-
Hassan's Rape
The day of the kite fighting tournament, Amir watched Hassan get raped by Assef. Amir did nothing to save Hassan from his torment and ever since "[Hassan] milled about the periphery of his life" (88). Amir's lack of atonement destroyed his friendship with Hassan and caused them both to slowly push each other out of their lives. As Amir continues his life with his burdening guilt, he is imprisoned by his regret. -
Hassan and Ali leave Kabul
After Ali found out about Hassans rape, he no longer felt comfortable living with Amir who betrayed Hassan. Amir realizes the impact their absence will cause as he states "That was when I understood the depth of the pain i had caused, the blackness of the grief i had brought onto everyone..." (107). Amir realizes he will not only feel the pain of his own guilt but the pain of Baba as well. His regret further deepens as he acknowledges everyone else that is impacted by his sin. -
Amir writes his first story
Amir writes his own story with hope his father will read it, however Rahim Khan is the one who reads it and Baba "looked relieved, as if he too had been rescued by Rahim Khan" (31-32). This highlights the rejection Amir experiences from his father. At the beginning of the book Amir faces rejection from his father and from society for being friends with a "Hazara" and this exclusion clouds his morality as the book progresses. -
Hassan and Amir win Kite flying tournament
Amir was more happy about winning his fathers approval than winning the tournament itself because he believed that if he won "[his] life as a ghost in [his] house would finally be over" (56). Amir's desire to be accepted by his father causes him to devalue other parts of his life, like Hassan. The more Baba neglected Amir, the more Amir felt like a disappointment. Through the kite flying tournament, Amir's desperation for acceptance is highlighted. -
Period: to
Kite Runner & the History of Afghanistani
-
Soviet Coup
Soviet Union aimed to "replace Hafizullah Amin, the Afghan leader, who had lost their trust" (The New York Times) by forming a coup and assisting Babrak Karmal in hope of making him the president of Afghan so that the Russians could have more influence over Afghan. -
Baba protects women from Russian soldier
A Russian solider demands for Baba to give up the women in his car but he responds with " I'll take a thousand of his bullets before I let this indecency take place" (116). This part of the book exposes Baba's loyalty and courage as he is willing to sacrifice himself to protect someones else. The difference between Baba and Amir's values is magnified as we further develop the idea that Amir does not have the courage his father has and Amir's weakness costs him his honor. -
Baba and Amir move to California
Amir described America as "a river, roaring along, unmindful of the past...Someplace with no ghosts, no memories, and no sins" (136). Amir's love for America reveals his desperation to escape his past and his sins. Amir feels relief in America at first because he believes all his past mistakes will stay in Kabul, however he realizes throughout the book that his guilt cannot be so easily escaped. -
Baba's Death
Baba's death impacted the lives of many characters in the novel. This is revealed when Amir struggles to accept the absence of his father as he comes to the realization that "Now he was gone. Baba couldn't show [him] the way anymore; he'd have to find it on his own" (174). Baba's courageous and honorable character throughout the book is what everyone admired about him. Baba's presence in the characters lives was illuminating and when he passed, emptiness took his place. -
Soraya faces a gender double standard
After Soraya and Amir get married, Soraya hears a sexist comment that offends her as she complains "Oh, they're just men having fun! I make one mistake and suddenly everyone is talking nang and namoos...(179). This reveals the unfair treatment women faced during this time and how men had more power in society. The fact that society punished women for what men were easily excused for, highlights the role of gender inequality in the novel. -
Soviet Coup Backlash
After the coup, the Russians stayed in Afghanistan for 9 more years fighting the rebels that remained in the country and in the process lost "15,000 lives" (The new York Times). The reputation of the strong Soviet army was weakened. -
Peace talks
Peace talks were eventually set up by the United Nations, which lead to the withdraw of the Soviet army, leaving behind "a country that was not only devastated by the war but that had become a beacon to Islamic extremists..."(The New York Times). -
Amir returns to Kabul to Find Sohrab
Despite Amir's hesitation, he realizes he has one last chance to redeem himself as he states "I was afraid i'd let the waters carry me away from what I had to do. From Hassan...and from this one last chance at redemption. So I left.." (231). Once Amir is given this opportunity at redemption, he channels his love, guilt, regret and betrayal from his past and uses it as motivation to start over. Amir's realization that redemption can be achieved, inspires his atonement. -
End of Soviet occupation in Afghanistan
After Soviet forces withdrew, internal rebellions in Afghanistan started again with their violent fighting which eventually divided the power "among competing warlords and individual fiefdoms" (The ew York Times). -
The Taliban Takeover
With help from Pakistan and Mullah Omar who had 12,000 followers, Taliban gained the necessary resources and power to take over Afghanistan and start "imposing strict enforcement of fundamentalist Islamic law" (New York Times) -
Amir finds out Hassan is his brother
Rahim Khan tells Amir the truth about Hassan, which sparks the realization that both baba and himself "betrayed the people who would have given their lives for [them]" (226). Amir realizes him and Baba were more alike than Baba was leading on. Amir realized that the exclusion he experienced from his father was just Baba attempting to love both Hassan and Amir as son's without exposing the truth. Amir feels hurt but at the same time he is given closure through awareness. -
9/11
When Bin Laden, leader of Al-Qaeda, attacked the United States because they wanted to diminish U.S. influence in Arab countries. However "The 2001 invasion succeeded in dislodging Al-Qaeda..." (The New York Times). -
Dislodging The Taliban
After the 9/11 attack, The Taliban was given an ultimatum by George W. Bush to turn in Bin Laden. Because they refused, the U.S. decided to assemble rebel groups that opposed Taliban ideals. These rebellions "drove the Taliban out of the major Afghan cities by the end of the year" (The New York Times) -
President Karazi
The Taliban was replaced by "an interim government" ( The New York Times) that was controlled by Hamid Karazi who was elected a 5-year term as president. Krazi aimed to earn peace for Afghanistan and provide the country with international aid. -
Taliban Comeback
With American Military forces attention on Iraq, The Taliban started little fighting wars that helped them regroup and "extend its influence in the southern part of Afghanistan" (The New York Times). -
Sohrab attempts suicide
After Sohrabs suicide attempt, Amir prays for his survival as he states, "I pray God doesn't let them get stained with the blood of this boy" (346). Amir finally announces his sins in order to be relieved of another. Amir believes he is being punished for is previous sins and he feels responsible for Sohrab's suicide. At this part, we can see how badly atonement needs to be achieved and how guilt consumes Amir to the point where he feels responsible for everything. -
Amir faces Assef again
Amir is traumatized again with Assef's presence when he returns to Kabul to rescue Sohrab. Assef explains to Amir that they "..have some unfinished business.." (286). Amir's confrontation with Assef is his second chance for redemption. Amir is given an opportunity to make up for his sins and he finally sacrifices himself in order to do what is right. Something his father always attempted to teach him but Amir never understood was sacrifice. Amir achieved redemption after his sacrifice. -
Amir defends Sohrab
Amir stands up for Sohrab by confronting Generel Taheri and saying “..you will never again refer to him as a ‘Hazara boy’ in my presence” (361). Amir's values and morals stabilize after he achieves atonement. He has developed courage and honor through his journey to achieve redemption, which demonstrates the impact of atonement and the power it has over a persons morality. -
The Stoning
Baba once described the Taliban as monkeys who "thumb their rosaries and recite a book written in a language they don't even understand" (270). During the stoning, we can see how the Taliban used religion to justify their violence because they associate what they are doing with "cleansing" Afghanistan. Sine the Taliban faced no objections they saw themselves as heroes. In reality, the brutality they brought drove everyone into hiding, allowing the Taliban to attain their power. -
Amir flies a kite with Sohrab
Amir is nostalgic when the memory of his childhood is relived with Sohrab. Amir states "that the last time [he] felt a rush like [that] was that day in the winter of 1975..." (370). Amir's ability to remember his childhood and not feel guilt and remorse, reveals the relief of redemption. Amir has atoned for his sins, leaving him in peace, able to enjoy his present life with Hassan's son, who Amir will never betray. -
Deploy Plan
Mr. Obama decided to send troops from Afghanistan back to America. As Mr. Obama says "the United States could to afford and should not have to shoulder an open-ended commitment" (The New York Times).
