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Amir is not brave enough to save Hassn from Assef and his friends
After Hassan ran the kite, he was violated by Assef and his friends, and Amir had, " One final opportunity to decide who [he] was going to be. [He] could step up for Hassan-the way he stood up to [him] all those times in the past," but in the end, Amir cowardly fled. Amir was selfish and cared only about himeself, and being safe. He comforted himself by objectifing Hassan as a sacrifice, like a lamb and thinking that he deserved it because Hassan was his servant. -
Amir's birthday
At Amir's 13th birhtday party, 400 people came, but "they weren't really coming for [Amir]. It was [his] birthday, but [he] knew who the real star of the show was," (94). Amir barely knew any of the people on the list, and he realized that they came, all through Baba's connections, and they were only going because Baba was there. Amir feels like he has no identity because he doesn't know anyone, and because the people are only coming because it will be a big party with a lot of people and Baba -
Hassan's last sacrifice for Amir
After Amir lied and hid his watch, saying that Hassan stole it, Baba called Ali and Hassan in, and when asked if he stole the watch, Hassan answered, "Yes," as his "final sacrifice for [Amir]," (105). It was his last sacrifice, because right after, Ali and Hassan left. Hassan truly loved Amir, and stayed loyal to him, especially because if Hassan told the truth, Amir would be accused of lying. Knowing that, Hassan put his honesty on the line, against Baba, for his "friend", Amir. -
Afghanistan not the same after Soviet invasion
Afghanistan used to be a, " stable, relatively prosperous and relatively secular country," until the winter of 1979 when the Soviet went to, " assist Babrak Karmak, who had become president in a coup with the Afghan Communist leadership" (2). -
The dangers of Kabul has increased because of the Soviets
Baba and Amir had to leave their home in Kabul because, "You couldn't trust anyone in Kabul anymore-for a fee or under a threat, people told on each other," (112). People would evesdrop because they needed money, and other supplies, or their lives were at stake. Baba and Amir knew that if they stayed in Kabul, they could be killed by the Soviet government that is now occupying Kabul. Even the kids are being taught to spy on their parents for "their country". -
Amir graduates from high school
When Amir graduated high school at the age of 20 he was, "Proud. His eyes gleamed when he said that and [Amir] liked being on the recieving end of that look," (131). In America, Amir has finally been accepted by Baba, and has made him proud. This is also an important time in Amir's life because he is now able to support Baba by working, and by pursuing a career to support Baba. -
Amir decides to major in creative writing
Although Baba does not approve of it, Amir decides that he will major in English because he, " didn't want to sacrifice for Baba anymore. The last time I had done that, I had damned myself," (135). Amir does not want to regret acting in a way that would please Baba and not him, because the last time he did that, Hassan got hurt. Amir also has become more mature, and Baba does not have power over him, since Amir is learning to do what he feels is best for himself. -
Amir decides that he wants to marry Sonraya
As his father's last wish, Amir decides that he wants Baba "to go khastegari. [He] wants [Baba] to ask General Taheri for his daughter's hand," (161). Amir knows that Baba is dying, and if he waits to marry his true love, Sonraya, Baba could die before following Afghanistan traditions. This event also signifies Amir becoming independent, and being ready to go out into the world by himself because he has the capability to support himself, and a wife. -
Baba's death and funeral
At the funeral for Baba, many mourners greeted Amir, and when they told him what Baba meant to each of them, Amir realized that, "how much of who [he] was, what [he] was, had been defined by Baba and the marks he had left on people's life. [he] had been 'Baba's son'" (174). Amir realized that now that Baba is dead, he needs to find his own identity, and follow his own morals. Baba is no longer there to help Amir, so hefeels that he will disgrace Baba by doing something wrong. -
Soviet left with destuction behind them
After negotiating with United nations, the Soviets and the army left, but they left behind, " a country that was not only devastated by the war, but tgat had become a beacon to extermists from arounf the globe who had come to assist in the fighting, " (2). -
Hassan's mother comes home
One day, Hassan's mother, Sanaubar came to Hassan, and at first, he was overwhelmed at finally having a mother, and ran, but in the end, "He came back," and said, " She was home now...home with her family, " (210). Hassan was able to forgive his mother for leaving him as a baby, and rejoiced at being able to be with her for the last few years of her life. When Sohrab was born, she treasured him to make up for leaving Hassan many years before -
The start of Taliban group
A religious studentwanted to purify the country, and with the help of warlords, "by the end of 1994 Mullah Omar had nearly gathered 12,000 followers...with his promises of restoring the centrality if Uslam to daily life," (2). -
Taliban take full control over Afghanistan
With the help from Pakistan, the Taliban continued to gain power, eventually taking, "control of Afghanistan, imposing strict enfrcement of fundamentalist Islamic role, banning movies and music and forcing women out of schools and into all-enveloping burqa clothing," (3). -
Hassan and Farzana's Death
When Rahim Khan left Kabul, "a rumor spread that a Hazara family was living alone in the big house, " and "[The Talibans] accused him of lying when Hassan told them he was living with [Rahim Khan]," and they didn't believe him, so Hassan was shot, after that, Farzana (218). The only one left was Sohrab because of the merciless ways of the Talibans. The Talibans were greedy, and they wanted the house, which caused them to kill Hassan to gain acces to Baba and Rahim's home. -
Rahim Khan's phone call
In the summer of 2001, Amir got a phone call from Rahim Khan saying that he wants to see Amir again, and because Amir was reluctant to go back, Rahim told him, "Come there is a way to be good agin," (192). At this moment, we realize that Rahim Khan knew about what happened to Hassan, and how Amir had betrayed him. It also forshadows that something bad has happened to Hassan, when Rahim Khan states that Amir can redeem himself. -
Amir is finally doing his own fighting
Rahi Khan states what baba had stated many years before about Amir, "Rahim, a boy who wont stand up for himself becoes a man who can't stand up to anything," as a way to convince Amir to go find Sohrab (221). Amir realizes that for the 38 years of his life, he has had Baba and Hassan protect him and take care of him. He knows that this is his time to do what is right for Hassn, especially because he is dead, and to prove to Baba that he is Baba's son, who is capable of standing up for himself. -
Amir puts money under pillows
Before he left Wahid's house, he learned that the 3 kids were staring at him during dinner time because they didn't have any food so, he, "did something [he] had done twenty-six years earlier. [He] planted a fistful of crumpled money under a mattress," (242). 26 years earlier, he left the money under Hassan's pillow because of his selfishness to avoid Hassan. Now he is a changed man, feels compassion, and puts other before him, which causes him to do the same action, but now, for a good reason. -
Amir finally gets what he deservs from Assef
Amir, "for the first time since the winter of 1975, [he] felt at peace," while fighting with Assef to take Sohrab to a safer place (289). After Amir did not stand up for Hassan, Amir felt so guilty that he felt the need to be punished. He tried to get Hassan to punish him, but it didn't work, but now, Amir realizes that he deserves all the blows that Assef is giving him. This was another way for Amir to finally be able to fight back for someone else, which was Sohrab. -
Sohrab commits suicide
After Sohrab learns that he might need to go back to an orphanage, he commited suicide with a razor, as he, "raised the blade and brought it down," (351). Sohrab was finally starting to trust Amir, and was hopeful for a new life, but when he learns that he might have to go to an orphanage, all his fears come crashing down. He can't stand to go to an orphanage again, so he commits suicide. He is unable to believe that life could get better, because Amir broke his promise. -
World Trade Center Attack
Problems between the United States and Afghanistan started when an Afghanistan group, "led an invasion after the Sept. 11 attacks by Al Qaeda. The group had been given safe haven by the taliban, and extermist Islamic group." (1) -
Chairman Elected as Replacement for Defeated Taliban
After the Taliban were defeated, and had retreated to Pakistan border, Afghanistan needed a new goernment and ruler, so "Hamid Karzai, a supporter and relative of Mohammad Zahir Shah, the exiled former king of Afghanistan, was named chairman of an interim government that replaced the defeated Taliban, making hime the leader of the country," (3). -
Sohrab's first smile in the U.S.
At the end of the book, Amir got Sohrab to fly a kite with him, and when they cut one of the kites, there was a small smile on Sohrab's face which was, "A tiny thing. A leaf in the woods, shaking in the wake of a startled bird's flight," (371). The small smile from Sohrab was the first smile since he attempted suicide, amd his eyes were active and alive. Even though it may take some time, there is hope that Sohrab will be able to enjoy a new life with Amir and Sonraya, where he can trust others. -
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Karzai is elected president
After Al Qaeda and Taliban retreated, Karzai was chosen as chairman, and eventually, he was, "eleced to a five year term as president in 2004," (3). -
General Petraeus contol military in Afghanistan region
To follow Obama's plan to widen involvement in Afghanistan, General Petraeus, "the Iraq commander who recieved much of the credit for the success of the surge there, had taken charge of United States Central Command" by overseeing, "military operations in Iraqm Afghanistan and across the region," (4). -
U.S. deploys troops to completely get rid of Taliban
After a debate against Obama's military advisors, and vice president, Obama decided to "deploy 30,000 additional troops," to, "warn the Taliban that aggressive operations against them would continue," (4). -
Troops deployed to completely get rid of Taliban
After a debate against Obama's military advisors, and vice president, Obama decided to "deploy 30,000 additional troops," to, "warn the Taliban that aggressive operations against them would continue," (4).