soraya the moment he laid his eyes on her, and being married to her was something that he wanted dearly. Baba doing this for Amir was truly his last gift for Amir; it was the last thing he could do that would make Amir’s life even better, something that Baba had always wanted to do. -
Baba Died
A month after Soraya and Amir were married, Baba passed away, and Amir realized that “he was gone. Baba couldn’t show [him] the way anymore; [he’d] have to find it on [his] own” (Hosseini 174). Amir had always looked up to Baba as an example by which to live; everything Amir did was somewhat influenced by Baba. Now that Baba was not there anymore, Amir had to figure out his way all by himself, but that was a thought that scared him. -
Taliban Gains Followers
The Taliban's leader and founder, Mullah Omar, "had nearly 12,00 followers " and promised to "restor[e] the centrality of Islam to daily life", by creating "a genuinely popular movement in a country weary of corruption and brutality" (2, The New York Times). -
Taliban Takes Control of Government
In 1996, the Taliban "had taken control of Afghanistan, imposing strict enforcement of fundametalist Ismlamic law, banning movies and music and forcing women out of schools and into all-enveloping burqa clothing" (3, The New York Times). -
Osama Bin Laden Arrives
The Taliban allowed Osama bin Laden, "who arrived by chartered jet at Jalalabad Airport," and Al Qaeda to safely stay in the country (3, The New York Times). -
Amir Travels to See Rahim Khan
Rahim Khan had called Amir, asking him to come down to Pakistan to see him, and “a week later, [Amir sat on a window seat aboard a Pakistan International Airlines flight”, heading towards Rahim Khan (Hosseini 194). To Amir, Rahim Khan had always been a great friend when he was in need, and that filled a small hole in Amir’s life. Now that Rahim was in need of help, Amir felt as though he owed it to Rahim to go back and return the favor. -
Amir Rescues Sohrab
Because of Rahim Khan’s wishes, Amir went to find Hassan’s son, Sohrab, but had to fight Assef for him, and Sohrab hit Assef in the eye with his slingshot, “helped [Amir] to [his] feet”, and ran out with Amir (Hosseini 291). Amir tried to amend for his childhood sins by going to find Sohrab, but once there, he found himself up against Assef. Just like his father, Sohrab used his slingshot against Assef to help protect Amir. This created a special bond between Amir and Sohrab. -
Sohrab Attempts Suicide
When Amir told Sohrab that a possible way to adopt Sohrab was to put him back in an orphanage, Sohrab was extremely upset, tried to commit suicide, and later told Amir that he “wish[es] that [Amir] had left [him] in the water” (Hosseini 355). Amir tried to be a good person and adopt Sohrab, but he made a mistake of leaving Sohrab all alone after bringing him news that devastated him. Amir always makes a mistake in a relationship that tends to affect the rest of a person’s life. -
Sohrab and Amir Go to America
Amir and Sohrab "arrived home...on a warm day in August 2001", but Sohrab did not speak to anyone at all (Hosseini 357). Sohrab was still very upset with the world and did not feel comfortable speaking or being with anyone. Although Amir meant the best for everyone by bringing Sohrab to America, Sohrab's presence caused some tension in Amir's family. -
US Goes Against Taliban
After the destruction of the World Trade Center in New York on September 11, 2001, President George W. Bush demanded that the Taliban hand over Osama bin Laden, and when they refused, the United States joined the Northern Alliance, which were "rebel groups that had never accepted Taliban rule" (3, The New York Times). -
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US's Military Involvement in Afghanistan
"The United States has been militarily involved in Afghanistan since 2001, when it led an invasion after the Sept. 11 attacks by Al Qaeda", and will reportedly leave Afghanistan by the end of 2014 (1, The New York Times). -
Amir and Sohrab Go Kite Fighting
Seven months after first arriving in America, Amir, Soraya, and Sohrab were out in the city and they saw kite fighters and Amir decided to join in, and as a result he saw "a smile" from Sohrab. By connecting Sohrab with an activity that his father had enjoyed, Amir brought some fun and excitement back into Sohrab's life. Kite fighting was the beginning of opening up Sohrab's heart once again. -
New Leader of Government
Hamid Karzai, who was "a supporter and relative of Mohammad Zahir Shah, the exiled former king of Afghanistan," was put into "office as interim president,...hop[ing] to secure peace for Afghanistan and win the country much-needed international aid" (3, The New York Times). -
US Troops Supposed to Leave Afghanistan
President Obama delievered a speech in 2009 saying that the US would "start bringing American forces home from Afghanistan in the middle of 2011, saying [that] the United States could not afford and should not have to shoulder an open-ended commitment" (4, The New York Times). -
U.S. Troops Leave Afghanistan?
The Obama administration has "increasingly emphasize[d] the idea that the United States will have forces in [Afghanistan] until at least the end of 2014" (4, The New York Times).