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The Kite Fight
In the winter of 1975 Hassan and Amir won the kite competition. Amir said it was the last time saw Hassan run a kite, but was very happy to find out they won, "This wan't happening. In a moment, I'd blink and rouse from this beautiful dream..." (Hosseini 66). The two friends were in shock, they were full of joy. Amir was excited because he finally did something to impress Baba, but did not give Hassan enough credit for the work he did as the kite runner. Either way, it was an exciting for many. -
Assef Rapes Hassan
On the way back from the kite fight Amir states, "...that was the winter Hassan stopped smiling"(Hosseini 47). This was foreshadowing the event of Hassan being raped. Amir sadly witnessed the entire event, but Hassan was full of fear. Amir could have easily done something to try to prevent this by standing up for his friends, but he decided to act selfish and just watch. This cause awkwardness between Amir and Hassan, and for Hassan to live unhappily, never smiling. -
Hassan and Ali Move
Eventually Hassan and his father Amir move to their cousins, away from Amir and Baba because of Amir's selfishness. Hassan stood up for Amir for the last time, yet Amir was never grateful,"Baba would never, ever forgive me...I wanted to be able to breathe again" (Hosseini 105). Hassan sacrificed himself for Amir still only cared about what his father and himself. this is what drove Ali and Hassan away from them. They would rather have a worse life than live with Amir. -
Pomegranate Throwing
In order to get rid of Amir's guilt when witnessing Hassan's rape he punished Hassan by throwing pomegranates at him. When doing so he hoped he would hit him back, "He walked toward me. He opened it and crushed it against his own forehead" (Hosseini 93). This quote shows Hassan's loyalty for Amir, but also Amir's selfishness. He hurt Hassan in order to get rid of his own guilt. In response, Hassan embraced the pain because he would never disobey Amir. -
Amirs 13th Birthday
At Amir's 13th birthday party Assef comes without an invitation from Amir, but one from Baba. At the party he bullied Hassan and was rude to Amir, although Baba still admired him because he was like the son he never had. As a gift, Assef gets Amir, "a biography of Hitler" (Hosseini 97). This proves Assef is sick and the ideas that please him hurt others. He enjoys the idea of killing off a specific group of people, like Hazara's. Also, it foreshadows what Assef caused in the future. -
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Soviet Union Invades Afghanistan
Afghanistan was stable and doing well until, "Soviets engineered the coup as a pretext to replace Hafizullah" (New York Times). As the U.S and Pakistan helped, the Soviet Union stayed in Afghanistan for nine years and cost them about 15,000 lives. -
Leaving Afghanistan
Because of the violence occurring in Afghanistan involving the Russians taking over, Baba and Amir leave Afghanistan and travel on a bus to Pakistan. They are taken there by Karim, "a people smuggler... driving people out of Shorawi- occupied Kabul to the relative safety of Pakistan" (111). The bus drive was rough, but it was the only way for them to escape the chaos in Afghanistan. Leaving Afghanistan meant Amir and Baba escaping violence, but also leaving behind memories. -
America
Amir and Baba decided to move to Fremont, America because of the violence in Afghanistan. Although they were leaving their home, "Baba loved the idea of America. (Hosseini 125). After the long ride to arrive to America, Baba and Amir were enjoying the outcome. They were excited to move away from Afghanistan, and start new in America, but have not thought about some of the struggles they would have to face. -
Amir and Soraya Married
Ever since Amir saw Soraya, he loved her. Eventually they got married,"We all agreed that Soraya and I would forgo the Shirini-khori. Everyone knew the reason, so no one had to actually say it: that Baba didn't have months to live" (Hosseini 169). Life has had its difficulties for Amir and Baba, but this shows how some good can come out of it. Because Baba was diagnosed with lung caner, Amir married Soraya and gets to live happily with her. Also, Baba proudly got to see his son get married. -
Baba dies
America has brought Amir and Baba closer together to th point where they have bonded and Baba accepted Amir for who he really is. Sadly, Baba was diagnosed with lung cancer and died. Because of how close they have gotten, Amir is quite affected, "My whole life I had been "Baba's son." Now he was gone. Baba couldn't show me the way anymore: I'd have to find it on my own (174). The thought of this terrified Amir. This shows how Amir has to learn and mature on his own because no one can guide him. -
Hassan Died
Ever since the Taliban took over, life has been rougher in Afghanistan, especially for Hazara's. When Amir returns to Pakistan Rahim Khan explained how Hassan was executed by Taliban's, as well as his wife, ""-and shot him in the back of the head"" (Hosseini 219). This horrifying event shows the effect of the Taliban take over. Many innocent people, living in fear, were being executed and nothing was done about it. With Amir living in America, he had no idea how awful Afghans were living. -
Warlords and Individual Fiefdoms
After the Soviet Union left Afghanistan, Afghanistan's power was, "...divided among competing warlords and individual fiefdoms" (New York Times). The Soviet Union had huge effects on Afghanistan, even after they left. Eventually, the Taliban's gained control of the country. -
Jalalabad Airport
Mr. bin Laden arrived at Jalalabad airport to support Al Qaeda in 1996. Sadly, this destruction is similar to 911, "Western diplomats say Al Qaeda helped persuade Mullah o
mar to order the destruction of the 800-year-old Buddha statues at Bamiyan, an act condemned around the world" (New York Times). -
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Taliban Takover
Eventually the Tailban's took control of Afghanistan in 1996 until 2001 and imposed, "strict enforcement of fundamentalist Islamic law, banning movies and music and forcing women out of school..." (New York Times). Afghans must have been very unhappy with these movements and it must have caused many rebellions. -
Amir returns to Pakistan
Referring to the page 1 of the book, Amir returns to Pakistan. While catching up with Rahim Khan, he learns all that he has being missing out on many events. He learned the Taliban taking over is, ""...worse. Much worse"" (Hosseini 198) than he imagined. This shows the violence in Afghanistan has increased. This caused Hassan's and his wife's death, leading to their son being in an orphanage. Amir learns more about Hassan and his family, but also about Rahim Khan's illness. -
911
Americans dread the day Al Qaeda led an invasion against America, flying planes into New York's Twin Towers, and killing many citizens. Eventually the U.S., "succeeds in dislodging Al Queda and removing Talbian from power..." (New York Time), but this did not last long and eventually caused more trouble. -
Northern Alliance
After the 911 terrorist attack, the U.S. decided to join forces with the rebels groups, "... that never accepted Taliban rule, notably the Northern Alliance, which represents minority tribes. By the end of the year, this drove the Taliban out of major Afghan cities. -
Amir goes to Ghazi Stadium
Farid goes with Amit to Ghazi Stadium in order to find Sohrab, but instead witnesses two innocent people being stoned to death by Taliban members. Although Amir has been through a lot, "I closed my eyes and covered my face with my hands" (Hosseini 271). The people of Afghanistan lived in fear because of the Taliban. Once seeing the stoning, most people in the stadium were against it, but did not speak up. This shows how awful times in Afghanistan were under Taliban rule, way worse than imagined. -
Sohrab Attempts Suicide
Sohrab has a rough time adjusting to America and when Amir tells him the only way to adopt him is too put him back in an orphanage it doesn't make it any easier. Amir finds Sohrab in the bath tub with his wrist slit. Amir takes him to the hospital where he states,"... I wish you had left me in the water" (Hosseini 355). Shorab misses his old life in Afghanistan and is unhappy in America. This quote shows he would rather not live if he can not have his past life back. -
Hamid Karzai
Hamid Karzai defeated Taliban, making him the leader of Afghanistan. In 2004, he was elected president for five years hoping to secure peace in Afghanistan. Especially after 911, he improved that country and pleased the U.S, "During the Bush administration, Mr. Karzai... was also a White House favorite" (New York Times). -
Amir Receives a Call
In the beginning of the book, Amir receives a call from Rahim Khan. He wanted Amir to comeback and visit, "... I knew it wasn't just Rahim Khan on the line. It was a my past of untoned sins" (Hosseini 1). This quote foreshadows what will eventually happen in the story, Amir will return to Pakistan. Also, it shows he has done something in Pakistan that still haunts him, which will later be revealed in future chapters. -
Afghan New Year
When celebrating Afghan New Year's, Soraya noticed dozens of kites in the sky and Amir decided to fly a kite with Sohrab, just like Hassan and Amir did. Eventually Sohrab went running for the kite happily, "It was only a smile, nothing more. It didn't make everything all right" (Hosseini 371). This was the first time Sohrab smiled and this shows that even though it is not a big deal, it meant a lot. It gave Amir hope that him and Sohrab will hopefully live happily with one another. -
The Surge
Improving the pace of American operations, Obama decided to draw,"...troops out of Iraq and increasing the number in Afghanistan by almost 50,000..." (New York Times). Later, Obama out General Petraeus uncharge of the "surge:. -
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General Petraeus Control
General Petraeus was credited for most of the success of the surge and, "...had taken charge of the United States Central Command in October 2008, with responsibility for military operations in Iraq" (New York Times). -
Obama's Speech
Finally President Obama announced his plan to the U.S., which was to deploy 30,000 additional troops to Afghanistan. He did this with the hopes, "to start bringing American forces home from Afghanistan,,," (New York Times).