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Baba is born
Baba's birth would be the start of a major family in Afghanistan, "In 1933, the year Baba was born..." (Hosseini 24). Baba is the reason Amir is alive and the reason this story the book portrays exists. Baba has helped many people in his life and is an overall good Samaritan. -
Amir is born
The journey of the main character in this novel all started, "...In the winter of 1964, just one year after my mother died giving birth to me" (Hosseini 6). This quote is showing that Amir was born one year before Hassan. This quote is very significant because it also shows that Amir's Mom dies during child birth. -
Hassan is born
Amir's life was going to change forever, "It was there, in that little shack, that Hassan was born in the winter of 1964..." (Hosseini 6).
Amir has grown up and been around Hassan all of his life. Hassan will play a major role and Amir's life, ultimately influencing the outcome of the book. -
Baba builds an Orphanage
Baba being the outgoing person he is, decided to build a wonderful gift for the community, "In the late 1960s, when I was five or six, Baba decided to build an orphanage" (Hosseini 13). This shows that Baba despite having no architectural experience still managed to defy all and build an orphanage for the good of the community. This is significant because it is setting the fact that Baba is very hardworking and that he has overcome many obstacles. -
Khan proposes a new constitution that grants women rights and works to modernize the largely communist state.
Khan proposes a new constitution that, "cracks down on opponents, forcing many suspected of not supporting Khan out of the government." http://www.pbs.org/newshour/updates/asia-jan-june11-timeline-afghanistan/ -
Hassan is raped
Hassan was surrounded by 3 boys including Assef, "Assef unbuttoned his winter coat, took it off, folded it slowly and deliberately. He placed it against the wall.I opened my mouth, almost said something. Almost" (Hosseini 73). It was at this moment that haunted Amir for the rest of his life, for Hassan was getting raped because he wanted to protect Amir. This is what is going to set the motivation for Amir to come back to Afghanistan. -
Hassan and Ali leave
During the summer of 1976 many major events happened, including Hassan and Ali leaving, "I turned thirteen that summer of 1976, Afghanistan’s next to last summer of peace and anonymity” (Hosseini 93). This is very significant because this is the year Ali and Hassan left Baba and Amir and went off on their own. This would set a tone for the rest of the book -
Khan is killed in a communist coup.
Nur Mohammad Taraki, one of the founding members of the Afghan Communist Party becomes leader, he"...proclaims independence from Soviet influence, and declare their policies to be based on Islamic principles, Afghan nationalism and socioeconomic justice. Taraki signs a friendship treaty with the Soviet Union. http://www.pbs.org/newshour/updates/asia-jan-june11-timeline-afghanistan/ -
American Ambassador Adolph Dubs is killed.
After American Ambassador Adolph Dubs is killed, "The United States cuts off assistance to Afghanistan. A power struggle between Taraki and Deputy Prime Minister Hafizullah Amin begins. Taraki is killed on Sept. 14 in a confrontation with Amin supporters. The USSR invades Afghanistan on Dec. 24 to bolster the faltering communist regime. On Dec. 27, Amin and many of his followers are executed." http://www.pbs.org/newshour/updates/asia-jan-june11-timeline-afghanistan/ -
Amir and Baba leave Kabul
When the communists invade Afghanistan Baba and Amir decide to leave, "My innards had been roiling since we'd left Kabul just after two in the morning" (Hosseini 110). This is the day Baba and Amir leave, it was at this point the story took a major turn. Many people are fleeing Afghanistan during this time. -
Afghans fleeing from the war
Many Afghans are fleeing the country because of a widespread war, "Some 2.8 million Afghans have fled from the war to Pakistan, and another 1.5 million have fled to Iran. Afghan guerrillas gain control of rural areas, and Soviet troops hold urban areas."
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/updates/asia-jan-june11-timeline-afghanistan/ -
Baba and Amir arrive in Fremont California
Baba and Amir move to a very close suburb of San Francisco, but the idea of not living in Afghanistan is a hard mindset to grasp for Baba, "Baba loved the idea of America. It was living in America that gave him an ulcer" (Hosseini 125). Baba is having a hard time adjusting to America and its differences from Afghanistan. In America he is not well knows and as respected as he was in Afghanistan. -
Amir meets Soraya
It was on this day Amir first laid eyes on his soon to be wife, "I meant to simply walk by again and I thought I had, except suddenly I was standing at the edge of the Taheris' white tablecloth, staring at Soraya across curling irons and old neckties. She looked up" (Hosseini 145). This is very significant because it is the first encounter Amir has with his soon to be life long partner. It seems as if they have an instant connection from the start which is very interesting. -
Mujahideen come together in Pakistan to form alliance against Soviet forces.
The Mujahideen, a rebel group that is against communist force, comes together in Pakistan, driving local citizens out, "With many fleeing to Pakistan and Iran". http://www.bbc.com/news/world-south-asia-12024253 -
Baba dies
Soon after the wedding Baba's cancer finally got to him, a tragic death in the story, "He asked is to lean in, gave us each a kiss...She pulled up his blanket. We closed the door. Baba never woke up" (Hosseini 173). This marks when Amir is independent and has to find his way in life with the help of his wife. The greater meaning behind this is signifying that Amir has a chance to find out who he really is which is a story writer. -
US begins supplying mujahideen with Stinger missiles
With the US trying to take the Soviet Union down, they decide to fund the Mujahideen and give them, "Stinger missiles, enabling them to shoot down Soviet helicopter gunships". http://www.bbc.com/news/world-south-asia-12024253 -
Ali dies
Amir finds out that Ali has dies when talking with Hassan, "Hasan dropped his gaze. He told me that Ali and his cousin-who had owned the house-had been killed by a landline two years before, just outside of Bamiyan" (Hosseini 206). When Amir arrived in Afghanistan Hassan had to tell him the news of Ali dying 2 years prior to his arrival. This is also a major death in the book -
Peace Accords
After many fights and ambushes, "Afghanistan, USSR, the US and Pakistan sign peace accords and Soviet Union begins pulling out troops". http://www.bbc.com/news/world-south-asia-12024253 -
Sohrab is born
Hassans first born is a boy which is what he was hoping for, "She handed him to Hassan and he handed him to me and I sang the prayer of Ayat-ul-kursi in that little boy's ear. They named him Sohrab after Hassan;s favorite hero from the Shahnamah, as you know, Amir jan" (Hosseini 211). This quote is showing the birth of Sohrab, who Amir would later save from the Taliban. Sohrab is a major character in this novel. -
Taliban
The peoples worst nightmare happens when, "Taliban seize control of Kabul and introduce hard-line version of Islam, banning women from work, and introducing Islamic punishments, which include stoning to death and amputations". http://www.bbc.com/news/world-south-asia-12024253 -
Hassan and Faranza die
When the Taliban does not believe that Hazara can liven a house like he lives him, they accuse him of stealing and being a criminal, "Hassan protested...'No,' I breathed. 'And ordered him to kneel' 'No. God. no.' 'and shot him in the back of the head.'" (Hosseini 219). This marks a very important part in the story because almost everybody Amir grew up with is dead or is dying. It is now up to Amir to take care of Sohrab because both of his parents have dies. -
Amir finds out the person that took Sohrab is Assef
Amir new the Taliban leader was Assef when he had a sit-down with him and Assef mentioned the name Babalu which is what they used to call Ali, "But he was already here, in the flesh sitting less than ten feet from me, after all these years. His name escaped my lips: 'Assef'" (Hosseini 281). This is very significant because Amir and Hassan's life long enemy had taken Sohrab. The same man that had raped Hassan has now tank his son and raped him also. -
Post 9-11
Following the tragic day of September 11, 2001, "US-led bombing of Afghanistan begins following the September 11 attacks on the United States. Anti-Taliban Northern Alliance forces enter Kabul shortly afterwards". http://www.bbc.com/news/world-south-asia-12024253 -
Amir runs Sohrabs kite for him
When Amir and Sohrab are flying kites, Amir decides to run Sohrab's kite for him like Hassan used to do for Amir, "I ran. A grown man running with a swarm of screaming children. But I didn't care. I ran with the wind blowing in my face, and a smile as wide as the Valley of Panjsher on my lips. I ran" (Hosseini 371). This quote is ironic because Amir used to never want to run his kite, nor would he have the skill Hassan did. Amir now runs the Kite for Sohrab, honoring Hassan. -
Opium Production
In Afghanistan Opium is a very common substance found in poppy flowers, "Opium production has soared to a record high, the UN reports". http://www.bbc.com/news/world-south-asia-12024253