Kite runner

Kite Runner & the History of Afghanistan

  • Baba is Born

    "In 1933, the year Baba was born", two Hazaras were killed in a car accident. Their orphaned son was adopted by Baba's father, and he was raised as Baba's brother. This relationship and connection shows how tight the men are, and it carried on to their sons.
  • Amir's Birth, Soroya's Death.

    In the winter of 1963 Amir was born and Soroya "died giving birth" (6). Baba blames Amir for her death and even says "If i hadn't seen the docotor pull him out of my wife with my own eyes. I'd never believe he's my son" (23). This quote demonstrates the distant relationship Amir has with his father. This changes over the course of the story.
  • Hassan is born

    Hassan is born
    Sanubar gave birth to Hassan on a "cold winter day in 1964" (6). This quote states Hassan was born during the winter of 1964.
  • Baba builds orphanage.

    When Amir was only 5 or 6, "Baba decided to build an orphange" (Hosseini, 13). Everyone doubted Baba because he was inexperienced and hired nobody for help, but he succeeded and proved the city wrong.
  • Hassan's cleft lip surgery.

    Amir says he "kept thinking of that day in 1974, in the hospital room, just after Hassan's harelip surgery" (218). This cause of the surgery was Assef fighting Hassan. This surgery is another event Amir needs to atone for.
  • Hassan is raped

    Amir says he became a man "peeking into the alley near the frozen creek" during the "winter of 1975". This event is significant because it was the reason Amir and Hassan's relationship changed.
  • Amirs 13th Birthday

    Amir remembers he "turned 13 that summer of 1976, Afghanistans next to last summer of peace and anonymity" (93). The birhtday party is key because Amir here realizes how helpless Hassan when he see's him serving food and drinks to Assef. Hassan may have been attacked by Assef, but society prevents him from doing anything about it.
  • Soviet Union Invades

    Afghanistan has had much trouble "since 1979, when the Soviet Union invaded" (1).
  • Baba and Amir escape to America.

    While being smuggled to America, Kamal's father shoots himself in the mouth. Amir will never forget "the echo of the blast. Or the flash of light and the spray of red" (124). This scene shows the hardships Afghans face while immigrating to countries like America.
  • Amir's High School Graduation

    In the year of 1983, Amir graduated from highschool. Baba attended wearing "his brown suit - his only suit, the same one he wore to Afghan wdings and funerals" (131). The fact that Baba is wearing his formal suit shows he finally has some respect for his son,which Amir has deserved.
  • The last Soviet troops leave

    The last Soviet union "troops left Afghanistan in February 1989" (2).
  • Omar has 12k Followers

    At the end of 1994, "Mullah Omar had nearly 12,000 followers". (2)
  • Taliban Seize Control

    The taliban "seized control in 1996 after years of civil war" (1).
  • Taliban impose Islamic laws

    The taliban had control of Afghanistan and were "imposing strick enforcement of fundamentalist Islamic Law (3).
  • Rahim Khan calls Amir

    Rahim Khans inspiring words "there is a way to be good again", inspire Amir to atone for his mistakes and make it up to Hassan.
  • 9/11 Al Qaeda Attack

    9/11 Al Qaeda Attack
    In 2001, the United States was affected by the "Sept. 11 attacks by Al Qaeda" (page 1).
  • Taliban continue after defeat

    Despite the Taliban's defeat in 2001, they "continued to wage a guerilla warfare" (3).
  • Amir visits Rahim Khan in Pakistan

    In 2001, Amir tells his wife he needs "to go back Pakistan [because] Rahim Khan is very sick" (191). This event is significant because in Pakistan, Amir learns much about his past and how to atone for his mistakes.
  • Kabul Taken Over

    When Amir see's Rahim Khan in Pakistan, he is told people in the village tayed put, prayed the next rocket wouldn't hit their home" (199). This proves how much Pakistan has changed since Amir has left. They took over in 1996, but this was 5 years later.
  • Hamid Karzai named chairman

    Hamid Karzai "was named chariman" of a government (3).
  • Hamid Karzai elected as president

    Hamid Karzai "was elected to a five-year term as president in 2004" (3).
  • Obama speech announces deployment plan.

    In his speech in 2009, "Mr. Obama announced his plan to deploy 30,000 additional troops" (4).