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Amir is Born
In 1963, Amir was born to his parents Baba, "one of the richest merchants in Kabul" and Sofia Akrami, "a highly educated woman universally regarded as one of Kabul's most respected, beautiful, and virtuous ladies. However, Sofia Akrami died while giving birth to him. Throughout his life, Amir felt guilty because of this, and he thought Baba hated him because of it. -
In the Alley
After the kite competition, Hassan is raped in the alley by Assef and a few other boys. Amir ran away without trying to stop it "because [he] was a coward" and because he felt that he might need to sacrifice Hassan in order to win his father's approval (Hosseini 76). -
Soviet Union Invasion
On December 27, 1979 "the first Soviet troops parachuted into Kabul to assist Babrak Karmal", which began the Soviet War in Afghanistan (New York Times 2). -
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Soviet War in Afghanistan
The invading Soviet troops continued fighting in Afghanistan for "more than nine year, fight a conflict that cost them rought 15,000 lives" and billions of dollars (New York Times 2). -
Jalalabad
In March 1981, Amir and Baba left Kabul to ride to Jalalabad, "about 170 kilometers southeast of Kabul, where [Karim's] brother, Toor... was waiting to drive [them]... into Peshwar (111). This is important because problems in Kabul forced them to leave there hometown. They are now on path to leave behind their old life and begin their new one. -
Amir Flees from Jalalaban
Because of the Russian Invasion, Amir and Baba leave Jalalaban and "call for a bus to take [them] to Peshawar" (123). This event is extremely significant because they are finally leaving for America. This means Amir is leaving everything he knows and must begin his life elsewhere. -
Memories of Hassan
Amir recalls his memories of Hassan. He remembers a time they "[stood] ankle-deep in untamed grass. [Amir was] tugging on the line, the spool spinning in Hassan's calloused hands, [their] eyes turned up to the kite in the sky" (122). This is important because it shows he misses Hassan. Even though a lot of stuff is going on, Amir remembers Hassan and still regrets not helping him in the alley. -
Welcome to Fremont
In 1982, Baba and Amir move to Fremont, California to escape what was happening in their country and to start a new life. "Baba loved the idea of America", and he liked how there were many opportunities for immigrants there (125). This event is important because they went from being on top in Afghanistan to poor, lower class people in the States. Also it means Amir is starting a new life, away from everything he knows, but it is hard for him to forget the past. -
Wedding
In 1985, after Baba gave him permission, Amir said "[he] wants [he and Soraya] to marry", causing Soraya to break into "fresh tears" (165). This event is significant because Amir is finally marrying the love of his life and starting a family in America. Also, it shows that Baba cares for Amir and wants him to be happy. In addition, we learn that in Afghan culture, you must have permission from your father if you want to marry someone. -
Baba Dies
In 1987, a month after Amir's wedding, Baba dies of cancer. Althoiugh it was a tragic death, he died with an "internal smile as wide as the skies of Kabul on nights when the poplars shivered" (173). This event is important because he was finally becoming closer to Baba just like he wanted, and he no longer had someone to look out for and help him. It meant he now had to support himself. -
His First Book
Amir has been a great writer and story teller for so long, and in the summer of 1988, he finally published his first novel. It was "a father-son story set in Kabul", which seems like it could be about he and Baba. This event is important because he finally begins his career as an author after writing and telling stories for Rahim Khan and Hassan for many years. Also, it means he now has some income he can use to support his family. -
Soviet Troops Leave Afghanistan
After the UN conducted peace talks convincing the Soviet troops to end the fighting, "the last Soviet troops left Afghanistan in February 1989" (New York Times 2). -
Amir is Infertile
Amir finds out he has "unexplained infertility", meaning he can't have kids but the doctors do not know why (185). This event is significant because he cannot raise children with Soraya like he wanted to. Also, it becomes important later on when he adopts Sohrab. Because he was infertile and didn't adopt a child, it made Sohrab his first and only child. -
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Pakistani Aid
The Pakistani intelligence officers provided money, weapons, and other supplies to the Taliban, and without them, "the Taliban might have withered" (New York Times 3). -
The Takeover of a New Movement
Mullah Omar's Taliban was a student movement that worked hard to bring good change to the country of Afghanistan. "By the end of 1994, Mullah Omar had nearly 12,000 followers and was rolling up the warlords to the north and east", beginning the Taliban takeover (New York Times 2). -
Call from Rahim Khan
In 2001, Amir receives a call from his dad's old friend Rahim Khan in Pakistan. Rahim Khan tells him that "there is a way to be good again" (192). Rahim Khan knows about the incident in the alley and is giving Amir the chance to atone for his sins by helping out Hassan in Afghanistan. -
Amir Leaves America
One week after the call from Rahim Khan, Amir "sat on a window seat aboard a Pakistani International Airlines flight" (194). This event is significant because it means Amir has left his family to go to Pakistan/Afghanistan to atone for his sins. It is important that he atones for his sins because they have been bugging him ever since the winter of 1975 and he needs to make it up to Hassan by helping his son. However, Amir does not yet know anything about Ali or Hassan. -
Sohrab and Amir fly to America
"On a warm day in August 2001", Sohrab and Amir arrive home in San Francisco, where they are picked up by Soraya at the airport (357). This event is significant because it means Sohrab is finally safe and with his new family, which means Amir has successfully atoned for his sins after almost 30 years. -
9/11 Attacks by Al Qaeda
On September 11, 2001, Al Qaeda troops attacked and destroyed the World Trade Center in NYC, forcing "President George W. Bush [to give] the Taliban an ultimatum to hand over [Osama] Bin Laden" (New York Times 3). -
U.S. Joins Forces With Afghanistan Rebels to Defeat Taliban
Many groups in Afghanistan were against the Taliban rule. The U.S. joined together with these group and led a military campagin "that drove the Taliban out of the major Afghan cities" (New York Times 3). -
A New Government
"Hamid Karzai, a supporter and relative of... the exiled and former king of Afghanistan, was named chairman of an interim government" that came to power once the Taliban was defeated (New York Times 3). -
Telling the Story
As narrator of the novel, Amir begins to tell the story of everything that happened in his life and how it "made him what [he is] today" (2). This is important because he talks about how he learned from each event instead of just telling what happened. Also, it provide the basis for the novel and shows why the The Kite Runner was written. -
The Taliban Resurgence
After being defeated and driven out of Afghanistan in 2001, the Taliban began to resurge by "regroup[ing] and [beginning] to extend its influence in the southern part of Afghanistan" (New York Times 3). -
Kites with Sohrab
In a park in San Francisco, Amir plays the kite games with Sohrab and teaches him "one of [Sohrab's] father's favorite tricks, the old lift-and-drive" (369). This quote proves how Amir has atoned for his sins by helping Sohrab learn about his father and his history by playing with kites. Also, it is important because it connects Amir to his past and he feels as if he is out there with Hassan once again. -
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U.S. Troops in Afghanistan
President Barack Obama sent troops to Afghanistan in 2008 as part of his "plan to widen United States involvement in Afghanistan", and they have been fighting there since (New York Times 4).
