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Baba builds an orphanage
When recalling on the great things his father did, Amir said, "In the late 1960s. . . Baba decided to build an orphange." (13). This reveals what a generous figure Baba is in his community. This causes many Afghan people to praise him for his actions. -
Baba disapproves of Amir
When discussing Amir's cowardness, Baba explains to Rahim Khan, "'A boy who won't stand up for himself becomes a man who can't stand up to anything'" (22). What this shows is how disappointed Baba is of Amir because of his lack of courage. This causes Amir to try and earn his father's appreciation for almost his entire childhood! -
The One Sin
When Amir was young, his father pointed out that to him, "'. . . there is only one sin, only one. And that is theft'" (18). This is ironic since Baba stole the truth from Amir and Hassan that they are actually brothers. Amir would go on to live his life by this rule and atone for his sins. -
Amir learns history
While at school, Amir read a textbook that revealed ". . . my people had killed the Hazaras, driven them from their lands, burned their homes, and sold their women" (8). This gives Amir a slight idea at what the relationship between Pashtuns and Hazaras is in Afghanistan culture. This becomes important when people confront Amir about his friendship with Hassan as he is a Hazara. -
Coup against the monarchy
After hearing gunshots outside, Ali, Hassan, and Amir "Huddled together in the dining room . . . waiting for the sun to rise, but none of us had any notion that a way of life had ended" (36). This traumatic event reveals how family-like Ali, Hassan, and Amir are. This makes the event of Ali and Hassan leaving more significant for Amir because that is his only friend leaving him. -
Hassan is raped
After contemplating on whether to intervene or not in Hassan's rape, Amir thinks to himself, "Assef was right: Nothing was free in this world. Maybe Hassan was the price I had to pay, the lamb I had to slay, to win Baba" (77). This is shocking because Amir would rather run away to his father than help his friend who is being sexually violated. This causes an unease in Hassan and Amir's relationship through the rest of the novel. -
Amir and Baba's relaionship
In his childhood, Amir ". . . worshiped Baba with an intensity approaching the religious" (27). This highlights that Baba's approval is one of the most important things Amir could get as a kid. After winning the kite tournament, Amir finally achieves this, but it comes at the price of Hassan's loyalty. -
Winning Baba's respect
After years of trying, Amir finally wins his father's admiration by winning the kite tournament ". . . with a tug of my string, I'd cut loose my pain, my longing" (57). Amir's stress of having Baba not like him is lifted off of his shoulders. This is a sensational feeling as now Amir can have a normal relationship with his father like he had always wanted. -
Soviet Invasion
In the 19th century, "The first Soviet troops parachuted into Kabul . . . to assist Babrak Karmal" (New York Times). -
Period: to
Soviet Invasion to US troop withdrawl
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Soviet troops withdraw from Afghanistan
After speaking with the United Nations, "the last Soviet troops left Afghanistan" (New York Times). -
Islamic Extremists
When the Soviets left Afghanistan, "had become a beacon to Islamic extremists from across the globe who had come to assist in the fighting" (New York Times). -
Rise of the Taliban
Led by Mullah Omar "with a promise of restoring the centrality of Islam to daily life, he created a genuinely popular movement in a country weary of corruption and brutality" (New York Times). -
Taliban Rule
Soon after the Taliban grew in strength, they "had taken control of Afghanistan, imposing strict enforcement of fundamentalist Islamic law" (New York Times). -
Amir marries Soraya
The Afghan culture insisted that "Every woman needed a husband. Even if it did silence the song in her" (155). Amir knows it would mean the world to Soraya if he married her and dug her out of the depressed hole she was in. By doing so, he did not silence the song in her, but instead let her break out of her shell of solitude. -
Amir visits Kabul
When visiting his old house, Farid explains to Amir, "'...nothing you remember has survived. Best to forget'" (263). This is significant because it tells the reader that Amir's childhood memories in the house are long gone. That house was the only place he ever knew before America and it is crushing to know it is all gone. -
Amir revisits Rahim Khan
When asked to find Sohrab by Rahim, Amir tells him, "'I have a wife in America, a home, a career, and a family. Kabul is a dangerous place'" (221). Amir fears for himself instead of the safety of his nephew who is living in unimaginable, horrific conditions. This makes Amir feels sorry for himself and eventually he agrees to find Sohrab. -
A tourist in his own country
After meeting Amir, Farid expresses his disliking towards him by saying, "'You've always been a tourist here, you just didn't know it'" (232). Amir never realized that his whole childhood was sheltered from the harsh everyday life most Afghans lived. This causes him to take more of an interest in Farid's life as well as anyone that was not as fortunate as Amir himself. -
Amir is asked to forgive
Rahim Khan reveals to Amir that he knows of all the wrongdoings he has committed in his life and asks him to "'Forgive your father if you can. Forgive me if you wish. But most important, forgive yourself'" (302). When confronted about this topic, Amir realizes he must condone the actions of him and everyone else in his life. Feeling sorry for keeping this hidden for so long, Amir wants to atone for his sins. -
Amir fights Assef
As Assef beat Amir senseless, Amir thinks to himself, "My body was broken--just how badly I wouldn't find out until later--but I felt healed. Healed at last. I laughed" (289). Amir feels this is the punishment he deserved for the sins he had committed so many years ago. This interaction between these two characters connects back to when Assef bullied him as kids. -
9/11 Terror Attacks
In 2001, a terror group known as Al Qaeda committed an "attack on the World Trade Center in New York" (New York Times). -
Taliban Resurgence
After being defeated by the US and other rebel groups, "the Taliban continued to wage a guerrilla warfare from a base in the mountainous and largely lawless tribal are on the Pakistan-Afghanistan border" (New York Times). -
Amir chases a kite
After cutting another boy's kite at the end of the novel, Amir tells Sohrab, "For you a thousand times over" (371). The significance of this is immense because Amir is using the words of Sohrab's loyal father. This makes Sohrab crack a smile hinting at a good future for the characters. -
Obama's War
President Obama created a "plan to widen United States involvement in Afghanistan" (New York Times). -
Bringing Soldiers Home
When Obama presented his plan, "He vowed to start bringing American forces home from Afghanistan" (New York Times). -
Lasting Impact in Afghanistan
When the plan to remove troops reached Afghanistan, administration officials tried "to warn the Taliban that aggressive operations against them would continue" (New York Times).