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History Of Afghanistan and the Kite Runner
When Amir first describes Baba he says "With me as the one glaring exception, my father molded the world around him to his liking" (15). This shows how Baba had status and when he and Amir moved to America he lost it and he didn't understand him anymore. So he didn't seek treatment with his cancer. -
Hassan gets raped by Assef
As Amir watches Assef threat Hassan he thinks "I opened my mouth, almost said something. Almost. The rest of my life might have turned out differently if I had. But I didn't" (73). Amir knows what will happen if he doesn't defend Hassan, but what he really cares about is Baba. Amir always thought Baba preferred Hassan over him he realizes that Hassan is just a hazara. He believes that he and Baba will grow closer with Hassan out of the picture. -
Soviet Union occupies Afganistan
Amir feels very guilty about not stopping Assef when he raped Hassan. Amir runs to Baba and thinks "And in his arms, I forgot what I did, and that was good" (79). This represents the heart wrenching guilt he feels. He can't completely make it go away, but he tries to for the sake of his sanity. -
Baba and Amir move to California
Baba has a hard time ajusting to America. Amir decribes this deliemma as "Bay area smog stung his eyes, the traffic noise gave him headaches, and the pollen made him cough. The fruit was never sweet enough, the water never clean enough..."(126). THis represents Baba struggle with leaving his status and life back in Afghanistan while Amir loves it. Amir feels as though America is his escape from his guilt. While for Baba it is an escape from he war torn home he has loved his whole life. -
Amir and Soraya get married.
Amir and Soraya's wedding was a life changing moment for him. He says "Soraya and I dressed in green -the color of Islam but also the color of spring and new beginnings" (170). This reiterates Amir's hope for a new life in America. He finds a wife and gets a happy ending he wanted. -
Baba dies
Shortly after he and Amir arrive in America Baba is diagnosed with Cancer. After his death Amir states "My whole life, I had been 'Baba's son'. Now he was gone. Baba couldn't show me the way anymore; I'd have to find it on my own"(174). Amir can't fathom the idea of being without a dad. His whole life it has been him Baba, Ali and Hassan. When Ali and Hassan where out of the picture, it was him and Baba without him, Amir feels alone... -
Amir publishes his first Novel
Amir publishes his first novel about ¨father-son story set in Kabul" this shows Amir's reflection of his life in Afghanistan and his relationship with his father is important to him. -
Soviet Union leaves Afghanistan
"And now, this woman, this mother, with her heartbreakingly eagar, crooked smile and barely veiled hope in her eyes. I cringed a little at the position of power I'd been granted, and all because I had won the genetic lottery that had determined my sex" (148-149). The idea of a genetic lottery and who wins it is represented in afghan culture. The woman are controlled by the men when they get married. They don't even get a say in if they want to marry the person. -
Taliban takeover
When Amir read Rahim Khan's letter it explains how Baba reacts to living with the secret it says "Sometimes I think everything, feeding the poor on the streets, building the orphanage, giving money to friends in need, it was all his way of redeeming himself"(302). Baba feels guilty like Amir does for keeping the secret of Hassan and Amir being brothers away from him. Baba is trying to escape his sins like Amir did. The apple doesn't fall far from the tree. -
Al Qaeda defeated
When Amir describes the Afghan tendency to over exaggerate he says "if someone bragged that his son was a doctor, chances were the kid once passed a biology test in high school" (12). This relates to the fact that Amir exaggerates his reasons for not stopping Hassan's rape. The fact that he is a Hazara doesn't matter enough for it to be a good reason that he didn't stop it. The real reason is much more selfish. He wanted Baba to himself. -
Amir goes to Pakistan
Amir's visit to Pakistan is life chnging. A letter from Hassan says "Amir agha, Alas the Afghanistan of our youth is long dead. Kindness is gone from the land and you cannot escape the killings. Always the killings. In Kabul, fear is everywhere, in the streets, in the stadium, in the markets, it is a part of our lives here, Amir agha. The savages who rule our watan don't care about human decency"(197). This represents the fall of stability in Afghanistan and everything Amir left behind. -
9/11 Attack
Amir and Soraya are completely traumatized by the 9/11 attack. He describes the situation as "Overnight the world changed" (362). It illuminates the 9/11 attack and how it effected Afghan-Americans causing panic and remembrance and fear. -
Obama's War
When Amir frames Hassan for stealing money and a watch as an attempt for Baba to let them go. He thinks "I wanted to tell them I was the snake in the grass, the monster in the lake. I wasn't worthy of this sacrifice" (105). This explains that Amir knows how to get atonement but he can't seem to admit anything which illuminates his greedy personality. -
Obama deployes 30,000 troops from Afganistan
Amir describes what Ali used to sing to Hassan. He sings "On a high mountain I stood, And cried the name of Ali, Lion of God. O Ali, Lion of God King of Men, Bring joy to our sorrowful hearts" (11). This represents what people see Baba especially Amir. He sees him as the Lion of God the savior the best of the best. -
Obama administration changes tone about Afganistan
In the beginning of the book Amir states "Hassan and I fed from the same breasts. We took our first steps on the same lawn in the same yard. And, under the same roof, we spoke our first words. Mine was Baba. His was Amir. My name" (11). This shows Amir and Hassan's relationship. Hassan was more loyal and invested than Amir who realized to early there difference in status.