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The Orphanage
Amir's father, Baba, was a restless man who was always trying to make up for his wrongdoings. Years after Amir was born, "when [he] was five or six, Baba decided to build an orphanage" (Hosseini 13). Baba was the father of Hassan, which would be revealed to Amir later on, and the guilt of his dishonesty caused him to try to help the community in any way he could. Not only did he lie to Amir, but to Hassan and everyone else in his life, and this made him want to make up for his sins even more. -
Hassan Threatens to Slingshot Assef
When Assef threatens to hurt Amir, Hassan inquires if "'perhaps [he] didn't notice that [Hassan's] the one holding the sling shot...[he] ha[s] this rock pointed at [Assef's] left eye'" (Hosseini 42). Hassan's bravery in wanting to protect Amir expresses his undying love for him. Even if Amir doesn't return the same appreciation for Hassan, he will always cherish Amir and his presence. -
Hassan's Cleft Lip is Fixed
For Hassan's birthday, he meets a man whose "job is to fix things on people's bodies. Sometimes their faces....It's an unusual present, [he] know[s]...and probably not what [Hassan] had in mind, but this present will last [Hassan] forever'" (Hosseini 45 & 46). Hassan is confused at first, but then realizes that this doctor will fix his cleft lip. Not only will this make him more self-confident, but others won't bully him as much, so he appreciates this gift endlessly. -
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Afghanistan
This is a timeline of historic events that have happened in Afghanistan during current years. -
Hassan's Rape
In the winter of 1975, Hassan, Amir's best friend, was raped. While the rape was happening, Amir "caught a glimpse of [Hassan's] face. Saw the resignation in it. It was a look [he] had seen before. It was the look of the lamb" (Hosseini 76). Although if he had a choice, Hassan would have most definitely stopped himself from being raped, he was forced to submit to the wrongdoings being committed, leaving him to give up. The "look of the lamb" shows that there was nothing he could do to stop this. -
Modernization of Afghanistan
After naming himself president, Mohammed Daoud Khan "grants women rights and works to modernize the largely communist state. He also cracks down on opponents, forcing many suspected of not supporting Khan out of the government" (http://www.pbs.org/newshour/updates/asia-jan-june11-timeline-afghanistan/). -
Fighting With the Soviet Union
After the death of Khan, two men, Taraki and Karmal, join together to rule Afghanistan, and "they proclaim independence from Soviet influence, and declare their policies to be based on Islamic principles, Afghan nationalism and socioeconomic justice. Taraki signs a friendship treaty with the Soviet Union. But a rivalry...leads to fighting between the two sides" (http://www.pbs.org/newshour/updates/asia-jan-june11-timeline-afghanistan/). -
Shift of Power
"A power struggle between ... begins," and shortly after, one of the leaders involved in the conflict is killed, leading up to "the USSR invad[ing] Afghanistan ... to bolster the faltering communist regime" (http://www.pbs.org/newshour/updates/asia-jan-june11-timeline-afghanistan/). -
Hassan Moves Away
The pain of both the rape and Amir's bullying cause Hassan to want to move away. When he is leaving, Amir"ca[tches] one final blurry glimse of Hassan slumped in the back seat before Baba turn[s] left at the street corner where [they]'d played marbles so many times" (Hosseini 109). The fact that Amir has given up on keeping Hassan with him shows that he isn't able to handle the guilt of the rape. Although they grew up together, guilt of the past few years prevents Amir from stopping Hassan. -
Amir Becomes an Insomniac
Looking back on Hassan's dream, Amir remembers how Hassan had said that there was "no monster...just water. Except he'd been wrong about that. There was a monster in the lake...[Amir] was that monster" (Hosseini 86). All these years, guilt has built up on Amir, but he finally knows why. It was his own wrongdoings that he should've faced that caused him to hate Hassan, and now to become an insomniac. -
Baba and Amir Arrive in Pakistan
After many days of Baba and Amir traveling together, they arrive "'in Pakistan, Amir....Karim...will call for a bus to take [them] to Peshawar'" (Hosseini 123). This small accomplishment shows that they are getting closer to being in America, and they shouldn't lose hope. The most difficult part of their journey is over, and soon they will be safe again. -
Fleeing the War
About "2.8 million Afghans [flee] from the war to Pakistan, and another 1.5 million [flee] to Iran," leading to "Afghan guerrillas gain[ing] control of rural areas, and Soviet troops hold[ing] urban areas" (http://www.pbs.org/newshour/updates/asia-jan-june11-timeline-afghanistan/). -
Amir Graduates High School
After years of going to school in America, Amir "[graduates] from high school at the age of twenty, by far the oldest senior tossing his mortarboard on the football field that day" (Hosseini 131). Although he is older than all the others in his class, this small achievement means a lot to Amir, because he is closer to the goal of being a writer that he's held his entire life. Even with possible embarrassment for being the oldest graduate, he studied to graduate and accomplish one of his goals. -
Amir Meets Soraya
The day of meeting Soraya, Amir couldn't stop thinking about her. He "thought of Soraya Taheri's sickle-shaped birthmark, her gently hooked nose, and the way her luminous eyes had fleetingly held [his]. [His] heart stuttered at the thought of her" (Hosseini 142). His occupation thinking of her shows that he may be in love. It also foreshadows for other events involving Soraya to occur later on. -
Rebels Get Weapons
A group of rebels called the "Mujahadeen [recieve] arms from the United States, Britain and China via Pakistan" (http://www.pbs.org/newshour/updates/asia-jan-june11-timeline-afghanistan/). -
Amir Gets Married
Soon after meeting Soraya, Amir and she get married. The ceremony was a rush because of Baba's terminal illness, but Amir "remember[s] wishing Rahim Khan were there" (Hosseini 171). Similarly to the picture of Amir holding Rahim Khan's pinky as a child, they share a connection that cannot be broken no matter the distance between them. Even though Baba is his biological father, Amir considers Rahim Khan another paternal figure in his life, as well as a friend. -
Baba Dies
Only a few years after moving to America, Baba is diagnosed withh lung cancer, caused by his lifelong habit of smoking. When he dies, it is on his own accord when he decides that "'There is no pain tonight.' 'Okay,' [Soraya] said. She pulled up his blanket. [They] closed the door. Baba never woke up" (Hosseini 173). Baba was always one to be in control of his own life, and he even made the decision of when he would die. This authority he has plays out in not only his own life, but in others'. -
al-Qaida is Formed
A group that would be later known for terrorism, al-Qaida, is "form[ed] ... to continue [the] jihad, or holy war, against the Soviets and other who they say oppose their goal of a pure nation governed by Islam" (http://www.pbs.org/newshour/updates/asia-jan-june11-timeline-afghanistan/). -
Drought Wipes out Population
An intolerable drought "devastates farmers and makes many rural areas uninhabitable," causing "more than 1 million Afghans flee to neighboring Pakistan" (http://www.pbs.org/newshour/updates/asia-jan-june11-timeline-afghanistan/). -
Rahim Khan Gets Sick
After a desperate phone call from Rahim Khan, Amir realizes that he 'ha[s] to go to Pakistan...Rahim Khan is very sick'" (Hosseini 191). They haven't spoken in years, yet Amir still feels a bond with Rahim Khan so strong that he will visit another country to be with him. Additionally, because Rahim Khan is dying, Amir feels the need to help him in any way he can. -
Sohrab Attempts Suicide
Right before Amir tells Sohrab he can move to America, he finds his future son cut and injured. When going into the bathroom to tell Sohrab the news, he "pushe[s] the door open. Step[s] into the bathroom. Suddenly [he] [i]s on [his] knees screaming" (Hosseini 343). Even without the adoption of Sohrab being official, Amir feels a sense of protection over his half-nephew, and his pain when he sees Sohrab demonstrates that. The weak bond they have is completely shattered, and this causes more pain. -
Sohrab Shoots Assef with a Slingshot
During a fight with Assef, Amir is getting seriously injured, and Sohrab decides he must step in. He takes out his slingshot and it "[makes] a thwiiiiit sound when Sohrab release[s] the cup. Then Assef ...put[s] his hand where his left eye had been just a moment ago" (Hosseini 291). Some could say this is an act of violence on behalf of Sohrab, but because of the unsafe situation Amir was in, it was legitimate for Sohrab to injure Assef. If this hadn't happened, Amir most likely would have died. -
Soraya Meets Sohrab
After Sohrab moves to America, Soraya is introduced to him. At the moment of meeting him, "she knelt to eye level with Sohrab. She took his hand and smiled at him. 'Salaam, Sohrab jan, I'm your khala Soraya. We've all been waiting for you'" (Hosseini 358). Her perpetual kindness with him shows that she will accept him no matter what has happened to him. Additionally, the fact that everyone else has also been waiting for him foreshadows that they will treat him as a member of their family. -
9/11
A group of terrorists, suspected to be mainly run by Osama bin Laden, hijacks airplanes and "crash them into the World Trade Center Towers in New York, the Pentagon outside Washington, D.C., and a Pennsylvania field, killing thousands" (http://www.pbs.org/newshour/updates/asia-jan-june11-timeline-afghanistan/). -
Presidential Election
A presidential election is held and a man named "Karzai is elected with 55 percent of the vote" (http://www.pbs.org/newshour/updates/asia-jan-june11-timeline-afghanistan/). -
Death of Osama Bin Laden
Ten years after his attack on the United States, "U.S. forces overtake a compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan, and kill al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden" (http://www.pbs.org/newshour/updates/asia-jan-june11-timeline-afghanistan/).