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Kite Tournament
Amir finally won the Kite Tournament with the help of Hassan, this victory helped his "life as a ghost in this house [to be] finally over," (p.56). Even though Amir always tries to make Baba proud, he couldn't help feeling insignificant under Baba's victorious shadow. This caused Amir to believe that the only way for him to get Baba's attention was to win the kite tournament, no matter the cost. With bloodied hands from the kite fights, Amir finally developed a closer relationship with Baba. -
The Violation
Amir ran away and didn't help Hassan when Hassan was being violated by Assef "because the alternative, the real reason [he] was running, was that...Hassan was the price [he] had to pay...to win Baba," (p.77). Although Amir not helping Hassan when Hassan needed help the most was because he thought it had to be the sacrifice he had to make, Amir was just using that as an excuse for not helping Hassan. His cowardice and failure to stand up for his best friend was out of fear and not of sacrifice. -
Amir's Plan of Replacement
Amir's guilt of betraying Hassan has led Amir to feel if Hassan was gone, he would feel better. So, to get Baba to fire Hassan and Ali, Amir "lifted Hassan's mattress and planted [his new] watch and a handful of Afghani bills under it," (p.104). Not only did his plan to drive Ali and Hassan away worked, he pushed away someone he loves dearly who loves him back even more. This mistake caused Amir to suffer in guilt for a very long time and developed problems he would experience later on. -
Period: to
Kite Runner and the History of Afghanistan
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The first Soviet troops
To replace the Afghan leader, Hafizullah Amin, who had lost the Soviets' trust, "the first Soviet troops parachuted into Kabul on Dec. 27, 1979, to assist Babrak Karmal," (the 2) who became the president. -
Amir's Rise In Power
Baba was always the rational one in the relationship between him and Amir. That changes noticeably after the inccident where Baba went on a rampage in a store, which caused Amir to "lead Baba through the doors...[and] made him promise he would not go back in," (p.128). After starting a new life in America, Baba lost power and could not get used to the American way of life, as this made him close minded. However, Amir rose up in power because he has to take care of Baba now and open minded. -
Swap Meet Princess
Amir felt love at first sight as his "heart stuttered at the thought of her. Soraya Taheri. [His] Swap Meet Princess," (p.142). Amir found that not only was Soraya beautfiul, but she was kind and smart; this led him to fall in love with her even more. Even though he learns that Soraya had a dark past, he still loves her dearly and wants to marry her. -
Baba's Cancer
At first Baba's illness started out like a cold, however, it soon became a cancer "called 'Oat Cell Carcinoma.' Advanced. Inoperable," and even chemotherapy "wouldn't change the outcome, just prolong it," (p.156). Amir, always relying on Baba, panicked about not having Baba around him and not knowing what to do. However, knowing the fact that Baba would not be around much longer has led Amir and Baba to develop an even closer father and son relationship. -
Soraya's Child
Although Soraya went through many tests and treatments, they "couldn't have kids. And, apparently, that wasn't so unusual. It was called 'Unexplained Infertility,'" (p.185). Despite the fact that it was Soraya who could not have a baby, Amir felt that it was his punishment for his past. He felt that it was God's way to punish him because he let Assef violate Hassan; thus, he was should not be privilaged to have a child. -
The last Soviet troops
After peace talks that the United Nations preside of, "the last Soviet troops left Afghanistan in February 1989, in hwat was in effect a unilateral withdrawal," (the 2). -
split of power in Afghanistan
With the departure of the Soviet forces, the "power was anarchincally divided among competing warlords and indivdual fiefdoms," (the 2). -
Pakistani intelligence helps Mullah Omar
The Taliban could of lost control if it was not for the "Pakisani intelligence officers began funneling arms, money and supplies to Mullah Omar's men, as well as military advisers to help guide them in battle," (the 3). -
Taliban seize control
After the country of Islam has been weakened by many years of civil war, "Taliban, the extremist Islamic group had seized control in 1996..." (The 1) . -
The banning streak
After the Taliban has taken over Afghanistan, they started "imposing strict enforcement of fundamentalist Islamic law, banning movies and music and forcing women out of schools and into all-eveloping burqua clothing," (the 3). -
Hazara Massacre
Hassan was worried about the Talibans killing off the Hazaras, and sure enough, "two years later, in 1998, they massacred the Hazaras in Mazar-i-Sharif," (p.213). Despit all the "peace" the Taliban brought in, they ended up just as bad as the Soviets. Innocent people were killed and families had no food, even worse, the Talibans killed people for a half time show. -
Hassan and Farzana's death
When the Talibs heard Hassan and his family was taking care of a very nice and big house, "they took [them] to the street...and order [them] to kneel...and shot [them] in the back of the head," (p.219). Even though Hassan was telling the truth about taking care of the house, the Talibs wanted Baba's house so they decided to kill Hassan and his wife. Their death left their son, Sohrab, an orphan; as this led Rahim to call Amir back to Afganistan and atone for his mistakes. -
Rahim's Call
All the Afhgani past Amir was trying to forget and leave behind came back to him 20 years later by a phone call from Rahim, saying,"Come (to Afhganistan). There is a way to be good again," (p.192). Although he did not want to go back to Afhganistan, his respect for Rahim and the opportunity to atone for his sin led him to go back to Afhganistan. This is important because Amir would finally learn what happened in the past 20 years and gets the chance to atone for his mistakes. -
Amir's encounter with Assef
Amir was getting beaten badly by Assef in a fight for Sohrab; despite how much "[his] body was broken....[he] felt healed. Healed at last," (p.289). Amir thought that he was finally punished for his sins which made him feel pure happiness; he was so happy to be relieved from his guilt, he made no attempt to struggle for his life as Assef went for the kill. Luckly, Sohrab saved Amir with shooting a metal ball into Assef's left eye with his slingshot. -
Suicide
With the fear of going back into an orphanage, Sohrab tried to suicide. Luckly, Amir discovers Sohrab just in time to save his life; as Amir found him wiht "the left arm dangling over the side of the tub, [and] the blood-soaked razor sitting on teh toilet tank," (p.248). With the horrible things Soharb experinced at Assef's home, Soharb was so scared he was going to go through that again he decided death was a better option. With the new found meaning to his life, Amir refuse to fail Sohrab. -
back to America
After a long process of trying to get Sohrab adopted, they finally "arrived home...on a warm day in August 2001," (p.357). Although Sohrab did not deny nor agree to going to America, Amir fought for the right of adoption with everything he had. Amir knew this was his final atonment he had to do and he will whole-heartedly raise Sohrab for Hassan. -
US gets militarily invovled in Afghanistan
United States decieded to deploy military troop in Afghanistan and fight back by "[leading] an invasion after the Sept. 11 attacks by Al Qaeda," (The 1). -
2001 invasion
Due to the military troops in Afghanistan, "the 2001 invasion succeeded in dislodging Al Qaeda and removing the Taliban from power," (The 1). -
Hamid Karzai
Despite the fact that Hamid Krazai is a supporter and relative to an exiled king of Afghanistan, he "was named chairman of an interim government that replaced the defeated Taliban, making him the leader of the country" (the 3). -
Running the Kite
Finally, after all the months of no reaction for Sohrab, Sohrab offered a little smile after hearing Amir say, "For you, a thousand times over," (p.371). Amir was finally able to run happily because he had atoned for his sins and his past were no longer heavy weights that held him down. Amir was the last kite in the air during the winter of 1975 and now he is the kite in the air at Lake Elizbeth Park, finally able to find freedom, happiness, and have a better flight. -
Soldiers come home
Although the military forces were supposed to come back to the US in 2011, "the United States will have forces in the contury until...the end of 2014," (the 1). -
Sohrab's Adoption
Amir realizes that Rahim plan was for him to adopt Sohrab all along, so Amir asked Soraya if they can adopt Sohrab. Soraya said, "You have to bring him home. I want you to...[as] he's your qaom, your family, so he's my qaom too," (p.326). Even though Amir did not give Soraya time to process all the information he just confessed, her kind heart led her to agree immediately to adpot Sohrab.