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Hassan's mother, Sanaubar
Hassan's mother left Hassan, "less than a week after he was born" (Hosseini, pg. 6). This shows that Hassan was not raised with a mother, just like Amir, whose mother died giving birth to him. Because of their similarity, Amir and Hassan understand each other better than anyone else -
Amir almost gets hit by Assef
When Amir and Hassan have an altercation with Assef, "Hassan held the slingshot pointed directly at Assef's face" to save Amir from getting hit by Assef (Hosseini, pg.42). Because Hassan stopped Assef from hitting Amir, Assef immediately wants to hurt Hassanm but doesn't hurt him right there. Hassan also shows that he is the type of person who will protect Amir because they are like brothers. -
Amir wins the kite tournament
After many cutting from participating in the kite tournament, Hassan said, "you won, Amir agha! you won (Hosseini, ph.66). This tournament will lead up to something Amir will never forgive himself for. At this moment, Amir feels like he's in top of the world and doesn't want that to change. -
Hassan gets assualted by Assef
Assef and his crew looked at Hassan "like they'd cornered some kind of wild animal only Assef could tame" (Hosseini, pg. 71). Assef maybe targeted him because he was the reason he didn't hit Amir in along time ago. Amir doens't help Hassan and just stands there, and watches, which will haunt Amir for the rest of his life. -
Amir tries to stay away from Hassan
After witnessing the assault, "for a week, [Amir] barely saw Hassan (Hosseini pg, 80). Amir is ignoring Hassan because he doesn't want to look at Hassan, because he will feel guilty for not helping him. Hassan doesn't know why he's ignoring him, and asked him, and Amir denies it and says to stop harrassing him. -
Hassan and Ali leave
Ali sits Baba downs and says, "we can't live here anymore" (Hossieni pg. 106). Ali’s decision to leave is because Hassan told him what happened and the fact that Amir never helped. Baba begs him to stay, but he says that he and Hassan can’t live there anymore. -
Soviets Invade
In a time where Afghanistan began to become stable, "the first Soviet troops parachuted into Kabul on Dec. 27, 1979" (NY Times). -
Amir and Baba arrive in Fremont, California
When Amir and Baba decided to live in America, "Baba loved the idea of America. It was living in America that gave him an ulcer" (Hossieni, pg. 125). Amir and Baba escape from the Middle East to live a better life in Fremont, California. The main reason they came to the United States is for Amir to go to college. -
Amir meets General Taheri and his daughter
After meeting General Taheri's daughter, "[Amir's] heart stuttered at the thought of her. Soraya Taheri" (Hosseini pg. 142). General Taheri’s daughter Soraya and Amir make eye contact and this will be the start of their relationship. General Taheri looks out for Baba and Amir, which comforts them. -
Baba's Cancer
When Amir and Baba visit the doctor to find out about Baba's cancer, the doctor says that, "the cancer's metastasized" (Hosseini, pg.159). Baba’s cancer has spread to his brain, and he doesn’t have along time left. Amir also asks Soraya to marry him, she accepts. -
Baba dies
About a month after Amir and Soraya's wedding, "Baba never woke up" (Hosseini pg.173). Amir realizes how Baba defined who he is. Many Afghans help Amir through this difficult time. -
Soviet Leave
After about ten years in Afghanistan, "the last Soviet troops left Afghanistan in February 1989" (NY Times). -
The Power is Divided
After the Soviet troops left in 1989, "power was anarchially divided among competing warlords and individual fiefoms" in the summer of 1994 (NY Times). -
Afghanistan Welcomes Bin Laden
After the Taliban took control in 1996, that same year, "the Taliban also provided a haven for Mr. Bin Laden, who arrived by chartered jet at Jalalabad Airport in May 1996, and for Al Queda" (NY Times). -
Taliban Take Control
After Mullah Omar, "the Taliban by 1996 has taken control of Afghanistan' (NY Times). -
Taliban Seize Control
Years after the Civil War, "the extremist group [the Taliban] had seized control in 1996" (NY Times). -
Rahim Khan calls Amir
After Rahim Khan called Amir asking him to come to Pakistan, "[Amir] thought about a comment Rahim Khan had made just before [they] hung up... (Hosseini pg. 192). Rahim Khan mentions something on the phone that catches Amir’s attention. He says that there is a way for him to be good again. -
Amir learns Ali couldn't have kids
After Rahim Khan told Amir that Ali couldn't have kids, Amir says, "how could you hide this from me? From him?" (Hosseini pg. 223). By Rahim Khan telling Amir that Ali couldn’t have kids, he wonders who his father was. When he asks Rahim Khan who his father was, he says he knows who he is, and Amir knows that it was Baba. -
Amir is meeting the Taliban offical with Sohrab
When Amir is waiting for the Taliban official, he noticed the, "the tall Talib with the black sunglasses" (Hosseini pg.271). This meeting with the Taliban official will determine the fate of Hassan’s son, Sohrab. Amir also feels if he helps Hassan’s son, he won’ feel so bad for not helping Hassan many years ago. -
The Taliban official is Assef
After meeting the Taliban official, "his name escaped my lips 'Assef' " (Hosseini pg. 281). When Amir learns that the Taliban official who has Hassan’s son, Sohrab is Assef, Amir offers him money for Sohrab. When Assef begins beating Amir, Sohrab shots Assef in the eye with his slingshot, saving Amir, just like his father Hassan -
Sohrab is in San Francisco
After the battle of getting Sohrab to the Bay, "[they] arrived home about seven months ago,on a warm day in August 2001" (Hosseini pg. 357). Sohrab is officially part of Amir’s life after Amir removed him from Assef. Even though Sohrab isn’t talking, he understand that what Amir did was life saving. -
World Trade Center is Attacked
theTaliban "attack[ed] on the World Trade Center in New York on Sept. 11, 2001" (NY Times). -
A Relative of Mohammad Zahir Shah Takes Control
After the Taliban were defeated, "a supporter and relative of Mohammad Zahir Shah, the exiled former king of Afghanistan, was named chairman of an interim government that replaced the defeated Taliban" (NY Times). -
United States Get Involved With Afghanistan
In a New York Times article, it mentions that, "the United States has been militarily involved in Afghanistan since 2001" (NY Times). -
US Forces Begin Withdrawing
After about ten years in Afghanistan, "American combat forces begin withdrawing from Afghanistan in the summer of 2011" (NY Times).