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introduction of hassan
who was born in 1963, slightly younger then Amir, their friendship is the plot focus as it symbolizes the inequalities within Afghanistan at the time. their relationship also runs parallel to Babas and Alis who were friends despite their ethnic and social differences -
chapter 2 - baba built an orphanage
in the late 1960s Baba built an orphanage which people saw as foolish however baba continued. this is important as it results in peoples high expectations of Amir to which he feels he struggles to exceed, it also is Babas way of redeeming himself of his sins and treatment of amir, but actually avoids amir -
1973 conflict with assef
Assef and his gang first attack Hassan and Amir to which hassan defends them both with his slingshot, this foreshadows the later conflict with Assef -
reformation of the government
Daoud Khan takes over Afghanistan & Republic of Afghanistan formed -
hassan has facial reconstruction
As a birthday present to Hassan from Baba, he buys Hassan facial reconstruction to correct his upper cleft lip -
chapter 6- kite flying tournament winter of 1975
The novel has been leading up to this point. Amir wins the kite flying tournament with the help of Hassan to which the who area comes to watch. it symbolises peace and unity to which is quickly disrupted with the upcoming invasion of the Russian, who want to stabilize the country as communists -
winter of 1975 Hassans rape
This is what the novel has been leading up to this point, assef and his friends corner Hassan as he defends the kite Amir cut down. this also foreshadows the upcoming violence as such as the corruption from the Taliban to which we learn in many years assef becomes apart of. -
Amirs 13th birthday party chapter 8
After Hassans rape he is forced to serve his rapist at amirs 13th birthday party, this shows the extent of the division within Afghanistan. Assef also gives Amir a copy of Mein Kampf a book with Nazi ideas. -
Amir hides watch under Hassans bed
Amir believes that getting rid of hassan will allow him to get rid ofhis guilt for not defending his friend, he plants his birthday watch under hassans bed after him and ali leave for the market. -
chapter 10 march 1981 five years after russian invasion
This chapter introduces war in Afghanistan after the Russians invade to support the new communist governement -
Amir and Babe leave Kabul for jalalabad
Kabul become riddled with Russian soldiers who are cutting down those with beliefs that go against the government so Baba takes amir as they leave for Jalalabad with a people smuggler -
1981
Baba defends a women from a Russian soldier who wants to rape her as payment for letting them through, he comes close to death but the situation is stopped. Baba stops a rape unlike Amir who let one happen -
Amir and Baba have made it to america
Amir enrols in college when he wants to study creative writing -
Baba attacks Mr. Nguyen
when asked for his ID when paying with a cheque baba become angry, due to the contrast in treatment unlike in afghanistan -
Amir meets General Taheri & Soraya at the flea market
Amir and babe start going to the local flea market to make some money this is where he meets the very traditional General Taheri and his daughter Soraya who faces the constant struggle of peoples judgments and strict traditions as such as sexism -
Amir introduces him to Soraya
This adds some normality to Amirs life helping him to maybe move on from what happened in the winter of 1975 -
baba is diagnosed with cancer
Babe is diagnosed with brain cancer after collapsing at he market, this is a turning point for Amir as he shortly realises that he will have to face life alone and without the constant support of his father like it has been for so many years. -
Amir wants to marry Soraya
Amir's asks baba to ask the general Taheri for his daughters hand in marriage, he accepts but on the condition that he must listen to Soraya's past, this shows the tight control over women's life in afghan society -
amir and sorayas wedding
they decide to have the wedding quickly due to babas quickly deteriorating health and Amir finds himself wondering is hassan was married, suggesting that hassan is still deeply engraved within amirs mind -
Baba dies and the have his funeral
Soraya and amir put baba to bed 'and he never woke up' this again is another lage turning point for amir as he now has to stand alone which is what his father has been trying to teach him his whole life -
amir finally releases his first novel
Amir has succeeded as a creative writing and is now somewhat famous in the Afghan community -
chapter 1 - decemeber 2001
The novel begins retrospectively so we first see Amir as his older self and then the upcoming chapters are him reminiscing on his childhood, introducing suspense by suggesting something happened 'in the winter of 1975' also getting a call from Rahim khan who suggests 'there is a way to be good again' -
Amir gets a call from Rahim Khan
the novel again has been leading up to this moment which was introduced at the beginning of the novel, its a way for amir to be good again suggesting he knows what happened in the winter of 1975 -
Amir leaves to go to pakistan