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Amir's Birth
In the second chapter, Amir discusses how Hassan was born "just a year after my mother died giving birth to me" (Hosseini 6). The fact that he considered his mother when describing Hassan's birth shows that he is still affected from his mother's loss. Considering that he has never met his mother, he feels guilty because he was the reason that Baba has no wife. This proves that Amir is considerate and selfless since he put others before himself. -
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The Kite Runner
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Hassan's Birth
Hassan is born a year before Amir. As Amir states, "It was in that small shack that Hassan's mother, Sanaubar, gave birth to him one cold winter day in 1964" (Hosseini 6). I used this quotation to help demonstrate that both Hassan and Amir do not have mothers under different situations. They're friendship is very strong and is related to the main plot of the book. -
Hassan and Amir win the kite flying contest
In this event, Hassan proves his loyalty to Amir during the contest. Hassan mentions "For you a thousand times over" (Hosseini 67) shortly before going to catch the kite for Amir. This shows that Hassan's loyalty has no limits as a friend and his servant. The book plot circled around this major event all through the book. -
Hassan gets raped
Hassan gets raped after catching the kite for Amir by Assef. Amir stands watching idly by without doing anything about his best friend getting rapped. As his father said, "A boy who won't stand up for himself becomes a man who can't stand up to anything" (Hosseini 23). Baba has characterized Amir as soft and cowardly which affects Amir extensively since a father's opinion to a son is very important. After the rape, Amir realizes Baba is right and he is not glad that he is. -
Ali and Hassan Leave
This event shows Baba's loyalty toward Ali and Hassan. When Amir asks if Hassan can get new servants, Baba becomes very defensive and yells at Amir. "My father took him in, he loved Ali like his own son. Forty years Ali's been with my family. Forty goddamn years. And you think I'm just going to throw him out?" (Hosseini 89). This proves that Baba cares deeply for Ali and this friendship shapes how Hassan and Amir became best friends in the first place. -
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History of Afghanistan
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First Soviet troops
The first Soviet troops were appointed to assist Babrak Karmal who "had become president in a coup within the Afghan community leadership." -
Amir and Baba move to America
Baba has a hard time fitting into San Francisco and starts to attract attention. When Baba was grocery shopping with Amir, he yells; "What kind of a country is this? No one trusts anybody!" (Hosseini 128). Baba expresses his anger and his longing to go back to his hometown by yelling at the workers in the shop. This is significant because in Kabul, everyone trusted each other and he was used to doing the same routines everyday. -
Amir's graduation from high school
Amir's graduation was a bonding experience between the two that the book hasn't discussed in a while. Amir expresses Baba as "Proud. His eyes gleamed when he said that and I liked being on the receiving end of that look" (Hosseini 131). This was a moment that was very special for their relationship and something that we have not seen since the kite flying contest. -
Amir meets Soraya
The theme represented is love due to the friendship that develops between these two characters. Amir thought about "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). This is the start of a relationship that lasts and one of the things that never changed in the book. This theme adds to the aspects of this story and makes it more relatable and believable. -
Amir and Soraya get married
In chapter 12, Baba is really sick, but still manages to put on a happy face for Amir and Soraya's wedding. Baba says that this was "the happiest day of my life" (Hosseini 166). Baba manages to put all of his troubles away to ensure that Amir and Soraya will live and grow old as a happily married couple. This showed that Baba's morals have become better over the years. -
Baba dies
Baba passes away in his sleep around a month after the wedding in chapter 13. A few days before he passed, Soraya had read stories that Amir wrote and that was emotional for Amir because he wanted dearly for Baba to support his writing career. " I gave the notebook to Soraya and left the room. Baba hated it when I cried." Amir had pure respect for his father and when Baba started to listen to his stories, it meant the world to him. -
Last Soviet troops
the last soviet groups left Afghanistan "after peace talks moderated by the United Nations." -
Pakistani intelligence officers
Officers began to prepare for battle by "funneling arms, money, and supplies." -
Taliban
In Afghanistan, " the [Taliban] group had seized control in 1996 after years of civil war." -
Haven for Mr. Bin Laden
The Taliban provided a haven for Osama Bin Laden "who arrived by chartered jet at Jalalabad Airport." -
Attacks by Al Qaeda
There was an invasion after " the United States has been militarily involved in Afghanistan since 2001" -
Amir saves Sohrab
After finding out that Hassan is Amir's half brother he flies back to Afghanistan to find and adopt Sohrab. By doing this, he is atoning for his past sin. Rahim Khan reminded Amir that "there is a way to be good again" (Hosseini 192). This quotation portrays the atonement theme presented in the book. This is the beginning of the trip that would relieve him from his cowardness from the past. -
Amir stands up for Sorhab
When General Taheri judges Sorhab because he is a Hazra, Amir finally stands up for him. As he stood up for Sorhab, he said "You will never again refer to him as 'hazara boy' in my presence.I believe this is a really important event because he did something that he didn't get the chance to do with Hassan. Amir also takes control of the situation and becomes the bigger person. -
Sorhab tries to kill himself
Amir was terrified because he "didnt want his blood on [his] hands. Not his too" (Hosseini 314). This relates back to Hassan's rape. These were both traumatizing times for him and he didn't want both of their blood on his hands. -
Amir breaks Sorhab's trust
Amir promised he would never "put [Sorhab] in one of those places," but he did not have any choice because he found out that was the only way he could possibly adopt him. His worst fear was going to the orphanage, but it was necessary. -
Hamid Karzai
Hamid Karzai was named " chairman of an interim government that replaced the defeated Taliban, making him the leader of the country." -
World Trade Center Attacks
After being attacked at the World Trade Center in New York, "President George W. Bush gave the Taliban an ultimatum to hand over Mr. bin Laden" but they refused. The U.S. joined forces with rebel groups who were also against the Taliban. -
Sorhab smiles for the first time
Amir buys Sorhab his own kite and tells Sorhab more about Hassan. " I looked down at Sorhab. One corner of his mouth had curled up just so. A smile." After long days of silence, Sorhab showed some type of emotion which was a milestone since he hasn't talked. This is significant because it shows that there is a posibility their family will work out. -
General Petraeus
The Iraq commander took charge of the United States Centra Command "with responsibility for military operations in Iraq, Afghanistan, and across the region." -
Mr. Obama
Barack Obama announced his plan to brng American forces home from Afghanistan by "deploying 30,000 additional troops."