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Hassan gets raped
As Hassan catches the coveted last kite, he encounters the frightening, violent Assef however Amir chose not to help Hassan and "(he) just wtached..(p)aralyzed"(Hosseini 73). With Amir's unwillingness to help, it just emphasizes how much of a coward he is. Hassan's rape scars Amir and Hassan's relationship as they are not able to trust or look at each other without any shame or guilt. Ultimately, this is the root of the downfall of their friendship. -
Kite Flying Competition
For all of winter, Amir concentrates on this kite flying competition as he believes that this tournament would " (fix their ) different spheres of exsistance (since).. kites were the one paper-thin slice of intersection between those spheres" (Hosseini 49). Amir would go sleepless and restless for this day since he could finally gain and receive the attention and affection he yearned for from Baba.Relentlessly, Amir makes his best efforts to get Baba's prized approval. -
Ali and Hassan leave
After many years of serving Baba's family, Ali and Hassan resign and move to Hazarajat as Hassan cannot bear the guilt and loathing from Amir no longer. However Baba "do(es) something (no one) had ever seen him do before: He cried" (Hosseini 107). Baba's unexpected reaction displays how much he actually loved Ali and Hassan. Despite his rough treatment to them, it shows how Baba actually loved them dearly and is pained to lose them. -
First Soviet Troops arrive
The First Soviet Troops have come to "..assist Babrak Karmal.. (and had came )..in response to a plea for help from a legitamately constituted Karmal Government" (NYT 2). -
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The Soviet Union Invasion
The Soviet Union Invasion was a war between the Afghans and the Soviets which had caused"..turmoil and extremism that has dominated its history.."(NYT 2). -
Amir and Baba escape Kabul
As Afghanistan is being imperiled with destruction,Baba& Amir choose to flee and escape before they themselves get involved into any trouble. So they find "Karim (who) was a people smuggler (who drove) people out of the Shorawi-occupied Kabul to the..safety of Pakistan"(Hosseini 111).With Baba and Amir leaving Kabul, they are given new beginnings and a new oppurtunity to make soemthing out fo themselves. However, despite leaving their beloved city they are still burdened with their unatoned sins -
Baba and Amir in the U.S
Baba and Amir move the U.S in order to live a life of prosperity and in peace. However, Baba encounters struggles "adjusting to life in America" (Hosseini 128) Baba was not used to living life with simplicity and struggled shifting from a powerful, respected townhero to a gas0station worker. But despite his personal matters, Baba refuses to Amir's suggestions of returning home since he insists of providing a good life for his son. Thus showing Baba's growing humbleness and selflessness. -
Amir and Soraya meet
With Baba and Amir beginning to sell in the flea market, Amir becomes to fall in love with Soraya, the beautiful daugther of the well-respected General and Khanaum Taheri. Upon meeting Soraya, Amir was instantly in love and he felt as if ".. every night of the week became ( the longest night of the year) for me" (Hosseini 143). Amir then begins courting her subtly & tries his best efforts to gain the attention of Soraya. This just shows Amir's intentions for Soraya & how much he cares for her. -
Amir and Sorays's wedding
As Baba's death toll is coming closer, Amir chooses for him to go wed his ' Swap Meet Princess", Soraya. Baba however helps contribute by " spen(ding)$35,000 nearly the balance of his life savings.. on the wedding ceremony " (Hosseini 169). This just emphasizes Baba being selfless and sacrificing all he has to provide for his son. Despite Baba is the one suffering & is in illness,he still wants to be the one that cares and tends for his son and his needs. Thus emphaszing Baba's altrutistic love -
Baba's diagnosis
After having a deathly,hacking cough for days, Baba is brought to the hospital and is diagnosed with a horrible oat cell carcinoma. In spite of Baba's suffering, he still does not want "..any chemo medication for me" ( Hosseini 150). Baba's unwillingness to take any cures& medications may show his stubborness and his pride in himself. Through his ego, Baba still might think this is one of the problems like the food stamps he could solve. However, this also shows his readiness for death. -
Amir's one last favor
Upon knowing Baba's death is near, Amir asks his father for one last favor. Amir requests Baba "..to go khasteghari (and).. ask General Taheri for his daughter's hands" (Hoisseini 161). Amir's courtship signals to Baba how much his son has become an adult. Baba spent his entire life raising Amir harshly in efforts for him to become independent and to become more of a man.Now Baba can live contently and proud as he is able to see that Amir has learned from Baba's lessons. -
Baba dies
After fighting his disease for so long, Baba soon succumbs to the disease and dies. During Baba's last day, again for the last time refuses to take his medication since that was the night "(he felt) no pain" (Hosseini 173). This shows how Baba wanted to die in his terms and this way. Throughout his life, Baba was his true, obstinate self and he chose how he lived his life and how he ended it too. Baba wanted it to be as if his death was his choice not a decision made for him. -
Amir's first novel is accepted
His whole life Amir wanted to become a writer & then during the 1998, Amir acheives that life-long goal. As Amir's first novel is accepted & published, he felt ".. so much goodness in (his) life..so much happiness . I wondered whether i deserved it " (Hosseini 183). It may show Amir's still remorseful for what he had done & he would change what he done if he could. Throughout the years, Amir still feels guilt from Hassan and this regret just completely consumes his life entirely. -
Soviet Troops leave Afghanistan
After recieving "..peace talks modderated by the United Nations, the last Soviet troops left Aghanistan (however)..(t)hey left behind a country that was not only devasted by the war but had become a beacon to ISlamic extremists"(NYT 2). -
Growing Power of Mullah Omar
After Afghanistan had been divided against two groups, a domaninant ethnic group arose,which was the Pashtuns. The during "..the end of 1994 Mullah Omar(, a respected Pashtun) has nearly 12,000 followers"( NYT 2). -
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Taliban Spreading
The Taliban with the support of their neighbor country, Pakistan, they had fully "..taken control of Afghanistan,imposing strict enforcement of fundamentalist Islamic law, banning movies and music and forcing women out of schools and into all-enveloping burqa clothing"(NYT 3). -
Call from Rahim Khan
Amir receives a call from Rahim Khan and is told he is needed back in Kabul. However Rahim Khan leaves a small remark saying " (c)ome . (t)here is a way to be good again" ( Hosseini 192) As Amir had been suffering from guilt about Hassan for years, he needed an oppurtunity where he could atone for his sins. With Rahim Khan's call, Amir could finally right his wrongs and redeem himself. Amir then immediately goes Kabul for Rahim Khan. -
Saved by Sohrab
Amir goes to the Taliban House, where Sohrab was said to have been, & he talks to the Taliban leader and childhood enemy, As Amir was trying to convince Assef to give him Sohrab, they get into a physical fight and as things starts to get more violent, Sohrab "(shot a his) slinghsot.. then Assef was screaming.. (then) blood oozed between his fingers " ( Hosseini 291). Sohrab ultimately saved Amir's life & in spite barely knowing Amir he stood up and protected him. Thus showsing his true bravery. -
Sohrab's suicide attempt
Sohrab finds out that Amir may have to possibly put him temporarily into an orphanage in order for Amir to bring him to America. However in despair, Sohrab tries to commit suicide & Amir prays & says " (m)y hands are stained with Hassan's blood; I pray God doesn't let them get stained with the blood of this boy too" (Hosseini 347). Feelings of guilt return to Amir as Sohrab tries to commit suicide as he feels responsible for it. Amir deeply cares for Sohrab and would bargain anything for him, -
9/11 Attack on World Trade Center
The 9/11 Attack had resulted to ".. (a)n air and ground campaign.. that drove the Taliban out of the major Afghan cities by the end of the year" (NYT 3). -
Taliban Resurfacing
Since the Talbian had been defeated in 2001, they still "..continued to wage a guerrilla warfare from a base in the mountainous and largely lawless tribal area on the Pakistan- Afghanistan border" (NYT 3). Also the Americans had shifted their attention into the spred of Iraq, " the Taliban (was able) to regroup and extend its influence..(further through Afghanistan and areas of Pakistan)" (NYT 3). -
Karzai Government
Hamid Karzai, whom had been crowned as the leader of the country and chairman of the government as he had".. replaced the defeated Taliban".(NYT 3). However he had been the root of Afghanistan's lack of economical success and more corruptive officials. -
America with Sohrab
As Amir and Sohrab have wounds in their relationship, Amir tries fixing them by trying to connect with Sohrab by one day going kite flying and telling him about his father and kite his trick's. While flying their kites Amir does one of his old tricks and snaps a kite off and runs to catch it for Sohrab and then he sees ". a smile." (Hosseini 370). To Amir, the smile can resemble hope for their relationship. Amir and Sohrab have a very damaged bond but that smile could signal a promising future. -
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Obama's Plan
President Obama had a plan to grow it's involvement in the Afghanistan war and had a plan of "deploy(ing) 30,000 additional troops..(and had) vowed to start bringing American forces home from Afghanistan"(NYT 4). However with his adminstration it altered the tone "..to increasingly emphasize the idea that the United States will have forces in the country ..(in efforts to)..convince Afghans that the United States is not walking away..(NYT 4).
