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Hassan's first words
At the beginning of the novel, Amir was remembering how he was so close to Hassan, enough for him to be his first word. "[Hassan's] was Amir" (Hosseini 11). This shows the strength of their long-lasting bond. This demonstrates how everything that happened on the day of the rape happened because of Hassan's loyalty. -
Amir tries to play a 'prank' on Hassan
In July 1973, Amir decided to play a trick on Hassan. He was reading him a story and starts to stray from it, but he ends up enjoying it. Hassan had seemed to enjoy it as well. "'That was the best story you've read me in a long time'" (Hosseini 30), Hassan said. This had sparked Amir's interest in creative writing and although Amir's plan to prank him had failed, he managed to give Hassan great joy from a creation of his own. -
Hassan gets raped
During the winter of 1975, Hassan gets raped while trying to run for a kite for Amir. Although he saw what had happened, Amir "ran because [he] was a coward" (Hosseini 77). Here, Amir ran away in cowardice from his close friend because he was scared of what would happen to him. This illustrates that no matter how much he loved Hassan, Amir was too selfish to help others in need. -
Hassan proves his loyalty (before the rape)
In the winter of 1975 before the thing that happened between Hassan and Assef, Amir was talking to Hassan wondering what lengths his 'friend' would go to prove his loyalty. He asked him a question and in response, Hassan said that he would "'sooner eat dirt'" (Hosseini 54) than lie to him. Here, Hassan tells Amir something that surprises him but also gives him a higher sense of control. This also shows that Hassan believes in true friendships where friends would do anything for each other. -
Amir's different SES compared to Hassan
The first time Amir and Hassan encounter Assef, Assef questions their friendship and although Hassan believed they were truly friends, Asssef pointed something out and asked "'when Baba's friends came to visit with their kids...[was] Hassan [included in the] games'" (Hosseini 41)? Amir enjoys spending time with Hassan but almost says that he is his servant and not his friend because of their difference in SES. This later leads to Amir leaving Hassan in order to try to gain his father's approval. -
Amir realizes the amount of power that come from his actions (after rape))
After Hassan's rape, Amir processes what he had previously witnessed and felt immense guilt when he realized the strength of his actions. He knew that if he had spoken out about it, "the rest of [his] life might have turned out differently if [he] had. But [he] didn't. [He] just watched. Paralyzed" (Hosseini 73). This is one of the first times where the guilt about the rape can be visible and knows that his life would have been very different if he had stood up for Hassan. -
After rape, when Hassan had changed
After the rape, Hassan was not the same anymore; he was more distant. Amir remembered how he "barely saw Hassan" (Hosseini 80). Here, Amir knows that Hassan had changed after the rape, he was not as innocent. Hassam acting this way caused Amir's guilt to formulate more. -
Amir's guilt leads to asking Baba a question about them
After a while, Amir felt so much guilt it hurts to be around Hassan. He decides to ask Baba if he would "'ever [think] about getting new servants'" (Hosseini 89). This caused an uproar from Baba which scared Amir. It did not help with his guilt and remorse. -
Amir's regular way of life begins to come to an end
There was a certain point in time when Amir knew that "the end, the official end, would come first in April 1978 with the communist coup d'état" (Hosseini 36). This was the start of war. This exhibits the change in Amir's environment. -
First Time the Communist Tanks Rolled In
In December 1979, "Russian tanks...rolle[ed] into the very streets Hassan and [Amir] played, bringing the death of Afghanistan [he] knew and marketing the start of a still ongoing era of bloodletting" (Hosseini 36). This evidence is a key detail in what Afghanistan was like at that time. It was the beginning of the generations who only knew blood and war. Because of this, many people sided with others which disrupted the peace of Afghanistan. -
Soviet Invasion
Afghanistan "has known little peace since 1979, when the Soviet Union invaded" (New York Times). Because of the Soviet Union, Afghanistan has mostly known war and death. -
Baba and Amir go escape to Pakistan
After a few years, Baba and Amir decide to leave Afghanistan. During their trip, they encounter a Russian soldier who wants to tape the woman that is with them and Baba decides to step in and keep her safe. Because of what Baba did, Amir saw "the young woman's husband suddenly [stand] and [do] something [he had] seen many others do before him. He kissed Baba's hand" (Hosseini 117). Baba is well known in their society and commonly does good deeds which cause many to respect him. -
Soviet Air Force rendered largely useless
After the year 1986, "the Soviet Air Force was...rendered largely useless by advanced Stinger antiaircraft missiles supplied by the United States to the rebels" (New York Times). -
Soviet Troops leave
After everything calms down, "the last Soviet troops [leave] Afghanistan" who had left a devastated country and made it into a beacon for Islamic extremists (New York Times). -
Afghanistan descended into vicious internecine strife
As it says in the article, "by the summer of 1994, power was anarchically divided among competing warlords and fiefdoms" (New York Times). The country soon turned into a dangerous place. -
Mullah Omar
At the end of 1994, "Mullah Omar nearly had 12,000 followers" who had the potential of being an uprising (New York Times). -
Taliban seized control of Afghanistan
After years of civil war, "Taliban...had seized control" of Afghanistan and gave safe Haven to Al-Qaeda after 9/11 (New York Times). -
Taliban providing safe haven
For some reason, the Taliban was giving some people safe haven in Afghanistan. They even "provided a haven for Mr. bin laden" (New York Times). -
Rahim Khan's phone call
At the beginning of the year, Amir receives a phone call from Rahim Khan trying to convince him to come back to Kabul. Towards the end, he tells Amir to "'come [because] there is a way to be good again'" (Hosseini 192). Rahim knows about the rape and although Hassan was gone, Amir could go to Kabul for the benefit of his son. This illustrates that Rahim Khan had wanted to help Amir in atoning for his sins. -
2001 Invasion
In 2001, there was an "invasion [that] succeeded in dislodging Al Qaeda and removing Taliban from power, but not in eradicating either group" (New York Times). -
Amir and Assef meet again
In Kabul, Amir faces a Talib who turns out to be Assef. When he found out, he "tried to take a breath but couldn't. [He] tried to blink and couldn't" (Hosseini 281). Seeing him was such a shock to him and it made him feel an obligation to correct his mistake. -
The bond between Sohrab and Amir
As Sohrab was running away from the hotel to a nearby mosque, Amir follows him. As he catches up, Amir notices Hassan's hardships and what they had gone through, creating a "kinship [that] had taken root" (Hosseini 320). The two of them trust each other greatly, which then builds a bond that will never be broken. -
Amir finds the truth about him and Hassan
While looking for Sohrab, Amir explains to his driver why he is searching for him. He had recently found out that "Hassan was [his] half-brother. [His] illegitimate half-brother" (Hosseini 237). Here, Amir takes in something he should have been told in his youth which was fueling his need to find his nephew. This is a demonstration of the risks Amir would take for his family. -
Attack on world trade center
On September 11, 2001, there was an attack on the world trade centers and Pres. "Bush later gave the Taliban an ultimatum to hand over Mr. bin laden" which eventually turned out right (New York Times). -
When American forces were supposed to withdraw from Afghanistan
In the summer of 2011, "initial plans called for American combat forces to begin withdrawing from Afghanistan", but Obama had wanted them to stay until at least 2014 with the intention to pass responsibility of security to their government (New York Times).