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Khan overthrows Shah in coup
PBS mentions that "Khan overthrows the last king, Mohammed Zahir Shah, in a military coup. Khan’s regime, the People’s Democratic Party of Afghanistan, comes to power. Khan abolishes the monarchy and names himself president. The Republic of Afghanistan is established with firm ties to the USSR." (PBS) -
Hassan gets raped
When Hassan is getting raped, Amir thinks, "I stopped watching, turned away from the alley." (77). Hassan gets raped and Amir just watches and does nothing about it. This is one of the most important parts of the book, because it is where Amir's internal conflict is sparked. -
Baba is proud of Amir
When Amir arrives with the kite, Baba "opened his arms," (79) and a "smile played on [his] lips," (79). This is significant because this happened just after Hassan sacrificed himself for Amir, and Amir now is thinking that the end justifies the means. This is extremely impactful because it means that Amir thinks that sacrificing his best friend for Baba's approval is a worthwhile trade, which illustrates how important maintaining pride is in Afghan culture. -
Khan is killed in coup
The article states that, "Khan is killed in a communist coup. Nur Mohammad Taraki, one of the founding members of the Afghan Communist Party, takes control of the country as president, and Babrak Karmal is named deputy prime minister." (PBS) -
American ambassador killed, support withdrawn
The article reveals that "American Ambassador Adolph Dubs [was] killed. The United States [cut] off assistance to Afghanistan. A power struggle between Taraki and Deputy Prime Minister Hafizullah Amin [began]. Taraki [was] killed on Sept. 14 in a confrontation with Amin supporters." (PBS) -
2.8 million Afghans flee to Pakistan
The timeline says that "Some 2.8 million Afghans have fled from the war to Pakistan, and another 1.5 million have fled to Iran. Afghan guerrillas gain control of rural areas, and Soviet troops hold urban areas." (PBS) -
Baba and Amir move to America
When Baba and Amir move to America, Amir reflects on how Baba only liked the "idea of America," (125). This is important because it might fuel further conflict between him and Amir, and make it harder for them to live together. This might also emphasize the importance of becoming your own person. -
Amir and Soraya get married
Soraya talks to Amir after her father accepts the marriage request, and reveals to him that she had been with someone before him. After, Amir thinks, "I envied her. Her secret was out," (165). This is significant because it gives Amir an example to follow. Amir might confess to what he has done to her, which will give him the courage to atone his conflict with Hassan. -
Ali and his cousin are killed by a landmine
Hassan reveals to Rahim Khan that Ali and his cousin "had been killed by a land mine..." (206). This is significant because it reveals the intensity of the conflict in the area; the insurgents have no regard for civilian casualties. This is foreshadowing that another character in the book may die because of how violent these insurgents are, -
Baba dies from lung cancer
Amir reflects on Baba's death and thinks about how much of "who [he] was [and] what [he] was[] had been defined by Baba..." (174). This is incredibly significant because Amir has been looking up to one person his entire life, his every action to make Baba proud. The reason that Amir didn't tell anyone that he saw Hassan get raped and did nothing about it was because of the pressure put on him by Baba. With Baba gone he may confess about that day in the alley. -
Al-Qaida is formed
PBS states that, "In September, Osama bin Laden and 15 other Islamists form the group al-Qaida, or “the base”, to continue their jihad, or holy war, against the Soviets and other who they say oppose their goal of a pure nation governed by Islam." (PBS) -
Amir's first book gets published
After Amir got an agent for his novel, he became a "published novelist," (183). Amir worked hard on his novel and is ecstatic to have it published. This is significant because he is doing something he likes and is successful. This is a step that furthers Amir from the negative aspects of his father, which were preventing Amir from confessing about ignoring Hassan as he was abused. -
Hassan and his wife have Sohrab
Rahim Khan tells Amir that "Farzana became pregnant again," (209). This is important because it means that Hassan has a child. That gives Amir an opportunity to atone his sins now that Hassan is dead and Sohrab is fatherless. -
The Mujahadeen take control of Kabul
PBS says that "The Mujahadeen and other rebel groups, with the aid of turncoat government troops, storm the capital, Kabul, and oust Najibullah from power. Ahmad Shah Masood, legendary guerrilla leader, leads the troops into the capital. The United Nations offers protection to Najibullah. The Mujahadeen, a group already beginning to fracture as warlords fight over the future of Afghanistan, form a largely Islamic state with professor Burhannudin Rabbani as president." (PBS) -
Taliban militia raises to power
The article says that a "Newly formed Islamic militia, the Taliban, rises to power on promises of peace." Most afghans approved. "The Taliban outlaw cultivation of poppies for the opium trade, crack down on crime, and curtail the education and employment of women. Women are required to be fully veiled and are not allowed outside alone. Islamic law is enforced via public executions and amputations. The United States refuses to recognize the authority of the Taliban." (PBS) -
The Taliban publicly execute Najibullah
PBS says, "The Taliban publicly executes Najibullah. Ethnic groups in the north, under Masood’s Northern Alliance, and the south, aided in part by Hamid Karzai, continue to battle the Taliban for control of the country." (PBS) -
Bin Laden labeled as international terrorist
The Article states that "By now considered an international terrorist, bin Laden is widely believed to be hiding in Afghanistan, where he is cultivating thousands of followers in terrorist training camps. The United States demands that bin Laden be extradited to stand trial for the embassy bombings. The Taliban decline to extradite him. The United Nations punishes Afghanistan with sanctions restricting trade and economic development." (PBS) -
Hassan dies
Rahim Khan recounts Hassan's death and says they "shot him in the back of the head," (219). This is important because Amir came to Pakistan to atone his wrongdoings, but there is no one for him to atone to. It can be inferred that Amir will do something else to male up for his sins. -
Baba and Soraya cannot have a baby.
When Soraya reveals to her father that she wants to adopt, he responds with, "this adoption..., I'm not so sure it's for us Afghans," (187). He later emphasizes how important ancestry is. This is important because it shows the significance of family legacy in Afghan culture. -
Amir goes to Pakistan
Amir decides to go back to Afghanistan after Rahim Khan tells him "There is a way to be good again," (2). The significance of this is the reason why Amir is going to Afghanistan. He is not only going to see Rahim Khan, but he is also going to "be good again", or make amends with Hassan. -
Amir learns that Hassan was his brother
Amir hears from Rahim Khan that "Ali was sterile," (222). He later leads Amir to the conclusion that Baba had both Hassan and Amir. This is incredibly significant because it means that Hassan was not a Hazara, which means he never would've gotten raped, killed, disrespected, and a myriad of other things related to that social class. -
Hassan gets battered by Assef
When Hassan tries to retrieve Sohrab from Assef, he gets brutally assaulted and Sohrab saves him, "irrevocably bound[ing] [them]," (320). This is significant because it makes it harder for Amir to give him away. It is foreshadowing that Amir will take Sohrab in as his son. -
Sohrab tries to commit suicide
Amir has PTSD about this and thinks about the "blood-soaked razor..." (348) Sohrab used to slit his wrists. This is a crucial plot point in the story because Amir feels like he is going to lose his one shot at redemption. This is important because it means Amir knows a way that he can atone his sins but he has to give his whole self in to do it. -
Amir and Soraya adopt Sohrab
Amir thinks about his life with Sohrab and thinks, "Does anybody's..." (357) life "end in happiness?" (357). This is significant because it shows Amir's dedication to Sohrab even though he wasn't happy all the time. It shows that he has "become good again" by doing what he needed to do, in spite of the hardships. -
9/11 aircraft suicide bombing occurs
PBS's timeline says that during 9/11, "Hijackers commandeer four commercial airplanes and crash them into the World Trade Center Towers in New York, the Pentagon outside Washington, D.C., and a Pennsylvania field, killing thousands. Days later, U.S. officials say bin Laden, the Saudi exile believed to be hiding in Afghanistan, is the prime suspect in the attack." (PBS)
