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Amir
Amir was born in 1963. -
Cleft lip
Baba paid for a surgeon to fix Hassan's cleft lip so he could smile however, " that was the year Hassan stopped smiling" (47). Once Hassan's cleft lip is fixed he can smile normally .However this foreshadows that something bad will happen because you only stop smiling when something is negative. -
Kite flying contest
After Amir wins the kite flying contest thanks to Hassan's help Amir witnesses Hassan get raped and thinks that " maybe Hassan was the price [he] , the lamb [he] had to slay, to win Baba"(77). A lamb was the expression on Hssan's face as he was being raped. Amir thinks this was the opportunity for him to prove himself to his father, showing that Amir is a man because he "slayed a lamb" by letting Hassan get raped. -
Farewell
Ali and Hassan leave after Amir placed a "new watch and a handful of Afghani bills" under Hassan's mattress (104). Although Hassan didn't steal the presents he took the blame when he was accused because Hassan was still scarred from being raped and being treated poorly by Amir. This was Hassan and Ali's opportunity to leave and Ali took it because he knew Hassan wasn't happy there anymore. -
The United States
Baba and Amir "left Kabul just after two in the morning" because they were fleeing to America since the Russian's had invaded their homeland (110). Moving to America give Amir the opportunity to leave his past behind him including his wrongdoings towards Hassan. Amir is given the opportunity to start a new life. -
Soraya
After several trips to the flee market Amir finally gets the courage to say "Salaam" to Soraya (145). This was difficult for Amir because he likes her. This foreshadows Amir's future since he has now graduated high school. -
Wedding
As Amir and Soyara were getting married they heard "the wedding song, ahesta born, bear[ing] from the speakers"(170). Their wedding was a turning point in Amir life because he still had the weight of his wrongdoings toward Hassan on his shoulders. But now he also had to precaution another person's life that was in his hands and hope not to ruin their's too. -
Death
Amir and Soraya put Baba to bed the night he didn't take his medicine and " baba never woke up" "173). Baba's death is when Amir has to fend for himself. He is a man and has a wife. This is really when Amir starts seeing how adult life works out on his own. -
Published
Amir's first "novel was released in the summer of that following year" when Amir went on a five city book tour" (183). When Amir's book is published it shows he has accomplished something. He is finally becoming an adult and making money. This is important because with his family dead he has proven he can manage himself on his own and support his family. -
Birth
Amir finds out Hassan had a son named Sohrab. Rahim Khan tells his story of visiting Hassan's family and asking "When is the baby coming?"(206). When Amir learns that Hassan dies but he had a child, this was his hint to atone for his sins towards Hassan. Since Amir cannot make up directly for Hassan, he can do it for Hassan's son. Adopting Sohrab is just what he needs. -
Suicide
AfterAmir saw his son unconscious he was" still screaming when the ambulance arrived". Sohrab tries to kill himself because he does not want to go back to the orphanage. His past had scarred him so much that he wanted to end his life. -
Hazara
During their meal Amir says "And one more thing, General Sahib... You will never again refer to him as 'Harzara boy' in my presence"(361). When Amir stands up to the General it's Amir's way of ensuring that he doesn't categorize his son and make him feel unequal. This event is another example of Amir's redemption for Hassan as well, because he is helping his son. -
Orphanage
Amir promises Sohrab he'd " never put [him] in one of those" orphanages, because Sohrab's past with them was violent. When Amir breaks his promise Sohrab, Sohrab looses trust with his father. This leads to even more fear eventually leading to a suicide attempt. -
Murder
Hassan and his wife are killed by the Taliban when questioned why they were in such a nice home. The taliban came to their home "and shot him in the back of the head...shot her too"(219). This was foreshadowed what the taliban came into Kabul. Now that Amir's brother and father and family friend are dead, and Rahim Khan is dying too he needs to take action soon to atone for his sins as a child. -
Happy New Years
Amir "looked down at Sohrab. One corner of his mouth had curled up just so. A smile" appeared for the first time in forever (370). Sohrab smiling shows that he is finally healing from the trauma he's been through. His past cannot control his future if he let's himself move on and the smile in the first hint of that.