-
Baba is born
"In 1933, the year Baba was born and the year Zahir Shah began his forty-year reign of Afghanistan"(Hosseini 24) The fact that Amir put these two events together says a lot, It shows how much Baba means to Amir. -
Period: to
A Time of Change in Afghanistan
-
A Shift In Power
Following the assassination of Mohhamed Nadir Shah, Zahir Khan is named Shah (king) -
Baba's father is killed
"My grandfather, a respected judge, confronted him, but the thief stebbed him in the throat, killing him instantly--- and robbing Baba of a father." (Hossieni 18) This is a huge event in Baba's life. This may have even been the event to start Baba's belief of thievery being the only sin. -
A New Shah
Daoud Khan becomes shah of Afghanistan. -
Amir is born
"1964, just one year after I was born." (Hosseini 6) This quote shows that even when thinking of his birth, he compares himself to Hassan, He is awlays trying to compete for Baba's affection. -
Hassan is born
"She ran off with a clan of traveling singers and dancers." (Hossieini 6) While Amir's mom died, Hassan's left by choice. this shows the trend of people often hurting Hassan. -
Assef rapes Hassan
"That was the winter Hassan stopped smiling." (Hosseini 47)This quotes shows the huge emotional toll Assef's actions had on Hassan. Hassan had always been a happy person until this point. -
Amir's 13th birthday
"For your stories" (Hosseini 100) on his 13th birthday Amir was given a notebook for his stories from Rahim. this shows the connection Amir and Rahim had. -
A Coup D'etat
A short and bloodless change in leadership. Daoud Khan is now president to the new republic of Afghanistan. While initially bloodless the entire former royal family was executed the next day. -
First Soviet troops parachute into Kabul
-
Civil War
War breaks out between the new republic and citizens who oppose it. The US assists the insurgents. -
Baba and Amir leave for america
"But before anyof us could do or say a thing, Kamal's father shoved the barrel in his own mouth." (Hossieni 124) This occurred while everyone was trying to escape Afghanistan. This can show that bad things happen even when you're trying to do good. -
Baba and Amir are in America
"Baba loved the IDEA of America" Baba is a man of strong morals and America is a place of strong morals so he had always looked up to America in a way. Sometimes good ideas turn sour in execution. -
Amir graduates from high school
"I am moftakhir, Amir" (Hosseini 131) Baba finally tells Amir that he is proud. This is a tunring point in their relationship that has been shown a lot after the move to America. -
Amir and Soraya get married
"And I wondeed if Hassan too had married." (Hosseini 171) In moments of his own marriage to Soraya, Amir thinks this. This shows the extreme guilt he still suffers due to what he let happen on that winter day years ago. -
Baba dies
"There is no pain tonight." (Hosseini 1973) These are Baba's last words. Baba died happily knwing that at least one of his son's is happy. -
Rahim's story
"There were a lot of reason why I went to Hazarajat to find Hassan in 1986. The biggest one, Allah forgive me, was that I was lonely" (Hosseini 203) This says a lot about Rahim's nature. He's a kind man and is social and enjoys the presence of others. -
universal withdrawal from Afghanistan
-
Anarchy
In the summer of 94, following the tumultoous civil war, Afghanistan is shattered into warring fiefdoms ruled by violent warlords. -
A Force to be Reckoned With
The taliban has grown from a small student movemnt to an army of 12,00 in a small time. -
Amir gets a call
"There is a way to be good again" (Hosseini 192) These are the words that propels Amir to return to his homeland. The idea of atonement is still strong in his mind and he'd do anything to achieve it. -
Amir saves Sohrab
"My body was broken... but I felt healed" (Hosseini 289) When saving Sohrab, Amir is badly injured. This was his atonement. He has has saved Hassan;s son and has been punished. -
Taliban Beat Back
A post 9/11 US attacks the taliban with new force and forced into the Tora Bora mountains where they no longer control Afghanistan. -
Amir reflects.
"I became what I am today at the age of twelve, on a frigid overcast day in the winter of 1975." (Hosseini 1) While Amir has atoned for what he has done, he will forever live with the fact that he did it.He sculpte the outcome of his life in those moments. -
Karzai Government
Following the temporary defeat of the taliban Hamid Karzai, a relative of Zahir Shah, came into power and attempted to unify Afghanistan.
