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Hassan is violated
While Hassan goes looking for the kite that had been cut, he runs into a bad situation with Assef and two other boys who violate him, and one of the boys even says "My father says it's sinful" (75). The boys imply that they feel like they are commiting a severe crime and do not want to do it, which shows a partial side of sympathy within the two other boys. But, Assef's status appears to be extremely powerful as he makes the other boys help by restraining Hassan. -
Ali and Hassan move out
Ever since Hassan got vioated, Amir has been treating him differently in a negative way by ignoring him, so Ali says, "We [Ali and Hassan] are leaving, Agha sahib" (106). Hassan's bad reputation in Kabul has destoyed Hassan which ultimately hss also hurt Ali due their deep trust on Amir and Baba. Furthermore, he lacks in perserverence by giving up and moving because Hassan and Ali used to be very good friends with Baba and Amir, so it is very illogical for them to just move out one day. -
The Soviet Invasion
Before Afghanistan was a wealthy, stable country until conflict arose and "Soviet troops parachuted into Kabul on Dec. 27, 1979, to assist Babrak Karmal" (2). -
Moving to Fremont, Caifornia
After moving to Fremont, Baba is still unfamiliar with how things work in the United States, so one instance he bellows, "Almost two years we've bought his damn fruits and put money in his pocket and the son of a dog wants to see my license!" (127). Even though Baba is new to the customs of the country, Amir adapts quickly, so Baba has more of a convential mindset. Thus, Baba won't adapt easily to new situations like when other troops take over Afghanistan and change things, so he is troubled. -
Baba has cancer
When Amir tries to persuade Baba to try chemotherapy, Baba says, "Don't you chalence me in public, Amir. Ever. Who do you think you are?" (156). Amir is being caring by looking out for Baba, although Baba is already in the stage where he knows he cannot do anything about his cancer. Since Baba does not even try chemo, he also shows close-mindedness on new medical principles and drugs, which may affect his remaining life span to a greater extent. -
Amir and Soraya become married
When General Taheri speaks during the ceremony, he mentions, "We are honored to welcome the son of a man such as yourself into our family" and "[y]our reputation precedes you" (168). The general conveys a high standard of morals which demonstrates to Amir that Soraya comes from a family of high ethics, meaning Amir has choosen a person of ideal morals. Furthermore, even though Baba's high status was originally recognized only in Afghanistan, his extra high status is starting to transfer. -
Amir finishes his first novel
After fiishing his first book using a typewriter given by the general, he is astonished as "a request from a New York agency for the compled manuscript" was found (182). Amir is starting to show his love for writing by completing his first novel, which is very hard work. In addition, due to his strong passion, he is starting to be recognised for his work, which means a lot of effort has been put into his writing and he is starting to prove Baba wrong, even though he died. -
Soviet forces leave
After several peace talks, "the Soviet troops left Afghanistan in February 1989, in what was in effect a unilateral withdrawl" (2). -
Hassan's mother, Sanaubar comes back
After Amir asks Hassan to come back to Kabul with him, a lady comes back and after collapsing, they take her in and they "found a toothless woman with stringy graying hair and sores on her arms" and "[n]one of us had seen Sanaubar sinse she eloped with a band of dancers" (209-10). Because she finally came back, she conveys guiltyness and to atone for running away she came back. Because she was suffering trying to come back, it shows her determination to come back home to atone for herself. -
Soraya is found to be infertile
After a year of failed pregnancies, Soraya was found to be infertile and the doctor recommended adoption, but "General Taheri's head snapped at this" (186). General Taheri only think about himself because Soraya and Amir want to be parents, except her dad does not like it. In addition, he places his traditional morals before his own family, even if it is impossible for other options besides adoptions, which also shows his close-mindedness, like Baba. -
The Taliban and their Actions
Mullah Omar attacked warords who "raped a a girl and shaved her head... [and] had nearly 12,000 followers" (2). -
Amir finds out Hassan and his wife, Farzana gets killed
Because Hassan is a Hazara, Talib officials came to his house to interrogate him and when they accused him of lying, so "Hassan protested again. So they took him to the street" and "shot him in the back of the head" (219). Hassan is very agressive in nature and is not scared of Taliban officals because he protests against them. Because he was not passive when dealng with the Taliban officials, he will stand up to anything, which shows his strong rebellious nature. -
Hassan and Amir are step-brothers
When Amir suddenly finds out that Hassan and Amir were actually step-brothers and had the same father, Baba, he realizes that "Rahim Khan had sommoned me here to atone not just for my sins but for Baba's too" (226). Rahim Khan feels sympathy for Amir because of all the things that happened. Moreover, Rahim conveys honesty and warmheartedness towards Baba and Amir because he is apologizing for sins not even comtted by himself. -
Zaman sold Amir's nephew
When Farid and Amir show up to the orphanage, Zaman has sold orphans, but he says, "There's nothing I can do to stop it" (256). Zaman is a person of moral ethics because he does not like the idea of selling orphans, but he is forced to. This is because he is forced to give up one child, if he were to defend for the child, he would be moralless because he knows the Taliban would take ten children instead. -
Assef is the Leader of the Taliban
When Amir looks for his half nephew, he questions the leader of the Taliban and "his name escaped [his] lips: 'Assef'" (281). Assef has not changed as a human and still acts mercilless towards others despite the past. Because Amir took a minute to realize the Taliban head was his childhood enemy, Amir conveys astonishment, but he also feels even more betrayed Assef has not wiped his slate clean because of what he did to Hassan as a child. -
Assef and Amir fight
When Assef hits Amir, he "started laughing [and] [he] was laughing and laughing" (289). Amir starts to feel at peace with Hassan just as how Assef felt relieved when a gaurd kicked out his kidney stones. This shows Amir finally finds a moment where he can atone for the wrongdoings to Hassan even though it did not directly impact Hassan. Thus, Amir finds openness to atoning the sins and feels relieved. -
Sorhab disappears one morning
One morning when staying at a hotel, Amir "looked to Sohrab's bed and found it empty" (313). Sohrab very adventurous and daring as he currently is in a dangerous situation. So, Sohrab would be the type of person to not have good judgement, which affects his other decisions in the book. -
9/11 Invasion
When the Taliban did not hand over Osama Bin Laden, the "United states joined forces with rebel groups [and] an air and ground campaign began" (3). -
Amir and Sohrab fly kites
In the end of the book, Amir asks Sohrab, "Do you want to help me fly this [kite]?" (368). Amir misses the past memories with Hassan and he still deeply wishes he had not mistreated Hasssan. But, he feels a sense of atonement when he adopts Sohrab because he reminds him of Hassan, which is why flying the kite with him is important. -
Karzi Government
Even though Karzi was a white house favorite,, he "faced an Afgan population that blamed him for the manifest lack of economic progres and the corrupt officials who seem to stand at every doorway of his government" (3). -
The Taliban Regroups
The Taliban continued to go to war in order to "extend its influence in the southern part of Afghanistan" (3). -
Military Documents released on Wikileaks
With Americans still in Afghanistan, "a six-year archive of classified military documents, released by Wikileaks, painted a bleak ground-level view of the conflict" (4). -
Dabate on War
Some people wanted to stop war, and other did not, but a plan "was shaped by a debate in which Vice President Biden warned against getting into a political and military quagmire" (4). -
President Obama's Speech
President Obama announced "his plan to deploy 30,000 additional troops [and] voved to start brining home American forces home from Afghanistan in the middle of 2011, [but changed until] the end of 2014" (4). -
Top general is removed
Even though Mr. Gates brought in General Stanley A. McChystal, and with a year of effort, "President Obama removed Gen. McChrystal after contemptuous quotes from the genral and his staff" (4).