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hassan's surgery
After Hassan got the surgery to fix his cleft lip, Amir recalls, “then his lips twisted, and, that time, I knew just what he was doing. He was smiling. Just as he had, emerging from his mother’s womb” (Hosseini 47). Through this quote, the author shows how important the surgery was for Hassan because it changed not only his appearance, but also his personality. Hassan felt much more comfortable with his own appearance, and this may have played a role when he stood up for Amir against Assef. -
amir wins kite contest
Amir brings the kite to Baba and sees "a smile played on my father's lips. He opened his arms... I buried my face in the warmth of his chest and wept" (Hosseini 79). This is the moment when Amir finally feels accepted in the story because Baba is proud of him. Amir finally feels as though Baba forgave him for killing his mother when she gave birth to him. -
hassans rape
Amir watches and remarks, "And that was as close as Hassan and I ever came to discussing what had happened in that alley... I pretended I hadn't seen the dark stain on the seat of his pants. Or those tiny drops that fell from between his legs and stained the snow black" (Hosseni 78). This event has a huge significance in the story because it's the moment when everything changed in Amir and Hassan’s life. This event creates an ongoing tension between Amir and Hassan that never really is resolved. -
hassan and ali leave
Amir watches "Baba's car pull away from the curb, taking with it the person whose first spoken word had been my name" (Hosseini 109). This is a big moment in the book because it’s when everything and everyone fall apart. Hassan can't stand living with a friend who lies to him everyday of his life, and Ali can't stand seeing his son suffer everyday, so they decide to completely shut out Baba and Amir and abandon them. -
general daud is overthrown
In 1978, "General Daud is overthrown and killed in a pro-Soviet coup. The People's Democratic Party comes to power but is paralysed by violent infighting and faces opposition by US-backed mujahideen groups" (http://www.bbc.com). -
soviet union invades afghanistan
In December of 1979, " Soviet Army invades and props up communist government" in Afghanistan (http://www.bbc.com). -
babrak karmal becomes ruler
In 1980, "Babrak Karmal installed as ruler, backed by Soviet troops. But opposition intensifies with various mujahideen groups fighting Soviet forces. US, Pakistan, China, Iran and Saudi Arabia supply money and arms to the mujahideen" (https://www.bbc.com). -
russians come to afghanistan
Amir remembers when the Russians took him and others and they were "sitting with our suitcases between our legs, cramped with these strangers in the tarpaulin-covered cab of an old Russian truck" (Hosseini 110). This pays an important role in the novel because it's when Afghanistan becomes a terrible place controlled by Taliban. Because of this, Hassan and his wife, Farzara, are killed and Sohrab becomes an orphan. -
baba and amir come to san fran
Amir remarks, "Baba loved the idea of America. It was living in America that gave him an ulcer" (Hosseini 125). This moment shows the action Baba and Amir took after Amir couldn’t handle the regret he was facing when living in Afghanistan. Amir wanted to start fresh and pursue his lifelong dream of becoming a writer, and moving to San Francisco would allow him to attempt to reach that goal. -
amir graduates from high school
Amir remembers, "That summer of 1983, I graduated from high school at the age of twenty, by far the oldest senior tossing his mortarboard on the football field that day" (Hosseini 131). This event is significant in the story because it's a big achievement in Amir’s life. He knows that he is one step closer to becoming a writer and being free to express himself in any way, without having to constantly worry about Baba and his opinions. -
mujahideen allience
BBC news states that in 1985, "Mujahideen come together in Pakistan to form alliance against Soviet forces. Half of Afghan population now estimated to be displaced by war, with many fleeing to neighbouring Iran or Pakistan" (http://www.bbc.com). -
baba dies
A month after his wedding, Soraya asks Baba if he needs his medicine, and he responds with "Not tonight... There is not pain tonight," so she says okay and "pulled up his blanket... Baba never woke up" (Hosseini 173). This event shows significance because Baba was not only Amir's father, but he was also Amir’s role model and mentor. Baba dying tears a hole in Amir’s heart that he knows will never be filled again. -
amir's first book is published
One of the happiest moments of Amir's life was when "Martin called and informed me that I was going to be a published novelist" (Hosseini 183). This is an important moment in Amir's life because he finally feels accomplished, because he has officially become a writer. This is the first happy moment he has after Babas death, and it makes Amir realize that he can do whatever he wants, as long as he stays persistent in reaching his goal. -
peace accords are signed
According to BBC news, in the year 1988, "Afghanistan, USSR, the US and Pakistan sign peace accords and Soviet Union begins pulling out troops" (https://bbc.com). -
taliban take over
Unfortunately, in 1996, "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" (https://bbc.com). -
incident with assef and amir
Amir states, "I don't know if I gave Assef a good fight. I don't think I did. How could I have? That was the first time I'd fought anyone. I had never so much as thrown a punch in my entire life" (Hosseini 288). This moment is significant because it is the moment when Amir finally stands up for himself. Amir redeems himself in a way for the cowardly behavior he portrayed when Assef raped Hassan. -
un released air embargo
In October of 1999, "UN imposes an air embargo and financial sanctions to force Afghanistan to hand over Osama bin Laden for trial" (https://bbc.com). -
hassan and farzana are killed
Rahim Khan tells Amir that the Taliban, "took [Hassan] to the street...and in order him to kneel...and shot him in the back of the head...Farzana came screaming and attacked them...shot her too. Self-defense, they claimed later..." (Hosseini 219). This event is a huge moment because Amir is out of time to apologize to Hassan, and Sohrab is left without parents. Sohrab’s life Amir’s mental state are destroyed all because of the Taliban’s harmful actions towards the Afghanistan people. -
sohrab almost drowns in bathtub
Amir opens the bathroom to tell Sohrab the good news, however, "suddenly I was on my knees, screaming. Screaming through my clenched teeth... I was still screaming when the ambulance arrived" (Hosseini 343). This plays an important role in he book because it shows how miserable Sohrab was at the orphanages he has stayed at. This event makes Amir realize that he really needs to take Sohrab home with him and help him through his struggle because he owes it to both Hassan and himself. -
amir comes home with sohrab
Amir recalls, "We arrived home about seven months ago, on a warm day in August 2001" (Hosseini 357). This plays a significant moment in the story because Sohrab is officially free of the restrictions that were placed on him in Afghanistan. Also, Amir redeemed himself for the conflicts he created between him and Hassan. -
us bombing
In october of 2001, the "US-led bombing of Afghanistan begins following the September 11 attacks on the United States. Anti-Taliban Northern Alliance forces enter Kabul shortly afterwards" (https://bbc.com). -
afghan groups deal, hamid karzai is leader
In December of 2001, "Afghan groups agree deal in Bonn, Germany for interim government. Hamid Karzai is sworn in as head of an interim power-sharing government" (http://www.bbc.com). -
sohrab smiles for first time
After taking down the kite, Amir "looked down at Sohrab. One corner of his mouth had curled up just so. A smile. Lopsided. Hardly there. But there" (Hosseini 371). This plays an important role in the story, because it's the first time that Sohrab has smiled since his suicide attempt. This also makes Amir feel like there is hope for the relationship he has with Sohrab in the future. -
sohrab and amir fly the kite together
After seeing Sohrab smile, Amir asks him, "'Do you want me to run that kite for you?'...I thought I saw him nod. 'For you, a thousand times over,' I heard myself say" (Hosseini 371). This moment is significant because Amir is reliving an old memory that he shared with Hassan. He isn't just running for Sohrab, he's running in memory of Hassan, who used to run the kite for Amir. -
new constitution
In the year 2004, Loya Jirga won the election and "adopts new constitution which provides for strong presidency" (https://bbc.com).