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TKR-Assef and Hassan's standoff
When Hassan threatens to shoot Assef with a slingshot, Assef is "convinced...of the seriousness of Hassan's intentions" and "turned around, walked away" (Hosseini 42-43). As a result of this encounter, Hassan is shown to have great courage. In addition to the fact that he had just stood up to the most feared child in town, Hassan had also threatened Assef. At this moment, Hassan briefly has power over Assef, which is remarkable as most Hazaras are forced to submit to others of higher status. -
TKR-Amir watches Hassan's rape
While deciding whether to save Hassan, Amir chooses to run because he "was afraid of getting hurt" and convinced himself that "Hassan was the price [he] had to pay...to win Baba" (Hosseini 77). This clearly demonstrates Amir's selfishness and cowardice. After all these years of having Hassan stand up for him, Amir cannot bring himself to come to Hassan's aid due to the fact that he just wants to make Baba proud. Instead of caring for a faithful friend, Amir sacrifices Hassan for personal glory. -
TKR-Assef comes to Amir's birthday
While Assef and his parents come to Amir's birthday, Amir notices that "on some level, [Assef] frightened them" (Hosseini 96). The fact that Assef could cause his own parents to fear and respect him shows the extent of Assef's influence over others. Assef should be the one respecting his own parents, not the other way around. -
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The Soviet Invasion and After
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Soviet Troops Parachute into Kabul
In 1979, the Soviets "parachuted into Kabul" to "assist Babrak Karmal, who had become president in a coup within the Afghan Communist leadership" (NYT 2). -
TKR-Amir and Baba begin their journey to America
After the Soviet invasion, Amir and Baba are driven to Pakistan by Karim, who "had set up a 'mutually profitable' arrangement" (Hosseini 113) with soldiers at checkpoints. Although there are many who are suffering during the war, others such as Karim manage to profit. As a result, war provides opportunities for those who are daring enough to risk peril in exchange for personal gain. -
TKR-Baba stands up to the soldier
After arriving at the checkpoint, Baba challenged the Russian soldier who "wanted a half hour with the lady in the back of the truck" (Hosseini 115). Baba was ready to sacrifice his own life for the honor of a woman he did not even know. This demonstrates the importance of honor to Afghans, especially compared to others such as the Russians, who believed there was no honor in war. -
TKR-Amir's graduation
After Amir graduates from high school, Baba tells him he is "moftakhir...[p]roud" (Hosseini 131). Even though Baba spent most of Amir's childhood being disappointed and criticizing of Amir's abilities, deep down, he loves Amir and values him. This shows that although he is hard on Amir, Baba shows his love in a concealed manner, but it is there nonetheless. -
TKR-Baba reacts to Russian doctor
When Baba asked the pulmonologist where he was from, "Dr. Schneider said Russia" and "Baba lost it" (Hosseini 155). Even after being told that Schneider was born in Michigan, Baba still refuses to be treated by him. As a result, honor is shown to be extremely important to Baba's character, since he is more willing to lose his life than be treated by a person from the country that invaded his homeland. -
The Soviet Troops Leave Afghanistan
Following the "peace talks moderated by the United Nations, the last Soviet troops left Afghanistan in February 1989" (NYT2). -
Afghanistan Breaks into Civil War
After the Soviets left Afghanistan, "power was anarchically divided among competing warlords and individual fiefdoms" (NYT 2). -
The Taliban are Aided by Pakistan
Pakistani officers "began funneling arms, money and supplies to Mullah Omar's men, as well s military advisers to help guide them in battle" (NYT 3). -
Taliban Take Over
Aided by the Pakistani, "the Taliban by 1996 had taken control of Afghanistan" (NYT 4). -
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The Taliban Takeover
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TKR-Taliban massacre Hazaras
Soon after the Taliban gained power in Afghanistan, "they massacred the Hazaras in Mazir-i-Sharif" (Hosseini 213). Even though Hazaras were already considered to be inferior to Pashtuns in Afghanistan, the Taliban took it one step further when they began killing them. This further demonstrates the extremity of the Taliban's prejudice against Hazaras. -
TKR-Amir meets Rahim Khan in Peshawar
When Rahim Khan requests for Amir to find Hassan's son, Amir tries to excuse himself with the fact that "Kabul is a dangerous place," and he would have to "risk everything" (Hosseini 221). Even after having Hassan defend him for the entirety of his childhood, Amir is still too cowardly to do Hassan one favor. Hassan had sacrificed his honor for Amir, yet Amir still hesitates to retrieve his son, demonstrating his lack of honor and cowardly nature. -
TKR-Driving through the dilapidated streets of Kabul
While driving through the war-stricken Kabul streets, Farid points out men "haggling over [a] leg" (Hosseini 259). The fact that people had to sell their artificial limbs for money demonstrates the desperation that is caused by war. These people require money more than their limbs to survive. -
The United States Invades Afghanistan
After 9/11, "the United States joined forces with rebel groups" to drive the "Taliban out of major Afghan cities" (NYT 3). -
Karzai Leads Government After Defeat of Taliban
After the Taliban were driven out, the former king of Afghanistan, Hamid Karzai, "was named chairman of an interim government that replaced the defeated Taliban" (NYT 3). -
TKR-Amir seeks Hassan's son
After being told that he and Hassan were brothers, Amir chooses to seek "Hassan's son...[s]omewhere in Kabul" (Hosseini 227). This illustrates the power of family on Amir's decisions. Before knowing that Hassan was his half-brother, Amir was reluctant to find Hassan's son because it would be dangerous. However, realizing Hassan was a family member gave him courage and a sense of duty to save his faithful brother's son. -
TKR-Sohrab meets Amir's family
After meeting Sohrab, General Taheri frets over the event of other people wanting "to know why there is a Hazara boy" (Hosseini 360) in their family. The general's distaste for Sohrab being a Hazara reflects many Afghans' prejudice against them. Even though Sohrab is Amir's nephew, the general still feels that Sohrab will negatively impact the family's social status. -
TKR-Amir sees the Taliban for the first time
After arriving in Kabul, Amir learns not lo stare at the Taliban or else "the dogs feast and the day's boredom is broken at last" (Hosseini 248). The fact that the Taliban would savagely murder people just for a trivial action such as staring at them clearly displays their cruelty. In addition, the idea that it entertains them and relieves them of their boredom further suggests that they find pleasure in seeing others be harmed or killed. -
TKR-Kabul after the Taliban takeover
When Amir revisits his former home in Kabul, he notices that the areas where the Taliban lived "weren't nearly as rubble-strewn as the ones in Karteh-Seh" (Hosseini 260). The fact that the Taliban gave themselves the luxury of having houses and neglected the well-being of their citizens displays their selfishness and lack of concern for others. While the Afghans were glad for an end to war, the Taliban clearly did not care, as they did not even take the time to rebuild their broken country. -
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Post 9/11 Invasion
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TKR-Amir takes Sohrab kite flying
After Sohrab watches Amir fly the kite, "[t]he glassy, vacant look in his eyes was gone" (Hosseini 369). Even though Sohrab has locked himself from the outside world for over a year, one kite flying event is able to slowly bring him to life. This demonstrates how Sohrab, being a child, has his attention easily averted by participating in activities. -
General Petraeus Takes Charge of Military Operations in the Middle East
General Petraeus received much creddit for the successes in Iran, and "had taken charge of United States Central Command" (NYT 4). -
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Obama's War
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Obama Sends More Troops to Afghanistan
During a speech at West Point, Obama "announced his plan to deploy 30,000 additional troops" (NYT 4). -
Obama Keeps Troops in Afghanistan
Even though Obama promised "to start bringing American forces home...the Obama administration changed its tone to...emphasize ...that the United States will have forces in the country until at least the end of 2014" (NYT 4).