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The Kite Runner
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The Kite Festival (Afghanistan)
Amir and Hassan participate in the Kite festival where you "cut [your] opponents" kite with your kite. This event leads to the rape of Hassan. Amir heard Baba talking about how he would always win the kite festival. This plants a seed in Amir's mind that he must win the kite festival. -
The Rape of Hassan
After running the kite for Amir, Hassan is trapped by Assef and his gang. When Hassan refuses to give Assef the kite, Assef decides to rape Hassan by "enter[ing] him from behind" (76). Assef wanted to punish Hassan because he had been threatened by him before. As a result, he rapes Hassan. -
Ali and Hassan Leave
Amir feels guilty and embarrassed after doing nothing for Hassan when he was raped. As a result, their relationship starts to deteriorate. This ends in Ali declaring that "life here is impossible for us now" (106). After Amir frames Hassan for stealing his presents, Hassan tells Ali about the rape, Ali decided that Hassan is no longer safe and wants to live somewhere else. -
Soviet Union Invasion
The Soviet Union first "parachuted troops into Kabul...to assist Babrak Karamal, who had became president in a coup' ("Afghanistan - An Overview"). -
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History of Afghanistan
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Baba and Amir are Smuggled out of Afghanistan.
After the Russians invade Afghanistan, Baba and Amir leave due to the war. They are escaping from the "grim-faced Russian soldiers patrolling the sidewalks" (113). Due to the dangerous conditions in the city, Baba decides that it is no longer safe to live there. As a result, they find a way to escape. -
Amir Meets Soraya
At the flea market, Amir sees Soraya for the first time and falls in love with her. After seeing her, he admits to having to "[fight] the urge to look toward the gray van" (139). This shows how Amir seems to have an interest in Soraya after being introduced to her. He has to resist looking in her direction. A possible relationship is hinted by this meeting. -
Baba is Discovered to Have Cancer
Baba is found to have "a spot on his right lung" (154). This foreshadows that Baba might die soon because it seems that he has cancer. As a result, the reader feels empathetic towards Amir. -
Amir and Soraya Marry
Amir asks Baba to request for Soraya's hand in marriage.Her father agrees and goes to the Taheri's house for "one last fatherly duty" (163). The General agrees and Amir and Soraya are happily married. This foreshadows that Baba will die really soon. This also shows that Amir has matured enough that he can love and treat someone kindly, unlike Hassan. -
Baba Dies
A month after Amir and Soraya marry, Baba says that "there is no pain tonight" (173). This foreshadows that Baba will die, for he has no more suffering. Since Baba was the reason Amir did most of his actions, he might not know where to proceed after Baba dies. -
Soviet Union Troops Leave Afghanistan
After the United Nations came in, the last "Soviet troops left Afghanistan in February 1989" ("Afghanistan - An Overview). -
Taliban Formed
By the end of 1994, "Mullah Omar, [the founder of the Taliban], had nearly 12,000 followers" ("Afghanistan - An Overview"). -
Taliban Takes Over Afghanistan
By early 1996, the Taliban had "taken control of Afghanistan" ("Afghanistan - An Overview"). -
Amir Receives a Call from Rahim Khan
Rahim Khan calls Amir saying that he is very sick and that "there is a way to be good again" (192). This tells Amir that Rahim Khan knew about the rape of Hassan. Since Amir always wanted a way to redeem himself, he would go to Pakistan no matter what. -
Amir Talks to Rahim Khan in Pakistan
In Pakistan, Amir finds out that Rahim Khan is dying and will not "see the end of this summer" (201). He also finds out that Hassan was living with Rahim Khan at Amir's old house. As a result, Amir learns about the events that took place after he and Babe fled from Afghanistan. Rahim Khan tells Amir that he must save Sohrab, Hassan's son. -
Amir Learns that Hassan is his Half-Brother
Rahim Khan informs Amir that Hassan is his half-brother. As a result, Amir feels like "his whole life is one big fucking lie" (223). This whole time, the thought that Hassan was just a servant. Now that he has found out that Hassan is related to him, he has a reason to save Sohrab. -
Amir Finds Sohrab
Amir learns that Sohrab was taken by a Talib official. He is told to "go to the Ghazi Stadium tomorrow" (257). Amir has finally found a clue regarding Sohrab. From this, he feels like he can finally redeem himself. -
Amir Fights Assef
Assef states that for Amir to have Sohrab, they must fight and that "only one of us will walk out of this room alive" (287). Assef still has a grudge against Amir from their childhood. As a result, Assef wants revenge and uses the pretense of a fight to get back at Amir. -
Sorab Attempts Suicide
Amir had promised Sohrab that he would never go back to the orphanage. However after talking to an immigration official, Amir is told that he may have to send Sohrab back to an orphanage. After hearing this, Sohrab adamantly states, "I'm scared of that place. They'll hurt me! i don't want to go" (341). Sohrab is traumatized by his experience with Assef. Thus, he does not want to go to the orphanage. -
9/11
The Taliban "attack[s] ... the World Trade Center" ("Afghanistan - An Overview"). -
Taliban Defeated
The Taliban was defeated after the United States "joined forces with rebel groups that had never accepted Taliban rule" ("Afghanistan - An Overview"). -
The Kite Festival (America)
After Sohrab's attempted suicide, he stopped talking. In an Afghan party, a kite festival started. Amir saw this and bought a kite, offering it to Sohrab. Sohrab accepts it and after Amir helps him cut down the last kite, "one corner of his mouth had curled up just so" (370). Sohrab had finally broken out of his depression. Therefore, Amir feels very happy. -
Karzai Elected
Hamid Karzai, "a supporter of Mohammad Zahir Shah, the exiled former king of Afghanistan", is elected as president. -
Taliban Resurgence
By 2006, the Taliban "regrouped and began to extend its influence in the southern part of Afghanistan" (Afghanistan - An Overview"). -
American Troops Brought In
Obama delivered a speach at West point that "announced his plan to deploy 30,000 additional troops" ("Afghanistan - An Overview"). -
American Troop Withdraw
By July 2011, Obama wanted to start "bringing American froces home from Afghanistan" ("Afghanistan - An Overview").