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Ali is Adopted by Baba's Father
Amir narrates, "The police brought the somewhat contrite young men and the dead couple's five-year-old orphan boy before my grandfather" (Hosseini 24) describing how Ali and Baba grew up together. His adoption is important to the story because it gives the reasoning why Ali and Hassan are so important to Baba. -
Amir is Born
"I turned thirteen that summer of 1976"(Hosseini 93), Amir narrates. Amir was born in Summer 1963. This event is important because it is the birth of the main character. -
Period: to
1975 to Present
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Mohammed Daoud Khan Proposes New Plans for Government
The prime minister of Afghanistan proposes a new plan to improve women rights, and works to make Afghanistan into a modern society. This is shown in "A Historical Timeline of Afghanistan" when it says, "Khan proposes a new constitution that grants women rights and works to modernize the largely communist state." -
Hassan Flies a Kite in the Kite Fighting Tournament
"In the winter of 1975, I saw Hassan run a kite for the last time"(Hosseini 55), Amir narrates, describing the experiences he and Hassan had running kites. The Kite Fighting Tournament is an important event in the story because it is one of the things that bring Hassan and Amir together. It is also a time that they enjoy and they are without worries. -
Hassan is Raped and Amir feels Guilty
Amir recalls a memory of Hassan's rape saying "One final opportunity to decide who I was going to be" (Hosseini 77). He is saying how he contemplated saving Hassan, but instead ran. Amir's inactions demonstrate his cowardice and help develop the character of Amir. -
Ali and Hassan Leave Amir and Baba
Amir narrates the moment when Ali decided to leave Amir and Baba, and when Baba "took Ali and Hassan to the bus station" (Hosseini 108). Amir's actions and inactions towards Hassan illustrate the harm it has caused Baba, and how Amir had not done anything to stop it. Amir eventually decides to atone for what he had done, and this event develops his character traits. -
Prime Minister Daoud Khan is Assassinated
The prime minister is assassinated as the article states, "On 27 April 1978, the PDPA, led by Nur Mohammad Taraki, Babrak Karmal and Amin Taha overthrew the government of Mohammad Daoud, who was assassinated along with all his family members in a bloody military coup" (The History of Afghanistan). -
Assef joins the Taliban
"They dragged me out and he started kicking me" (Hosseini 283), Assef narrates. He is talking about when he was in prison, how he realized he enjoyed the pain of others. He wanted to be part of the Taliban, and wanted to cause pain to others. -
Baba and Amir are Traveling to Pakistan
Baba and Amir are traveling to Pakistan in an effort to escape Afghanistan and flee to America. Amir says, "...Driving people out of Shorawi-occupied Kabul to the relative safety of Pakistan"(Hosseini 111). They are escaping the dangerous city of Kabul to Pakistan. -
Amir and Baba Move to California
"Baba loved the idea of America" (Hosseini 125), Amir says narrating their move to California. It is another major transition in Amir's life because he is escaping the dangers of Afghanistan, as well as escaping their past life in Kabul. -
Amir Graduates from High School
Amir narrates, "I graduated from high school at the age of twenty"(Hosseini 131), showing another big change in Amir's life. It is also another event that makes Baba proud of Amir. -
Baba is Diagnosed with Lung Cancer
"'He's got a spot on his right lung" (Hosseini 154), Amir describes the moment of Baba being diagnosed with cancer. This is significant to Amir because Baba was the one person in Amir's life that would guide him and keep him safe, but Baba could no longer because he was dying. -
Amir travels to Hazarajat to find Hassan
Amir tries to find Hassan, as shown when he says, "There were a lot of reasons why I went to Hazarajat to find Hassan in 1986" (Hosseini 203). Amir wants to atone for his acts against Hassan and is trying to find Hassan to make things right. Amir's decisions show how he feels bad for his actions. -
Amir gets Married to Soraya
Amir describes his wedding and marrying Soraya as he says, "Baba's hand took mine and tightened. Khanum Taheri burst into fresh tears" (Hosseini 169). The wedding is another significant event in Amir's life because he has started a new family and is happy. -
Sanaubar tries to Atone for her Actions
"It was Sanaubar who delivered Hassan's son that winter of 1990" (Hosseini 211) Amir illustrates, showing how Sanaubar is trying to atone for her sins. Sanaubar feels bad for abandoning Hassan and Ali, and is trying to make it right by helping Hassan raise his son. Sanaubar's decisions to make right help illustrate the theme of atonement in the novel. -
The Political Parties of Afghanistan Agree to Share Power
"After the fall of the communist Najibullah-regime in 1992, the Afghan political parties agreed on a peace and power-sharing agreement (the Peshawar Accords). The Peshawar Accords created the Islamic State of Afghanistan and appointed an interim government for a transitional period" (The History of Afghanistan), illustrating the how several political parties of Afghanistan plan on sharing power. -
The Taliban starts to Influence the Afghan Government
The Taliban which is "the most significant group in present-day Afghanistan emerges unheralded and without fanfare" (The History of Afghanistan). -
The United Front is created in an Effort to fight against the Taliban
In an effort to fight the Taliban an organization "created the United Front (Northern Alliance) against the Taliban, who were preparing offensives against the remaining areas under the control of Massoud and Dostum" (The History of Afghanistan). -
Amir goes to Pakistan
Amir needs to go to Pakistan, as demonstrated when he says,"I have to go to Pakistan" (Hosseini 191). Amir is shocked to hear that one of his old friends is ill and wants to make it up to him. -
The United States declares War on Al Qaeda
The US declares war against Al Qaeda because of their actions in 9/11. The article says,"The terrorist attacks against the USA on 11 September 2001 transform the situation in Afghanistan. The immediate assumption in Washington is that the outrage is the work of Osama bin Laden and his al-qaeda organization" (The History of Afghanistan). -
Amir goes to find Sohrab
"Farid eased the Land Cruiser up the driveway of a big house in Wazir Akbar Khan" (Hosseini 273), Amir narrates as he enters the house attempting to find Sohrab. Amir's actions to look for Hassan demonstrate his strong character change as he is looking to atone for his actions against Hassan. -
Taliban Government is Overthrown and Present Hamid Karzai Creates Measures to Make Afghanistan Safer
"In December 2001, after the Taliban government was overthrown and the new Afghan government under President Hamid Karzai was formed, the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) was established by the UN Security Council to help assist the Karzai administration and provide basic security" (The History of Afghanistan), the article shows the time period when the Taliban was overthrown. -
The Taliban takes over the government
In Afghanistan, "a Taliban-led shadow government began to form in parts of the country" (The History of Afghanistan), showing how the Taliban is starting to influence the political views of the government. -
Afghan Officials are Assassinated
"After the May 2011 death of Osama bin Laden in Pakistan, many prominent Afghan figures were assassinated" (The History of Afghanistan), the article states showing how many important political figures were assassinated. -
Ashraf Ghani Became President of Afghanistan
The president of Afghanistan is replaced as demonstrated when the article, The History of Afghanistan says, "Following the 2014 presidential election President Karzai left power and Ashraf Ghani became president in September 2014" (The History of Afghanistan).