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The Kite Runner-Hassan is Raped by Assef
When Amir goes to follow Hassan who is running to get the kite for him, he finds Assef telling Hassan "I'm letting you keep the kite, Hazara. I'll let you keep it so it will always remind you of what I'm about to do" (73). Amir then realizes how loyal of a friend Hassan when Hassan decides that he would do anything to get the kite back to Amir. This also shows how Amir is unwilling to help Hassan due to Assef being more powerful then both of them. -
The Kite Runner-Hassan and Amir's friendship starts to break
In the winter of 1975, Hassan was violated by Assef, this leads to Amir saying "For a week, I barely saw Hassan" (80). At this point in the story Amir had just seen what had happened to Hassan and felt guilty that he had not done anything to stop it. This leads to their friendship falling apart due to Amir' feeling quilty and no longer wanting Hassan around him. -
The Kite Runner-Amir Wins the Kite-Fighting Competition
In the winter of 1975 Amir had entered the kite-fighting competiton and won and says "Then I saw Baba on our roof. He was standing on the edge, pumping both fists" (66). This event led to Amir and Baba growing closer together. Now Amir feels that he has finally proven himself to his father and wants to be closer to him. -
The Kite Runner-Ali and Hassan leave Baba and Amir
After a while of Amir trying to get rid of Hassan, Ali and Hassan decide that they should move. Ali later tells Baba "Life here is impossible for us now, Agha sahib. We're leaving" (106). Due to Amir persistent attempts to get rid of Hassan, Ali has decided that it is no longer a good place for them to live. The makes Amir realize the impact he had on their decision and this is the last time Hassan and Amir see each other before Hassan is killed. -
1979 Invaded by Soviet
The current state of Afghanistan can be traced back to "the 1979 invasion by the Soviet Union" (Afghanistan- An Overview 2). -
Babrak Karmal becomes president
During the time that the Soviet had controlled Afghanistan "Soviet troops parachuted into Kabul... to assist Babrak Karmal, who had become president in coup with Afghan Communist leadership" (Afghanistan- An Overview 2). -
The Kite Runner-Amir moves to America
When Baba and Amir decide to leave Afghanistan they decide to move to America, and "Baba loved the idea of America" (125). This was a new start for both Amir and Baba where Baba had lost his socioeconomic status while Amir also lost his due to his socioeconomic status being based off of Baba's socioeconomic status. Here Amir becomes more of an equal to Baba where Amir gains more respect from Baba. This brings them closer together until the point in time where Baba dies. -
The Kite Runner- Baba and Amir go to Jalalabad
Shortly after Amir had won the kite competition Baba offered to take him to Jalalabad and on the way Amir had said "There would be no truck, Karim told us after we'd spent a week in the rat-infested basement" (120). At this time Amir realized the struggles of the families around him. Through this he realizes how much Baba has improved his life. -
The Kite Runner-Amir talks to Soraya
In the May 1985, Amir and Baba are at the flea market and Amir leaves to go to talk to Soraya and says "'Salaam,' I said. 'I'm sorry to be mozahem, I didn't mean to disturb you'" (145). At this point in the story Amir has spoken to Soraya for the first time at the flea market. He had never before spoken to her but had only seen her with her father, General Taheri. This leads to them getting to know each other better which later leads to their marriage. -
The Kite Runner-Amir has Baba ask General Taheri for Soraya's hand
For a while, Amir has liked Soraya and asks Baba if he could do something for him and tells him "I want you to go khastegari. I want you to ask General Taheri for his daughter's hand" (161). Amir has asked Baba for one last favor before Baba passes away and wants him to know that Baba gets the chance to see this happen. Even though Baba knows he is going to die soon he knows that he will die knowing that he was able to help Amir with his one last request for Baba. -
The Kite Runner-Baba's Cancer is discovered
In 1985, Amir and Baba find out that Baba has cancer and is told by the doctor that it "was called 'Oat Cell Carcinoma.' Advanced. Inoperable" (156). When they discover the type of cancer that Baba has it only leads to them discovering that the cannot cure it and only treat it. Amir understands that this means that Baba will not live much longer and the treatments will only lead to the delay of Baba's death. So this influences Amir's actions for the rest of the story. -
1986 Rebels were armed
During the time the Soviet controlled Afghanistan but "the Soviet Air Force was also rendered largely useless by advanced Stinger antiaircraft missiles supplied by the United States to the rebels" (Afghanistan- An Overview 2). -
The Kite Runner-Amir Finishes His First Book
In the summer of 1988, Amir "finished [his] first novel, a father-son story set in Kabul, written mostly with the typewriter the general had given me" (182). Amir has finally decided to choose his own path and to become a writer instead of letting others influence him. He writes this book based on his history of living in Kabul. -
The Kite Runner-Baba Passes Away
This event takes place shortly after Soraya and Amir had married where Amir says "Baba never woke up" (173). After this event Amir had lost a person that was one of the closest to him. After this event Amir has to learn how to be more independent. Amir realizes that their move to America had brought them closer together and is grateful for the time that he was able spend with Baba. -
Soviet Union leaves Afghanistan
The United Nations had moderated peace talks to the Soviet Untion and in 1989 "the last Soviet troops left Afghanistan" (Afghanistan- An Overview 2). -
Mullah Omar expands the Taliban
After creating the Taliban "Mullah Omar had nearly 12,000 followers" (Afghanistan- An Overview 2). -
Taliban takes over Afghan government
By 1996 the weak Afghan government was replaced by the Taliban who "had taken control of Afghanistan, imposing strict rules enforcement of fundamentelist Islamic law" (Afghanistan- An Overview 3). -
The Kite Runner-The Taliban Leader Reveals Himself as Assef
While Amir is in Afghanistan he goes to a Taliban leader who has Sohrab. After spending more time with the Taliban leader Amir realizes that he is Assef when Assef says "Whatever happened to old Babalu, anyway?" (281). When he learns who the Taliban leader really is this only leads to Amir being afraid due to his past with Assef. This knowledge changed how Amir reacted to Assef knowing that Assef is the one that holds the most power in the room at that moment. -
Al Qaeda Attacks
The U.S. gave the Taliban an ultimatum "After the attack on the World Trade Center in New York on Sept. 11, 2001" (Afghanistan- An Overview 3). -
The Kite Runner-Amir Goes Back to Kabul to Meet Rahim Khan
After living in America for years Amir receives mail from Rahim Khan requesting for him to come back to Kabul to meet him. Amir goes back to Kabul and when he meets Rahim Khan, Amir says "a thing made of skin and bones pretending to be Rahim Khan opened the door" (197). Amir realizes how much has changed since he had left Kabul. Rahim Khan informs him about many things that have occured in Kabul when Amir was away. He tells him that Hassan was his half brother and about the Taliban. -
Hamid Karzai takes office
After the U.S. had driven out the Taliban Hamid Karzai "took office as inerim president in June 2002" (Afghanistan- An Overview 3). -
The Kite Runner-Sohrab Attempts to Commit Suicide
After Amir gets the call from Soraya telling him that they had gotten Sohrab a visa to stay in the United States he goes to tell Sohrab the news and then he "was on [his] knees , screaming" (343). This event causes Amir to realize that he had caused this by telling Sohrab what he had dreaded the most. Since Sohrab believed Amir completely he wanted to prevent himself from ending up in the orphanage. This causes Amir to try and realize what Sohrab thinks about the things he says. -
The Kite Runner-Sohrab Flies the Kite and Amir Runs It
At the very end of the book Amir had brought Sohrab back to America with him and uses this quote from Hassan "For you, a thousand times over" (371). Amir uses this quote to show that he will take care of Sohrab similar to how loyal Hassan was to Amir. Amir has finally been able to atone for his sins and plans to do even better by taking care of Sohrab. -
Obama gives speech about more troops
Obama had a speech that he "delivered... announced his plans to deploy 30,000 additional troops" (Afghanistan- An Overview 4). -
Extended time for troops
The Obama administation had changed the amount of time the troops would be in Afghanistan "until at least the end of 2014" (Afghanistan- An Overivew).