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When Amir witnessed Hassan being raped
Knowing what was about to happen Amir turns away but can still hear "Aseef's quick, rythmic grunts"(77). In fear, Amir ran because he did not want the torture that Aseef would inflict on him but also because he wasn't as loyal to Hassan as Hassan was to him. He was also just a small child and didn't have the midset of a mature adult who would know what to do. -
When the Soviet Union Invaded
Afghanistan was a relativity peaceful and prosperous country until "the first Soviet troops parachuted into Kabul on Dec. 27, 1979.." (The New York Times) -
When Baba and Amir fled to Ameria
When the war began Baba and Amir traveled "across the Khyber Pass and into Peshawar"(111). Baba's nobility towards the soldier to protect the woman almost got him killed and Amir simply wanted him to stay silent. As a young boy Amir would never stick up for himself and that, in turn, made him become a man who would not stick up for anything. -
When Amir graduated high school
When Amir graduated high school he was "by far the oldest senior..."(131). It was difficult for him to adjust because of the power shift. In Kabul he and Baba help great respect but when that was lost part of his identity was aswell. Amir eventually adjusted but Baba wasn't so lucky. -
When Amir and Baba began going to the flee market
Every Saturday Amir and Baba would "[stop] at garage sales and [buy] knicknacks...and [sell] the junk for a small profit"(137). They did this for the extra money but they also did it for the community. Within the flea market there was a community of Afghan people which reminded Baba of him which is why he enjoyed the place so much. -
When Amir got married to Soraya
Amir is filled with joy as he is "looking at Soraya's smiling face in that mirror..."(171). Although Amir wants to be honest with her he cannot bear to tall her that he witnessed a rape because he too doesn't want to admit it. He held that secret insead because he hoped that by not reacting it would simply fade away almost as if it hadn't happened. -
When Baba passed away
Amir and Soraya put him to bed and he "never woke up"(173). Baba's hatred for doctors made his death more painful. Because he was unwilling to take the medicine he had a seizure and was publically emmbarassed, which is what he wanted to avoid in the first place. -
When Rahim Khan went to find Hassan
As Rahim begins talking to Amir he explains how "there were a lot of reasons [he] went to Hasarajat to find Hassan in 1986"(203). Rahim Khan knew he had to find Hassan because it was only right that he take care of the house he had grown up in. Hassan felt so guilty about Baba's death he choose to return and care for his house. -
When Amir wrote his first novel
After finally getting an agent Amir recieves new that he is "going to be a published novelist"(183). After a lifetime of believing that he could not be good enough if he wrote books he finally felt satisfied. The desperatness towards Baba's approval made his drive even stronger. -
When Amir and Soraya began trying to have a child
Amir's novel was released in 1989 and it was also the year that he and his wife "began trying to have a child"(184). He yearned to be the father he did not have. Although Baba was a good father he wanted to give a child the love that he wanted so desperately as a child. -
When the Soviet Union left
After peaceful discussions with the United Nations "...the last Soviet troops left Afghanistan in February 1989..." (The New York Times) -
When Hassan was shot and killed
Rahim Khan sadly explained how, while he was away on buisness, the Taliban "shot [Hassan] in the back of the head"(219). Amir's innabiltiy to save Hassan from Aseef and ultimately from his death lead him to believe he had to care for Hassan's son. He believed that it would be his chance at atonement for all the wrongs he had done to Hassan. -
When the US got militarily involved with Afghanistan
The United States, "...has been militarily involved in Afghanistan since 2001" (The New York Times) -
When Amir goes to Pakistan
After Amir receives a phone call from Rahim Khan, he finds himself "aboard a Pakistani International flight..."(194). Rahim Khan knew he had to summon Amir because this was his chance at redemtion. By doing this he would rid himself of the guilt he had harbored over his lifetime. -
When Sohrab saved Amir's life
Sohrab saves Amir's life by ordering the men to stop fighting and finally escaping by slingshotting a "brass ball...in his empty eye socket"(291). This furthers the immprssion that Hassan's son is much like him. By defending Amir with a slingshot just as Hassan had done when they were younger it shows how much Amir need Hassan and Sohrab in his life. -
When Sohrab tries to commit suicide
While in the hospital Amir picture how Sohrab "had raised the blade and brought it down"(351). Amir is so terrified by this not only because he cares about Sohrab but also because it is more blood on his conscience. This leads him to beg for forgivness because when he sought atonement he was only given more sin. -
When Sohrab and Amir arrived in America
After a difficult time adopting him, Amir and Sohrab finnally "arrived home...on a warm day August 2001"(357). Amir's wife was so thrilled because she couldn't have a son and this made her even more desperate to care for one. However, when Sohrab was not the son she thought he would be she reatreated into herself with the feeling that she didn't have a son afterall. -
Mr. Karzai is named chairman
After the demise of the Taliban in "...December 2001...a supporter and relative of Mohammad zhir Shah...was named chairman of an imerim government that replaced the defeated Taliban". (The New York Times) -
When Sohrab flew a kite with Amir
Amir begins kite flying with Sohrab helping him, Sohrab's "face was a little flushed, his eyes suddenly alert"(369). Sohrab's fasination with the kite showed that their was hope that he someday may talk again. Amir had forgotten that he was just a child and by allowing him this simple pleasure it gave him that childish sense of glee that had been robbed of him. -
Mr. Karzai is elected
After three years Mr. Karzai "...was elected to a five-year term as president in 2004" (The New York Times). -
General Petraeus takes charge
Following Mr. Obama's plan "General Petraeus...had taken charge of the United States CentralCommand in October 2008" (The New York Times). -
Mr. Obama's speech
During a speech on Dec. 1, 2009, "...Mr. Obama announced his plan to deploy 30,000 additional troops" (The New York Times). -
The Taliban grows
The Taliban had been growing and by the end of "...1994 Mullah Omar had nearly 12,000 followers..." (The New York Times) -
The Taliban takes control of Afghanistan
With fuel from the Pakistani officers "...the Taliban by 1996 had taken control of Afghanistan..." (The New York Times) -
Pakistani officers help the Taliban
The Taliban would have withered had it not been for the officers who in "...1994...began funneling arms, money and supplies to Mullah Omar's men..." (The New York Times)