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Baba is born
"In 1933, the year Baba was born and the year Zahir Shah began his forty-year reign of Afghanistan, two brothers, young men from a wealthy and reputable family in Kabul, got behind the wheel of their father's Ford roadster" (Hosseini 24). This event is important because it shows the birth of the person that gave birth to the main character. Baba is important in the story such as helping Amir and helping other people as well. -
Hassan is born
"It was there, in that little shack, that Hassan was born in the winter of 1964, just one year after my mother died giving birth to me" (Hosseini 6). This event shows the birth of Hassan and Hassan is important because he helps Amir develop early on. Hassan is also Amir's half brother which also makes Hassan very important in Amir's life. -
Hassan's surgery
"Then his lips twisted, and, that time, I knew just what he was doing. He was smiling. Just as he had, emerging from his mother's womb" (Hosseini 47). This surgery is important to Hassan because his lips can look normal and he is very happy about it. It is maybe also the reason Hassan had found a wife in the first place. -
Hassan gets raped
"Assef knelt behind Hassan, put his hands on Hassan's hips and lifted his bare buttock" (Hosseini 75). This affected both Amir and Hassan because it causes them to part ways. This also caused Hassan and Ali to move away because of the rape and Hassan was Amir's half brother which affected Baba too. -
Kite Competition
"Usually, each neighborhood held its own competition. But that year, the tournament was going to be held in my neighborhood, Wazir Akbar Khan..." (Hosseini 55). Amir and Hassan is going to participate in the kite tournament. They won a kite which also is one of the reasons that led to Hassan's rape. -
Amir's Birthday
"I turned thirteen that summer of 1976..." (Hosseini 93). Baba throws a birthday party for Amir. This shows that Baba cares for Amir and invites a lot of friends and cousins over. -
The Soviet First Invasion
New York Times states, "The first Soviet troops parachuted into Kabul on Dec. 27, 1979, to assist Babrak Karmal, who had become president in a coup within the Afghan Communist leadership" (New York Times). -
Russians Invade
"No grim-faced Russian soldiers patrolling the sidewalks, no tanks rolling up and down the streets of my city, their turrets swiveling like accusing fingers..." (Hosseini 113). Amir and Baba had to move to San Francisco because of the Russian invasion which leads them away from his home country. This affect Amir because he is now living in a new country and area. -
Amir graduates high school
"That summer of 1983, I graduated from high school at the age of twenty..." (Hosseini 133). Amir graduate high school and plans to further his learning and go to college. Baba gifts Amir a Ford for graduating. -
Soraya and Amir gets married
"'I'm happy you came. It means ... the world to me'" (Hosseini 161). Amir and Soraya are about to get married and it shows that they love and care for each other. Soraya plays a role in the Kite runner as well and also cares for Amir. -
Baba dies
"Baba never woke up" (Hosseini 173). Baba had just died after not taking his medicine because he didn't feel any pain. Baba is important in Amir's life because he had taught him many things and also paid for Amir and Soraya's wedding. -
Soviet Troops Leaves
New York Times states, "Eventually. 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" (The New York Times). -
Sohrab is born
"It was Sanaubar who delivered Hassan's son that winter of 1990" (Hosseini 211). This event is important because it shows the birth of Sohrab. Sohrab is important because he can atone for Hassan by helping him raise his kid. -
Mullah Omar
New York Times states, "By the end of 1994 Mullah Omar had nearly 12,000 followers and was rolling up the warlords to the north and east. With his promise of restoring the centrality of Islam to daily life" (New York Times). -
Control over Afghanistan
New York Times states, "Buoyed by Pakistani aid, the Taliban by 1996 had taken control of Afghanistan, imposing strict enforcement of fundamentalist Islamic law, banning movies and music and forcing women out of school and into all-enveloping burqa clothing" (New York Times). -
Hassan and Farzana dies
"He struck her so hard she fell down. He was screaming at her and cursing and saying the Ministry of Vice and virtue does not allow women to speak loudly" (Hosseini 216). This shows the leading events of the death of Hassan and Farzana. This causes Sohrab to go to an orphanage and Amir has to decide if he wants to atone for Hassan or not. -
Amir gets call from Rahm Khan
"I wish you could see Sohrab. He is a good boy. Rahm Khan and I have taught him to read and write so he does not grow up stupid..." (Hosseini 216-217). At this moment Amir is reading the letter from Rahm Khan and realizes that Sohrab doesn't have parents. Amir decides to help save Sohrab because he wanted to atone for Hassan. -
Karzai Defeat
New York Times states, "Despite their defeat in 2001, the Taliban continued to wage a guerrilla warfare from a base in the mountainous and largely lawless tribal area on the Pakistan-Afghanistan border" (New York Times). -
Attack on World Trade Center
New York Times states, "After the attack on the World Trade Center in New York on Sept. 11, 2001, President George W.Bush gave the Taliban an ultimatum to hand over Mr. bin Laden" (New York Times). -
The Karzal Government
New York Times states, "In December 2001, Hamid Karzai, 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 making him the leader of the country" (New York Times). -
Soraya and Hassan flies kite
"'Do you want me to run that kite for you?'" (Hosseini 371). Amir and Soraya fly a kite together to conclude the book. This shows how much Amir appreciates Soraya being in his life. -
Sohrab smiles for first time
"I looked down at Sohrab. One corner of his mouth had curled up just so. A smile" (Hosseini 391). At this moment Sohrab smiles which shows that he is accepting and trusting Amir. This is important because Sohrab finally gets a home and Amir atones for Hassan. -
Karzai Election
New York Times states, "He took office as interim president in June 2002, saying he hoped to secure peace for Afghanistan and win the country much-needed international aid" (New York Times). -
General Petraeus
New York Times states, "General Petraeus, the Iraq commander who received much of the credit for the success of the surge there, had taken charge of United States Central Command in October 2008, with responsibility for military operations in Iraq, Afghanistan and across the region" (New York Times). -
Speech at West Point
New York Times states, "In a speech delivered Dec. 1, 2009, at West Point, Mr. Obama announced his plan to deploy 30,000 additional troops" (New York Times).