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Baba Opens Orphanage
In the late 1960's, Baba opened an orphanage "despite the fact that he'd had no architectural experience at all" (Hosseini 13). This event illustrates Baba's drive and perseverance, which gives the reader a look into who Amir grew up with and who was Amir's role model as he was growing up. -
First Soviet Shooting
The Soviets attacked Afghanistan on the 17th of July, 1973. As Hassan and Amir heard the shots, they rushed to Ali as Baba was not home. Ali "wrapped his arms around" Amir and Hassan to protect them and keep them safe (Hosseini 35). This night highlighted the close relationship between Hassan, Amir, and Ali. Ali's leadership and comfort showed that Amir really did have a lot of people who loved him dearly. -
Hassan's Surgery
As a birthday gift, Baba gave Hassan a surgery to fix his harelip, which caused jealousy from Amir. Amir felt that "Hassan hadn't done anything to earn Baba's affections" yet got the sympathy of his father (Hosseini 46). On the other hand, Amir desperately tried to gain his father's respect and attention, but to no avail. This event told the reader how abandoned Amir felt during his childhood and how torn he was in between fighting for his father's affection and trying to be his own person. -
Kite Tournament
Every winter, Amir's neighborhood had a kite tournament. After Amir won the kite tournament in 1975 for the first time, he said, "that right there was the single greatest moment of my twelve years of life, seeing Baba on that roof, proud of me at last" (Hosseini 66). This event is highly significant because not only does Amir finally feel the love from his father, but the pride and acceptance he felt influenced his decisions. These decisions caused Amir to destroy his friendship with Hassan. -
Hassan's Rape
In the cold winter of 1975 after Amir's victorious kite competition, Amir witnessed Hassan's rape; Amir states, "I became what I am today" (Hosseini 1). Instead of helping his half-brother, Amir chose to run away from his friend in distress to make his father proud. This caused Amir to be overcome with shame and guilt for the rest of his life until he got an opportunity for redemption. -
Soviet Intervention
In December of 1979, the "Soviet Army invades and props up [the] communist government." (BBC) -
Baba and Amir Start Their Journey to America
As father and son start their journey to a safer land, they are in a truck. A Soviet officer demands to rape a woman on the same truck and with the same motives as Amir and Baba. However, Baba stands up for the woman saying, "'I'll take a thousand of his bullets before I let this indecency take place'" (Hosseini 116). Here, the author illustrates Baba's morals and creates a lot of tension. The scene causes Amir to be ashamed of his father's strong values, which makes him seem selfish. -
Amir's Graduation
In the summer of 1983, Amir "graduated from high school at the age of twenty" (Hosseini 131). This graduation symbolizes a new beginning for Amir, a chance to make a man of himself and take control of his life. Up until that point, Amir had followed his father's orders, but now, he was free to discover whatever subjects he wanted to during college. Amir's graduation represents his transition from childhood into adulthood. -
Amir Meets Soraya
During the summer of 1984, Amir and Baba went to the Afghan flea market every Sunday to sell goods and try to make a profit. One day, Amir meets General Taheri, and in turn also meets his daughter, Soraya. He is instantly drawn to her "eyes, walnut brown and shaded by fanned lashes" (Hosseini 140). Amir eventually falls in love with Soraya and marries her. This changed Amir's life since he had grown up around only men and spent most of his life in solitude. This change was important for Amir. -
Baba Gets Diagnosed With Cancer
After a few years of being in America, Baba gets sick and starts coughing blood. A worried Amir takes him to the doctor, where he is diagnosed with cancer that was "advanced [and] inoperable" (Hosseini 156). Now that Baba is sick, Amir grows closer to him than ever before. The two now have a better relationship and Baba respects Amir. Even though the fact that his father will die soon devastates Amir, he tries to make the most out of his father's last days. -
Rahim Khan Goes to Find Hassan
After Baba and Amir had moved to the US, Rahim Khan "went to Hazarajat to find Hassan in 1986" (Hosseini 203). This event was significant in the book because it showed how the two families were reunited even after Ali and Hassan left Baba's house. During Hassan and his family's stay at Rahim Khan's home, Hassan told Rahim Khan that he was raped and that Amir ran away instead of helping. This revelation inspired Rahim Khan to give Amir a chance to atone his sins. -
Amir Finishes His First Novel
In the summer of 1988, Amir finishes and publishes his first novel. Baba's death influenced his "father-son story set in Kabul" (Hosseini 182). It is clear that Amir revisited his past in order to write this novel, and reflected on his lonely childhood. This novel also symbolizes that Amir had finally grown up and this wa sthe first chapter of his ault life. -
Peace Accords
According to the BBC, in 1988, Afghanistan, USSR, the US and Pakistan signed a peace accord and the Soviet Union began pulling out troops from Afghanistan due to the damage the war had done to the USSR. -
Soviets Leave
In 1989, the last Soviet troops left, but the civil war continued as the mujahideen pushed to overthrow Najibullah (BBC). -
Sohrab is Born
After delivering a stillborn child, "it was Sanaubar who delivered Hassan's son that winter of 1990" (Hosseini 211). Hassan's son, Sohrab, represented the second chance that Amir got to make things right and atone for his sins. This child was the result of Amir running away from Hassan in that alley in 1975, and now Amir could finally apologize and be redeemed. -
Soraya is Diagnosed Infertile
In March of 1991, Soraya was diagnosed as infertile, which meant that she and Amir were unable to have children. One night, as Amir lay awake, he "could almost feel the emptiness in Soraya's womb, like it was a living, breathing thing" (Hosseini 189). Amir and Soraya's marriage was deeply affected by their inability to conceive a child. Amir had always wanted to have a family of his own, and with the news that he wouldn't be able to, he drifted away from Soraya. -
Taliban Recognized as Rulers
The BBC states that in 1997, the "Taliban [was] recognised as legitimate rulers by Pakistan and Saudi Arabia. They...control[led] about two-thirds of [the] country (BBC). -
US Missile Strike
In BBC's Afghan profile and timeline, the author discusses how in 1998, the "US launche[d] missile strikes at suspected bases of militant Osama bin Laden, accused of bombing US embassies in Africa" (BBC). -
US Air Embargo
According to the BBC, the UN imposed an air embargo and financial sanctions to force Afghanistan to hand over Osama bin Laden for trial in 1999 (BBC). -
Amir Returns to Kabul
After a phone call from Rahim Khan, Amir decides to return to Kabul temporarily. During this trip, Amir would be able to "be good again" (Hosseini 192). In other words, the trip back to his hometown would mean a chance to be atoned for his sins and a shot at redemption after running away from Hassan's rape. This trip was very important to Amir because of the guilt the rape had caused him. -
Sohrab Opens Up
After Sohrab's attempted suicide failed and he went to the USA with Amir, Sohrab did not speak or interact with Amir and Soraya. After a long time of being a mute, Sohrab showed interest in Amir. It was a rainy day and Sohrab was off by himself. Amir noticed the kites flying in the sky and asked Sohrab if he wanted to fly it. Sohrab showed interest and the two bonded over the kite flying (Hosseini 369). The story comes full circle when the very thing that destroyed Hassan strengthened Sohrab. -
Opium Production
Poppy and opium production had always been very significant parts of the Afghanistan economy and agriculture, but, reportedly, in August of 2007, opium production reached a record high according to the UN (BBC). -
Quiet Surge
According to the BBC, in Spetember of 2008, "US President George Bush sen[t] an extra 4,500 US troops to Afghanistan, in a move he described as a "quiet surge" (BBC). -
Koran Burning
According to the BBC, in April of 2011, a US pastor burned a Koran, which caused country-wide protests in which foreign UN workers and several Afghans were killed (BBC). -
Delayed Troop Withdrawal
As the BBC states, in March of 2015, "US President Barack Obama announce[d] that his country [would] delay its troop withdrawal from Afghanistan, following a request from President Ashraf Ghani" (BBC). -
Conflict Will Continue
According to the BBC, in July of 2016, Barack Obama said that 8,400 US troops would remain in Afghanistan into 2017 because of the "'precarious security situation'" (BBC). NATO also agreed to maintain troop numbers and reiterated a funding pledge for local security forces until 2020 (BBC).