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Hassan Gets Surgery to Fix His Cleft Lip
On Hassan's birthday, Baba surprises him with a surgery to fix his cleft lip. This gift bothered Amir and he thought "it wasn't fair. Hassan hadn't done anything to earn Baba's affections; he'd just been born with that stupid harelip" (Hosseini 46). All Amir wants is the acceptance of his father, which is why this event bothered Amir because Hassan always seemed to easily gain Baba's love and affection. This demonstrates Amir's jealously and annoyance of Hassan's place in Baba's heart. -
Amir and Hassan Win the Kite Flying Contest
One of Amir's most troubled memories was a day "[i]n the winter of 1975, [when he] saw Hassan run a kite for the last time" (Hosseini 55). On this day, Amir and Hassan won the kite flying contest, but it was also the day Hassan was raped. This day reveals Amir's lack of loyalty towards Hassan. Amir put his own needs to please Baba above helping his friend, who suffered because of Amir's selfish choices. On top of this, Amir's cowardly action will bring him guilt for the rest of his life. -
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Kite Runner & the History of Afghanistan
The events that took place in Afghanistan between 1975-2011 -
Hassan and Ali Leave
After Amir hid his watch and money under Hassan's bed, Ali tells Baba, "Life here is impossible for us now, Agha sahib. We're leaving" (Hosseini 106). On this day, Amir loses his childhood friend. Amir's guilt about not helping Hassan was consuming him, which is what caused him to betray Hassan. This demonstrates Amir's incapability to deal with his emotions, and ultimately his ability to hurt those he cares about, consequently driving away Hassan and Ali. -
Soviet Union invades the City of Kabul
According to an article published in the New York Times, "The first Soviet troops parachuted into Kabul on Dec. 27, 1979, to assist Babrak Karmal, who had become president in a coup within the Afghan Communist leadership" (2). -
Baba and Amir Leave Kabul
The Russians invade Afghanistan and Amir and Baba are forced to leave. Amir narrates, "I thought of the way we'd left the house where I'd lived my entire life" (Hosseini 112). Amir and Baba are forced to abandon their home, leaving all their belongings behind. Amir, in a way, is also leaving behind a part of him and his guilt for what happened with Hassan. -
Amir and Baba Come to America
After fleeing Afghanistan, Baba and Amir arrive in San Francisco. Amir describes how "for [him], America was a place to bury [his] memories. For Baba, a place to mourn his" (Hosseini 129). While Baba is unhappy with life in America, Amir is almost glad to have left everything behind because it will be easier for him to forget his sins. This reveals how Amir would rather avoid and bury his guilt rather than confront it. -
Amir Graduates High School
In 1983, Amir graduated high school at twenty two years old. On that day Baba said to him " 'I am moftakhir, Amir.' Proud" (Hosseini 131). Baba was rarely proud of Amir, so this day meant a lot to him. This event reveals Amir's continuing need to make Baba proud. Even though it has been many years, Amir still liked being noticed and accepted by his father. -
Amir Sees Soraya at the Flea Market
Amir and Baba are selling items at a flea market when Amir sees Soraya for the first time. Amir later narrates, "I thought of Soraya Taheri's sickle-shaped birthmark, her gently hooked nose, and the way her luminous eyes had fleetingly held mine. My heart stuttered at the thought of her" (Hosseini 142). In this moment Amir meets his future wife and cannot stop thinking about her. Even before he realizes it, Amir has fallen in love with her, but it will take a year for him to finally talk to her. -
Baba Dies
Baba's death heavily impacted Amir. Soon after his death, Amir narrates, "Now he [Baba] was gone. Baba couldn't show me the way anymore; I'd have to find it on my own. The thought of it terrified me" (Hosseini 174). With Baba no longer around to guide Amir, he is left to face life on his own. Baba's death reveals Amir's dependency on Baba. With his father gone, Amir realizes the impact Baba had on his life and how hard life will be now without him. -
Soviet Troops Leave Afghanistan
The New York Times article mentions how, after many years of fighting and "peace talks moderated by the United Nations, the last Soviet troops left Afghanistan in February 1989, in what was in effect an unilateral withdrawal" (2). -
Amir Publishes His First Novel
Amir publishes his first novel and begins to recall the people in his life who supported his writing career, like Hassan and Rahim Kahn. Amir is surrounded by "so much happiness, [but he] wondered whether [he] deserved any of it" (Hosseini 183). While Amir is overjoyed with his accomplishment he also feels guilty for it. Amir's guilt from his past impacts his ability to be happy in the present because he knows he does not deserve this joy. -
Soraya and Amir Cannot Have Children
Amir and Soraya discover they cannot have children, which causes Amir to think that "perhaps something, someone, somewhere, had decided to deny [him] fatherhood for the things [he] had done" (Hosseini 188). Amir thinks not being able to have children is a punishment for not helping Hassan in the past. His guilt cases him to blame his actions as the reason they cannot have kids. This guilt and blame shows Amir's regret in life, and how his actions are beginning to have consequences. -
Pakistan Helps Taliban in War
An article from The New York Times describes how in early 1994, Taliban may not have ever existed if it were not for "Pakistani intelligence officers [who] began funneling arms, money and supplies...as well as military advisers to help guide them in battle" (3). -
Taliban Take Over Afghanistan
By 1996, with help and support from Pakistan, the Taliban had, "taken control of Afghanistan, imposing strict enforcement of fundamentalist Islamic law" (New York Times 3) -
Mr. bin Laden and Al Qaeda Arrive in Afghanistan
After the arrival of Mr. bin Laden and Al Qaeda in May of 1996 in Jalalabad, "Al Qaeda helped persuade Muallah Omar to order the destruction of the 800-year old Buddha statues at Bamiyan, an act condemned around the world" (New York Times 3). -
Hassan is Killed
Rahim Khan tells Amir how Hassan was shot and killed by the Taliban. With this, Amir pictures "Hassan slump[ing] to the asphalt, his life of unrequited loyalty drifting from him like the windblown kites he used to chase" (Hosseini 219). Amir is shocked by the news of Hassan's death. He also feels guilty for his sins in the past and guilty for never being able to atone for his disloyalty, which is something Hassan deserved. -
Rahim Khan Calls Amir
Amir gets a phone call from Rahim Khan who tells him to "[c]ome [to Pakistan]. There is a way to be good again" before hanging up the phone (Hosseini 192). Rahim Khan ends up asking Amir to find Sohrab, Hassan's son. Amir believes finding Sohrab will be the way for him to atone for what he did to Hassan. While he could not save Hassan from the harm he faced, Amir has the chance to save Hassan's son. In doing so, Amir can finally atone for his actions. -
Amir Asks Sohrab to Come Live With Him in America
After finding Hassan's son and bonding with him, Amir asks Sohrab, "Would you like to come live in America with me and my wife?" (Hosseini 320). Amir cannot leave Sohrab like he left Hassan so many years ago. By asking Sohrab to live with him, Amir is finally atoning for what he did to Hassan through Hassan's son. -
Sohrab Attempts to Commit Suicide
After Amir tells Sohrab he may have to go back to an orphanage, Sohrab tries to commit suicide. Amir finds Sohrab in the bathroom in which he narrates, "Suddenly I was on my knees, screaming. Screaming through my clenched teeth. Screaming until I thought my throat would rip and my chest explode" (Hosseini 343). Even though they had just met, Amir already feels a connection and responsibility for Sohrab. Because of this, he is greatly affected, knowing he cannot let Sohrab die. -
U.S. and Northern Alliance Take Action After Taliban Attack
When the Taliban refused to hand over Mr. bin Laden after the attack on The World Trade Center, "the United States joined forces with rebel groups that had never accepted Taliban rule...[and] an air and ground campaign began that drove the Taliban out of the major Afghan cities by the end of the year" (New York Times 3). -
Amir and Sohrab Fly A Kite Together
Amir convinces Sohrab to fly a kite with him. After taking down another kite together, Amir "looked down at Sohrab. One corner of his mouth had curled up just so. A smile. Lopsided. Hardly there. But there" (Hosseini 370). After months of silence, Amir had finally gotten through to Sohrab when he smiled. This simple action illustrates how Sohrab and Amir's relationship is slowly growing stronger with time. -
Hamid Karzai is Elected President
After Hamid Karzai was elected chairman in 2001, he soon became the leader of Afghanistan and "took office as interim president in June 2002, saying he hoped to secure peace for Afghanistan and win the country much-needed international aid" (New York Times 3). -
General Petraeus Becomes Commander
An article from The New York Times states that "George Petraeus...had taken charge of United States Central Command in October 2008, with responsibility for military operations in Iraq, Afghanistan and across the region" (4). -
Mr. Obama's Speech
On December 1, 2009, President Obama delivered a speech announcing, "his plan to deploy 30,000 additional troops [to Afghanistan]. He vowed to start bringing American forces home from Afghanistan in the middle of 2011" (New York Times 4). -
Taliban in Afghanistan Have Not Been Defeated
Despite President Obama's speech in 2009, the Obama administration announced troops would stay in Afghanistan until at least the end of 2014. The "administration officials acknowledged that the 2014 date was based on the presumption that the American military would be successful enough in fighting the Taliban" (New York Times 4).