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Sanaubar Gives Birth to Hassan
Sanaubar brought Hassan into the world, however "Hassan lost [her] less than a week after he was born. Lost her to a fate Afghans considered far worse than death: She ran off with a clan of traveling singers and dancers. Hassan never talked about his mother, as if she'd never existed" (Hosseini 6). Family is strongly valued in Afghanistan. Hassan's lack of a mother causes him to feel an unhappiness amd loneliness that he is unable to express because he is ashamed of not having a complete family. -
Hassan Writes His First Short Story
One day, Amir was reading Hassan a story but then "abandon[s] the text..., [takes] over the story, and [makes] up [his] own" (30). Hassan tells him "'That was the best story you've read me in a long time" (30). With Hassan's compliment, Amir discovers his creativity and passion for writing. Hassan indirectly encouraged Amir to write more and inspired him enough to write a short story. -
Hassan Gets Face Surgery For Birthday
After Hassan gets face surgery, Amir "wish[es he] too had some kind of scar that would beget Baba's sympathy" (46). Amir is jealous that Baba's attention went to Hassan when he provided Hassan face surgery for his birthday. This causes Amir to view Baba's attention as something to compete for rather than something given through affection. -
Hassan Gets Violated
Amir witnesses Hassan getting raped but does nothing to help him because he remembered what "Aseef [said] was right: Nothing was free in this world" (77). What Aseef means that everything comes with a consequence, whether it is big or small. What Amir had to pay for Baba's affection is sacrificing the one person who loves him unconditionally- Hassan. After that, Amir faces many sleepless nights, countless years of guilt, and shame as a result of not helping Hassan. -
Amir Wins Kite Running Competition
The reason Amir wanted to win the kite running competition was to "[s]how [Baba] once and for all that his son was worthy" (56). Amir has failed many times in the past to earn Baba's affection and acceptance but continues to try and earn it through winning the kite running competition. This illustrates the power Baba has over Amir by being able to control his determination and decisions. -
Hassan and Ali Leave Baba's Home
When Hassan told Baba that he stole the wrist watch Amir planted in his bed, Amir realized that it was "Hassan's final sacrifice for [him]. If he said no, Baba would have believed him because we all knew Hassan never lied" (105). Because Hassan is such an honorable and truthful person, he has more dominance over others than Amir does. He is more credible and therefore more capable of influencing others through his words and actions. -
Soviet Union Invades Afghanistan
After the invansion from the Soviet Union, Afghanistan "has known little peace"' (New York Times). -
Baba and Amir Escape to Peshawar
When Baba is threatened to get shot during their escape, Amir tells him to stop provoking the man with the gun. That causes Baba dissapoinment in Amir and he asks him, "'Haven't I taught you anything?'" (116). Baba is refusing to go down without fully standing up for himself and he is unlike Amir who isn't brave. This causes conflict in their relationship because Baba wishes Amir could be more like him and isn't very accepting of Amir for who he is. -
Baba and Amir Start New Life in America
Amir and Baba view their move to America in very different ways because "[f]or [Amir], America was a place to bury [his] memories. For Baba, a place to mourn his" (129). Amir wanted to escape Afghanistan to be rid of all the constant reminders of Hassan. On the other hand, Baba had a great life there and lost it all with the move. America brings the two men closer and helps them understand each other's feelings on a deeper level as they try to adapt to the new country. -
Baba is Hospitalized Due to Cancer
When Baba was in the hospital, the doctors "brought in a specialist called a radiation oncologist to talk Baba into getting a radiation treatment. Baba refused" (161). Because Baba has such gallant personality he does not fight the inevitable which is death. He accepts it and is ready to pass away. This is Baba's final way of showing Amir how to be a real and honorable man. -
Hassan Proposes to Soraya
When Soraya revealed her secret to Amir after he proposed to her, Amir "suspected there were many ways in which Soraya Taheri was a better person than [Amir]. Courage was just one of them" (165). Amir cannot reveal what happened to Hassan all those years ago because he is not brave enough. After all those years, he never gained any courage, even from Baba's teachings. This adds to the guilt that Amir already carries, making matters worse for him. -
Baba Dies From Cancer
Amir's whole life had been spent looking up to Baba, but after his death, "Baba couldn't show [him] the way anymore: [Amir would] have to find it on [his] own" (174). Baba was the biggest person and influence in Amir's life. All his decisions had been for Baba's approval or from his guidance. With Baba gone, Amir realizes that he must stop living in Baba's shadow and must create a man out of himself in order to successfully move on with his life. -
Last Soviet Troops Leave Afghanistan
The Soviet troops finally leave after the "peace talks moderated by the United Nations, ... in what was in effect a unilateral withdrawal' (New York Times). -
Amir Finishes Writing His First Novel
Amir was very excited after finishing his novel and thinks to himself, "There was so much goodness in my life. So much happiness. I wondered if I deserved any of it" (183). Amir's guilt for not doing anything to help Hassan the winter he got violated causes him to often questions his happiness. His regret leads him to believe that all happiness in his life is temporary and that his punishment for not saving Hassan will come one day, taking away all his happiness. -
Mullah Omar Expands His Following Group
A man named Mullah Omar who had "gathered a small band of men and attacked a group of warlords who had raped a girl and shaved her head" had built up "nearly 12,000 followers" by the end of 1994 (New York Times). -
Taliban Takes Control
The Taliban took control of Afghanistan they were "imposing strict enforcement of fundamentalist Islamic law, banning movies and forcing women out of schools and into all-developing burqa clothing" (New York Times). -
Amir Goes Back To Afghanistan
Amir recieves a phone call from a sick Rahim Kahn and is told that "[t]here is a way to be good again" if he comes back to Afghanistan (192). It is after his return to Afghanistan, that Rahim Kahn offers Amir the option to save Hassan's son who is an orphan at the time, as a way to atone for the past. Amir agrees to it, but not out of respect for Hassan; he does it for himself to be rid of his guilt and insomnia. -
Sohrab Tries to Take His Life
A few hours after Amir tells Sohrab that he is going to be sent back to an orphanage, Sohrab tries to take his life. Amir was asleep during his attempt and later asked himself, "Had I actually gone to sleep after I had given Sohrab the news he feared most?" (351). Previously, Amir promised Sohrab that he was never going to let him be sent back to an orphanage but broke his only promise to him. This caused Sohrab to lose all his trust in Amir, made him fearful of him, and destroyed their bond. -
Sept. 11 Attacks by Al Quaeda
After the attacks, "the [Al Qaeda] have been given safe haven in the country by the Taliban" (New York Times). -
US Becomes Militarily Involved With Afghanistan
After the attacks on September 11 by the Al Quaeda, the United States "led an invasion" (New York Times) into Afghanistan. -
US Teams Up With Rebels
After the September 11 attacks, Bush gave an ultanium to Bin Laden, who turned it down. Therefore, the US decides to "[join] forces with rebel groups that had never accepted Taliban rule" (New York Times). -
Sohrab Smiles Again
After Sohrab nods yes to Amir to let him run a kite for him, Amir says "'For you a thousand times over'" (371). Amir uses what Hassan said to him all those years ago when Hassan was showing his loyalty to Amir. Amir finally feels free of all the guilt and suffering he experienced. He learned how to be loyal and dedicated, and it paid off when Sohrab faintly smiled, making him feel redeemed at last. -
General McChrystal is Replaced with General Petraeus
General McChrystal was removed from his position "after contemptuous quotes from the general about his staff and senior adminustration officials appeared in an article in Rolling Stone magazine. Mr. Obama tapped Gen. Petraeus to lead the war effort there" (New York Times). -
Obama Announces Plan To Deploy Troops
In Obama's speech he announced that he plans to "deploy 30,000 additional troops. He vowed to start brining American forces home from Afghanistan in the middle of 2011" (New York Times). -
Troops Leave Afghanistan if Successful
The U.S. plans to take troops out of Afghanistan by the end of 2014, "based on the presumption that the American military would be successful enough in fighting the Taliban that significant withdrawals would be under way by then" (New York Times).