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Hassan's birth
Hassan was a year younger than Amir and they both live in two totally different lives but despite that, they always spent time together and had fun. After they would finish playing, Amir would "[go] past the rosebushes to Baba's mansion, [and] Hassan to the mud shack" (Hosseini 6). Both boys live in two different social classes and even though Hassan is poor, Amir still plays with him, creating many fond memories with him. -
Amir Reads His Story to Hassan
Amir played a trick on Hassan and pretended that he was reading from a book when he really actually was just making up his own story. Amir thought it was funny until Hassan started clapping and told him that "that was the best story [he has] read [him] in a long time" (Hosseini 30). After that day, Amir was inspired to start writing his own stories for Hassan, but he also wanted praise from his father which he didn't receive. This eventually created a distance between the two and affected them. -
The Afghanistan Republic
https://www.rferl.org/a/1103837.html For 40 years, Afghanistan was a monarchy ruled by a king named Zahir Shah, until his cousin decided to form a coup to overthrow the king in 1973. The king's cousin, Mohammad Daoud Khan, seized power in Kabul and declared Afghanistan a republic. Daoud Khan told the people that he "[has] always pursued a goal for [his] people...for the people of Afghanistan...to provide a positive financial and spiritual environment" (Daoud Khan). -
Hassan's Birthday
During that winter, it was Hassan's birthday and Baba hired a doctor to fix Hassan's cleft lip. This made Amir very jealous and he "wished [he] too had some kind of scar that would beget Baba's sympathy" (Hosseini 46). He didn't understand why Baba would treat a servant better than his own son. His feelings created problems between his and Hassan's relationship later in the book. -
Hassan's Rape
After winning the blue kite from the kite running competition, Amir accidentally witnesses Assef raping Hassan. However, instead of saving his friend, Amir ran away because "Hassan was the price [he] had to pay, the lamb [he] had to slay, to win Baba" (Hosseini 77). Amir was more concerned about winning attention from his father than saving his friend from something that was going to haunt him in the future.1975 -
Amir's 13th Birthday
Amir had a birthday party at his house with many people he doesn't even know invited. Assef was also invited, bringing a book about Hitler for Amir's birthday present. Amir described Assef's features and said that "his eyes betrayed him... reveal[ing] a glimpse of the madness hiding behind them" (Hosseini 97). Assef would act like a good boy in front of adults and wealthy people but the inner him is a person who treats others patronizingly. -
Mohammad Daoud Khan Overthrown and a New Ruler
Khan was overthrown and murdered in a coup led by the People's Democratic Party of Afghanistan. After he was overthrown, Nur Mohammed Taraki, head of the Afghan Communist Party, took over the presidency. Taraki signed a friendship treaty with the Soviet Union. However, none of this could stabilize the Taraki government because "[the president's] dictatorial style and his decision to turn Afghanistan into a one-party state alienated many people in the heavily Moslem country" (History.com). -
Soviet Invasion of Afghanistan
Afghanistan was invaded by troops from the Soviet Union. The Soviet Union sent thousands of troops into Afghanistan and immediately took control over large portions of the country. There were also Afghan guerrillas that fought against the Soviet Union. The Soviet Union tried to fight back the guerrillas by "bombing and depopulating the rural areas" (The Editors of Encyclopædia Britannica). Some millions of Afghans fled from the war to Pakistan, hoping to find more peace and protection there. -
Baba and Amir Arrives to California
Their arrival to America was a chance for both Amir and Baba to start over again and to live a safer and more peaceful life. America for Amir "was a place to bury [his] memories" (Hosseini 129). Amir was finally able to forget the past and start anew after his move to America. It was a chance for him to forgive himself for his mistakes in the past. America also taught Amir to atone for his mistakes. -
Russians Invade Afghanistan
Russians invade Kabul, causing many Afghans to leave the city as refugees. Amir have never witness such traumatic events during their leave. He experienced something close to death when "[his] eyes stung from the fuels... [he] could die in a place like this" (Hosseini 122). Before the invasions, Amir lived a prosperous life but when leaving the city, he witnessed many things that he has never witnessed before. However, Baba was there with him helping him along the way. -
Amir's Graduation
Amir graduated from high school and he was happy to finally able to continue to pursue his dreams of becoming a creative writing writer. During the graduation, Baba went over to Amir and "his eyes gleamed when he [told Amir that he was proud] and [Amir] liked being on the receiving end of that look" (Hosseini 131). When Amir was little, he didn't really receive much praise and appreciation from his father but on his graduation day, Amir was finally happy to have Baba proud of him. -
Amir Meets Soraya
Baba and Amir started selling things at the flea market. During that time, Amir met Soraya, "a decent girl, hardworking and kind" (Hosseini 142). Amir immediately fell in love with her and as we read on in the book, we notice that he grows more mature and responsible with things around him. His maturity also taught him to atone for his mistakes when he went back to Kabul. -
Amir and Soraya Gets Married.
One of the most important moments in Amir's life was his wedding. He told the reader memories he had during the ceremony, like "sweat-drenched men dancing the traditional attan in a circle... until all but a few dropped out of the ring in exhaustion" (Hosseini 171). During the ceremony, Amir thought of the people from his past, such as Rahim Khan and Hassan. He suddenly thought of them because he too also once made many wonderful memories with them. -
Baba Passes Away
Not long after Amir and Soraya's marriage, Baba passed away due to sickness. During the funeral, Amir realizes that how much of he was and what he has "had been defined by Baba and the marks he had left on people's lives" (Hosseini 174). Amir had to go through things by himself now. Ever since Amir was little, he lacked self-defense and tend to have others do the defending for him. Now that Baba was gone, there is no one to show Amir the way anymore and he has to learn how to be a real man. -
Amir Finishes His First Novel
Amir was overwhelmed to find out that he was going to become a published novelist. He finally achieved his childhood dreams. That night, Amir recalled back to his past when Hassan said that "some day, [he] will be a great writer... and people all over the world will read [his] stories" (Hosseini 183). Amir was really happy that day. However, he wondered if he deserves all that happiness considering the fact that he betrayed his best friend. This reveals that he still has guilt from his past. -
Soviet Withdraws
In 1989, Afghanistan, Pakistan, the U.S, and the Soviet Union signed a peace treaty guaranteeing to withdraw the troops and giving Afghanistan its independence. The withdrawal "marked the beginning of the end to a long, bloody, and fruitless Soviet occupation of Afghanistan" (History.com). -
The Fall of Najibullah
In April 1992, the Mujahadeen along with many other rebel troops stormed into the capital of Kabul and overthrew the president, Najibullah. The Mujahadeen were determined to fight for the future of Afghanistan. A civil war occurred and attacks went on for many years. Cities near Kabul were also affected and "the countryside outside Kabul slipped into chaos" (The Editors of Encyclopædia Britannica). -
Taliban and Kabul
In 1996, Taliban captured the Afghan capital Kabul and took control. The Taliban promised to restore peace and security once their leader came into power. But despite all that, life in Afghanistan was still rough for the Afghans.The Talibans "neglected social services and other basic state functions" (Laub 2). They set up many strict policies and orders for the Afghans to follow and consequences mostly include executions or jailing. -
The US Launches Missile
American missiles sent from President Clinton hit sites in Afghanistan and Sudan. President Clinton sent missiles to attack six sites that were part of a network of terrorist compounds. He struck back because of "compelling information they were planning additional terrorist attacks against our citizens and others with the inevitable collateral casualties and .. seeking to acquire chemical weapons and other dangerous weapons." (CNN) -
Amir Finds and Rahim Khan
Amir receives a call from Rahim Khan one day that made Amir go back to Afghanistan. During his visit, Rahim Khan told Amir things about Hassan and also buried secrets from the past.The main reason why Rahim Khan summoned Amir to him was for him to find "a way to be good again" (Hosseini 192). Sohrab needed a new family so Rahim Khan told Amir to bring Sohrab to a family. This was a chance for Amir to finally repay back for his mistakes by helping Hassan's son. -
Amir and Sohrab's Relationship
One night, Sohrab left to go see a mosque that he and his father visited when his father was still alive. While they were there, Sohrab told Amir that he was scared because of the bad things that the Talibans had done to him. Amir comforted him and told him that he "won't hurt [him]" (Hosseini 320). They had a father and son like conversation during that moment. Even though Amir wasn't Sohrab's father, he still treated him like his own son. We can see how much Amir has changed and matured. -
Ahmad Shah Masood Assassinated
The leader of the rebel Northern Alliance was assassinated by a bomb hidden in a video camera. He was a man whom wanted Afghanistan to be an independent country and opposed all foreign interference in Afghanistan. However, "if Massoud was alive, he would be fighting the Americans" (Cunningham) -
US Attacks Afghanistan
A coalition led by the US attacks Afghanistan with bombing campaigns from American and Britain forces. Other countries like France, Germany, Australia and Canada provided support for the attacks. The invasion was "intended to target terrorist mastermind Osama bin Laden’s al-Qaida organization" (History.com). -
Amir and Sohrab Runs a Kite
Sohrab didn't talk much after their move to San Francisco and he seemed unhappy. One day, Amir and Sohrab went to the park and they saw many people flying kites. Amir flew a kite for Sohrab and when he looked down at Sohrab, he saw "one corner of his mouth [curled] up" (Hosseini 370). That day was the day when Sohrab had finally smiled after so long. Amir was filled with hope and running the kite didn't bring back bad memories. Instead, he finally learned to forgive himself from the past. -
The Death of Osama bin Laden
The U.S. conducted an operation that killed the leader of al Qaeda. He was also the man that carried out the 9/11 attacks. Obama described Osama bin Laden as "a terrorist who’s responsible for the murder of thousands of innocent men, women, and children" (International Committee of the Red Cross).
