Kite runner and the history of Afghanistan

By Greeklady
  • Period: to

    Kite Runner and History of Afghanistan

  • Proud Father

    After Hassan and Amir won the kite-flying contest, Amir looked over and saw," Baba on our roof. He was standing on the edge, pumping both his fists. Hollering and clapping" (Hosseini 66). Amir claimed that this was the best moment of his life because his father was finally proud of him. Baba never seemed to be satisfied with Amir as a son, so when Amir saw Baba cheering on the roof, it proved that he had finally won Baba's approval.

  • Amir's Consequence

    Amir was faced with the challenge to risk getting hurt by saving Hassan during the rape, or to run and pretend that he saw nothing. "In the end, [Amir] ran" leaving behind the only person in the world who would do anything for him(Hosseini 77). Amir made a choice to abandon a "friend" because he cited like a coward and was afraid of what the bully would do to him.

  • Hassan's Nightmare

    A bully named Assef got ahold of Hassan and decided to torment him."Assef was standing over [Hassan], the heel of his snow boots crushing the back of his neck" while Hassan's arms were trapped(Hosseini 75).Amir stayed hidden in an alley and watched the rape take place, yet failed to intervene and save someone who considered Amir a friend.Amir's cowardice action will come back to haunt him because he can't seem to understand why Hassan is a loyal friend when he never treated Hassan with respect.

  • Amir's Guilt

    As time progressed, Amir began to snap at Hassan because he felt guilty for not helping him. Hassan never held anything against Amir, yet mir would snap,"I want you to stop harassing me. I want you to go away" (Hosseini 88). Hassan never persisted to hang out with Amir, further creating a reason for Amir to not acknowledge his existence. This drove a wedge between Amir and Hassan's friendship.

  • Taking One for the Team

    Due to the animosity between the two boys, Amir decided to get rid of Hassan once and for all. Amir planted money under Hassan's bed and accused him of stealing. When he admitted to this, Amir thought,"I wasn't worthy of this sacrifice; I was a liar, a cheat,and a thief"(Hosseini 105). Amir realized how loyal Hassan was by taking the blame for something he didn't do. Hassan did this to protect Amir because Amir would endure a much worse punishment.

  • Bye Bye Friend

    After Hassan was accused of stealing, he told Ali everything that had happened to him. Ali decided it was time for him and Hassan to leave despite Baba's protests.As their car drove away, Amir thought,"I was sorry, but I didn't cry, and I didn't chase the car" (Hosseini 109).The history that these two families had together meant nothing to Amir if it allowed him to relieve himself of guilt. Eventually, amir realized what a big mistake he had made, yet will not get the chance to fix it.

  • General Daud killed

    General Daud is, "overthrown and killed in a pro-Soviet coup" (http://www.bbc.com/news/world-south-asia-12024253).

  • Soviet Army invades

    The Soviets invade Afghanistan and," props up communist government" (http://www.bbc.com/news/world-south-asia-12024253).

  • On the Run

    Baba thought it would be best to bring Amir to the U.S. due to the war in Afghanistan. Before they made it to America, their truck broke down and Amir hoped that it would be fixed, so that they could be," on their way to Peshawar. On to freedom. On to safety"(Hosseini 119).Leaving Afghanistan was dangerous, but so many people took the risk in order to find peace elsewhere. Amir and Baba endured struggles on their journey, but stayed positive to get to their destination.

  • America

    After fleeing Afghanistan, Amir and Baba finally reached freedom in Fremont, California. Amir thought," Baba loved the idea of America" with their cars and tv shows and politics, which fascinated him so much(Hosseini 125).The two men were introduced to a new lifestyle once they got into the States; it was so foreign from what they knew back home.Baba and Amir had never seen some the things in America, which Baba took a quick disliking to such as the food or lack of trees; he was homesick.

  • Sick Baba

    After Baba coughed up blood, Amir took him to a nearby hospital. After many tests and scans, Baba was diagnosed with cancer. When Baba asked for the prognosis, the doctor said,"Advanced. Inoperable"(Hosseini 156). even chemotherapy failed to overwhelm Amir with his father's chance of survival.Cancer made Baba weak physically and Amir weak mentally, for he was seeing the only person he loved slowly die. Amir was sad because he and Baba had never been close,and would never really get the chance.

  • Amir Gets Married

    Amir quickly fell in love with Soraya, a woman who worked at the flea market every week. Due to Baba's failing health, the two got married within a couple months. At the ceremony, Amir," whispered to her for the first time that [Amir] loved her"(Hosseini 171). Amir had grown up with a lack of women in his life so to finally marry one changed his life. Baba was so proud to see his boy find a girl before he passed; not knowing this would be the last thing baba would ever be proud of Amir for.

  • Baba is Gone

    Only after one month from his wedding, Amir lost the person he valued most in the world. After a dinner party, Amir and Soraya helped put Baba to bed, but he "never woke up"(Hosseini 173). At the funeral, Amir reminisced about old tales of his father, the man who wrestled bears. Baba was well-respected by all, but mostly his son who was awed at Baba's ability to raise a son on his own, and always looked at new ways to please his dad. Amir feared not having someone to guide him in life anymore.

  • No Baby for Amir and Soraya

    As time passed,Amir and his wife longed to have a child. Unfortunately,Soraya was unable to conceive the baby and," cried all the way home" when the doctor suggested adoption(Hosseini 186).In their family, they don't believe in adoption because the baby is not blood-related.General Taheri told Soraya that once the kid grows up it would want to find its real parents and leave. Both Amir and Soraya deeply longed for a child, especially Amir who hoped to have another family member in honor of Baba.

  • Soviets pull out troops

    "Afghanistan, USSR, the US and Pakistan sign peace accords" agreeing to pull out troops from Afghanistan soil (http://www.bbc.com/news/world-south-asia-12024253).

  • US launch missiles

    The United States launch," missile strikes at suspected bases of militant Osama bin Laden" when he was accused of bombing US embassies in Africa (http://www.bbc.com/news/world-south-asia-12024253).

  • Taliban gain control

    Taliban take control of Kabul where they," implement a strict interpretation of Islamic law" by banning women from work and enforcing harsh punishments such as stoning to death or amputation (http://www.infoplease.com/spot/taliban-time.html).

  • Amir Returns Home

    One day, a call from an old friend, Rahim Khan, regarding important news, causes Amir to return to Peshawar. Amir soon learns about Hassan and his life, family, his death. Amir also found out that Hassan had a son. "They named him Sohrab" after Hassan's favorite book(Hosseini 211). The boy was Hassan's greatest joy, but when Hassan was killed, Sohrab was sent to an orphanage. Rahim Khan asked Amir to go find the boy and keep him safe; after all, Sohrab was Amir's nephew.

  • Orphanage

    Amir goes to the orphanage where Rahim Khan said Sohrab was staying. Unfortunately, when Amir arrived, he finds out that Sohrab is gone. There is a Taliban official who takes kids every month in exchange for money, but Amir was too late because "he took Sohrab a month ago" (Hosseini 257). Now Amir is in search of the Taliban official in order to strike a deal and keep Sohrab safe. Rahim Kahn asked Amir as his dying last wish to bring Sohrab home, so that is what he will do.

  • Old Enemies

    Amir finally made an appointment to meet with the Taliban official. When the two of them met, Amir became a bit worried at the man's violent streak he saw only hours before in the stadium. Before long, the man recognized Amir and revealed himself as Assef, Amir's childhood enemy. Assef said to Amir," You have to earn him" (Hosseini 286). This meant that Amir had to fight for Sohrab. Assef wanted this last chance to take on Amir because he never got to punish him as kids.

  • 9/11 Payback

    United Sates and British forces lead an intense nigh bombing attack," hitting at the heart of the city of Kandahar" due to the Taliban bombing New York on 9/11 (http://www.911research.wtc7.net/post911/attacks/afghanistan/index.html).

  • Presidential Elections

    During the October/November Presidential elections," Hamid Karzai is declared winner" (http://www.bbc.com/news/world-south-asia-12024253).

  • Obama send more troops

    Obama boosts," troop numbers in Afghanistan by 30,000, bringing total to 100,000" declaring that these troops will withdraw by 2011 (http://www.bbc.com/news/world-south-asia-12024253).

  • Peace Partnership with India

    Afghanistan relations worsen with Pakistan after series of attacks, resulting in," Afghanistan and India sign a strategic partnership to expand co-operation in security and development" (http://www.bbc.com/news/world-south-asia-12024253).

  • Taliban seize Kunduz

    The Taliban take control over Kunduz for a short period of time which is," their most significant advance since being forced from power in 2001" (http://www.bbc.com/news/world-south-asia-12024253).

  • Troops remain until further notice

    "US President Barack Obama says 8,400 US troops will remain in Afghanistan into 2017" due to the slight security situation (http://www.bbc.com/news/world-south-asia-12024253).

  • Peace Treaty with Hezb-e-Islami

    A peace treaty between the Afghan government and a group called Hezb-e-Islami," grants immunity to the group's leader Gulbuddin Hekmatyar" (http://www.bbc.com/news/world-south-asia-12024253).