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Amir is born
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Hassan is born
Amir describes Hassan's birth as gentle. He added that even in birth Hassan,"was incapable of hurting anyone. A few grunts, a couple of pushes, and out came Hassan. Out he came smiling"(10). We can see from the start that Hassan has been nothing but kind and gentle. The way Amir described his birth makes him sound very pure and honest, which is how he is. Since birth Hassan has been loyal to Amir since Hassan's first word was Amir showing how he cherished Amir. -
Baba builds the orphanage
Since Baba spent so much of his time building the orphanage Amir gets jealous. Amir said,"I already hated all the kids he was building the orphanage for"(18).This shows the common theme of jealousy we see throughout the book. Amir's jealously is what ultimately makes Amir watch Hassan get rape instead of intervening. Throughout the book Amir is jealous for Baba's love, doing anything to get it. His jealousy is the root to all of the problems in the book. -
Amir discovers his gift for writing
Amir uncovers this gift on accident while playing a prank on Hassan. While reading a story to Hassan he strays from the original story line and comes up with his own. Hassan exclaims, "That's the best story you've read me in a long time" (30). Writing would bring Amir lots of joy later in his life using it to heal from his mistakes as well. Through writing and education Amir obtains more power over Baba and others. -
Hassan's rape
At the start of the book, Amir has a flashback to Kabul. Amir stated, “I became what I am today at the age of twelve, on a frigid overcast day in the winter of 1975” (1). This night was the night of Hassan's rape and the start of a life full of guilt. Amir stood by while Hassan got raped and feels this guilt overcome him as he grows older. This event leads to the end of Amir and Hassan's friendship. -
Amir wins the Kite Tournament
As Amir cuts down the last kite he shouts, "Then I was screaming, and everything was color and sound, everything was alive and good. I was throwing my free arm around Hassan and we were hopping up and down, both of us laughing, both of us weeping. 'You won, Amir agha! You won!" (66) This event happened right before Hassan's rape. Amir felt accomplished and finally got Baba to accept him and be proud of him. This would be the last time he and Hassan were friends. -
Ali and Hassan leave
Baba begs and begs for Ali and Hassan to stay, but Ali tells him that "Life here is impossible . . . now"(106). By now Hassan has told Ali about what happened to him and Ali feels he can no longer live by Amir. Amir betrayed Hassan and Ali and the power that Amir once had over Ali has disappeared because Ali no longer respected Amir. -
Afghanistan gets invaded by the Soviet union
It is stated in the New York Times article that, "Afghanistan was invaded by the Soviet union"(2). -
First Soviet troops parachuted into Kabul to help in a coup
The New York Times expresses, "First Soviet troops parachuted into Kabul to assist Babrak Karmal, who had become president in a coup within the Afghan Communist leadership"(2). -
Baba and Amir flee to America
Amir described America as "a river, roaring along, unmindful of the past...Someplace with no ghosts, no memories, and no sins" (136). Meanwhile Amir states, "living in America gave [Baba] an ulcer"(125). Amir sees America as an escape from all his sins in Kabul. He believes his sins won't haunt him in America but later finds out that he cannot escape guilt that easily. Through the power of education, Baba looses power to Amir, not holding the socioeconomic status he once held. -
Baba is diagnosed with cancer
The doctor diagnoses Baba with a type of caner called, "Oat Cell Carcinoma." (156) The doctor says it's inoperable but suggests chemo. Baba refuses chemo because "It means it wouldn't change the outcome, just prolong it." (156) This shows Baba's dedication to keep his image as a strong fearless leader. He forbid's Amir to tell anyone about his cancer, not wanting to destroy his reputation. -
Amir and Soraya get married
Amir describes Soraya walking down the aisle wearing a "stunning wine-colored traditional Afghan dress with long sleeves and gold trimmings" (168). Amir is madly in love with Soraya marrying her very soon after they met. He gains a new set of parents that love him as much as Baba did. Amir and Soraya go on to adopt Sohrab later in the novel. -
Amir gets published
After Amir finishes his first book, "a man named Martin Greenwalt called from New York and offered to represent [him]." (183) His book gets published in 1989 which is a huge accomplishment leading Amir to really feel that, "There was so much goodness in [his] life. So much happiness. [He] wondered whether [he] deserved any of it." (183) All of his newfound accomplishments suppress the guilt he had a built up. His book's publication brought more joy to his life, eradicating the bad for a moment. -
Soviet troops left Afghanistan after peace talks moderated by the United Nations
The New York Times explains, "After peace talks moderated by the United Nations, the last Soviet troops left Afghanistan in February 1989, in what was in effect a unilateral withdrawal"(2). -
Pakistani intelligence officers began funneling arms, money and supplies to Mullah Omar's men
The New York Times said, "As early as 1994, Pakistani intelligence officers began funneling arms, money and supplies to Mullah Omar's men, as well as military advisers to help guide them into battle"(3). -
Amir goes back to Afghanistan
At the start of the book Rahim Khan called Amir and told him, "come [back to Afghanistan] there is a way to be good again"(192). Amir later states, "A week later, I sat on a window seat aboard a Pakistani International Airlines flight"(194). Realizing that he can finally be atoned for what he did to Hassan inspires Amir to get atonement. He has finally matured in America and has come to the realization that he needs to face his demons in Kabul and make up for what he did all those years ago. -
Buoyed by Pakistani aid, the Taliban took control of Afghanistan, and imposed strict enforcement of fundamentalist Islamic law
In article by The New York Times they say, "Buoyed by Pakistani aid, the Taliban by 1996, had taken control of Afghanistan, imposing strict enforcement of fundamentalist Islamic law, banning movies and forcing women out of schools and into all-enveloping burqa clothing"(3). -
Hazara Massacre
Two years after the war had ended in Afghanistan, the Taliban "massacred the Hazaras in Mazar-i-Sharif"(213). The massacre shows how important your ethnicity is in Afghanistan. The Hazaras were murdered only because of their background, they didn't do anything wrong but were still killed. The Taliban were ruthless killers with raw power that 'cleaned' the streets of Afghanistan from people who they thought were below them. -
America led an invasion into Afghanistan after 9/11
The New York times states, "The United States led an invasion in Afghanistan after the September 11 attacks by Al Qaeda"(1). -
Invasion takes Al Qaeda and Taliban out of power
New York Times said, " The invasion succeeded in dislodging Al Qaeda and removing the Taliban from power, but not in eradicating either group"(1). -
Amir fights Assef and rescues Sohrab
While Amir is getting beat by Assef he says, "for the first time since the winter of 1975, I felt at peace" (289). Amir feels that he is finally getting the punishment he craved for when he had first committed his sin. He never received it as a child causing him to push the idea of atonement away and instead looked for excuses. He finally receives this pain and therefore he feels at ease with what he did. -
Sohrab tries to commit suicide
Amir mistakenly told Sohrab that he would have to go to an orphanage. While Sohrab is in the bath, Amir hangs up with Soraya who told him that Sohrab can come to America. Amir goes to the bathroom door and shouts, "We're going to America! [He] stepped into the bathroom. Suddenly [he] was screaming"(343). Amir had to be loyal to Sohrab and save him. He overcame his fear and saved him showing he was more afraid of not being to atone for his actions than what had happened in the bathroom. -
Hamid Karzai took office as interim president, hoping to secure peace for Afghanistan and win the country much-needed international aid
The New York Times state,"On June 2002, Hamid Karzai took office as interim president, hoping to secure peace for Afghanistan and win the country much-needed international aid. Mr. Karzai was elected to a five-year term as president in 2004"(3). -
Amir and Sohrab fly a kite
Just after Amir had cut down the last kite he says, "The last time [he] has felt a rush like this was that day in the winter of 1975"(370). Amir thinks back to the day that changed his life, how proud he had finally made Baba. He finally could do and talk about things from his childhood without feeling guilty. He had finally redeemed and forgave himself leaving him at peace to enjoy his life with Sohrab. -
Obama makes Afghanistan the main military focus
The New York Times point out that, " President Obama made Afghanistan the central military focus of his administration, drawing troops out of Iraq and increasing the number in Afghanistan by almost 50,000"(1). -
Obama announced his plan to deploy 30,000 additional troops and vowed to start bringing back American forces home from Afghanistan in the middle of 2011
The New York Times show Obama's plan to, "deploy 30,000 additional troops. He vowed to start bringing back American forces home from Afghanistan in the middle of 2011, saying the United States could not afford and should not have to shoulder an open-ended commitment"(4).