-
Baba builds a orphanage
Baba showed his strong morals through many things, one being the fact that he, "decided to build an orphanage'"(13). Baba shows his care for all people with this act of kindness. This event gives us an importat look on Baba's character -
Amir discovers his dream
Amir enjoys reading to Hassan. One day, he is reading to Hassan and he wanted to play a joke on him so he starts making up the story. After Amir is done with the story, Hassan exclaims, "That was the best story you've read me in a long time" (23). This event is very important because this brings up the possibility of him becoming a writer. This moment helps Amir formulate his dream of being a writer -
Hassan loses his harelip
Hassan recieves an unusual birthday present from Baba, Amir relfects, "he had just been born with that...harelip," (46). Baba unusual present was fixing Hassan's lip. This showed his affection for Hassan. -
Amir wins the kite fight
Amir just cut the final kite, he says, "Then I saw Baba on our roof. He was standing on the edge, pumping both of his fists. Hollering and clapping. And that right there was the single greatest moment of my twelve years of life, seeing Baba on that roof, proud of me at last" (55). After years of trying to get Baba to be proud of him this is the moment where he finally achieves it. This is a seems like an improvement but it proves to be superficial. -
Hassan is raped
Amir is remembers that terrible day. He remembers watching Assef and how, "he kept one hand on Hassan's back and undid his own belt buckle with his free hand"(75). Assef does horrible things to Hassan. This is important because this event is what pushes Amir's need to atone. He spends the rest of his time in the book making up for the worst crime, just standing by. -
Amir asks for different servants
Amir and Baba were planting tulips in the garden when Amir asks, "Baba, have you ever thought about getting new servants?"(89). Amir can no longer face seeing what he did to Hassan. Him asking this could suggest that he doesn't believe that he is worthy of being Hassan's friend anymore. -
Communist coup
Amir and Hassan are sitting in the living room when, "The earth shook a little and we heard the rat a tat tat of gunfire"(28). This is the beginning of the end for Amir and Afghanistan. Amir is witnessing the first sights and sounds of what his home will become -
Soviet Invasion
Soviets invaded Afghanistan after a coup, "the first Soviet troops parachuted into Kabul on Dec. 27, 1979,"(New York Times 2). -
Rahim Kahn goes Hazarajat
When Rahim Kahn and Amir finally reunite hel tells him of what he has done these past years Khan says, "I went to Hazarajat to find Hassan in 1986,"(203). At this point Hassan becomes real again to Amir and not just a memory. This also gives Amir relief that Hassan survived the Russian invasion. -
Soviets leave Afghanistan
Following contructive peace talks with the UN, "the last Soviet troops left Afghanistan in February 1989,"(New York times 2) -
Sanaubar returns
Hassan has grown up without his mother his entire life. However she returns after Hassan has had his own child, Rahim Kahn says, "none of us had seen Sanaubar since... 1965,"(210). This brings much leave to Amir, knowing that Hassan's life got better. This also gives Hassan great closure knowing that his mother really did I care. -
Pakistan support Taliban
The Taliban struggled to get on top, luckily "as early as 1994 Pakistan began funneling arms, money and supplies,(New York Times), to the Taliban. -
Destabilization
After Soviets left the stability of Afghanistan fully collapsed, "Afghanistan descended into a vicious internecine strife,(New York Times). -
The start of the Taliban
Mullah Omar begins to form a fighting group he "had nearlly 12,000 followers and was rolling up the warlords in the north and east,"(New York Times). -
Taliban seize control
Many warlords fought for power and control of Afghanistan eventually "the Taliban by 1996 had taken control of Afghanistan,"(New York Times). -
Hassan is murdered
Rahim Khan tells Amir the heartbreaking news, he says, "and shot him in the back of the head,"(219). This news devastates Amir, his chance to attone is gone. Amir will greatly miss his close friend. -
Amir goes to Pakistan
Amir recieves a call from Rahim Khan and turns pale, he tells Soraya, "Rahim Khan is very sick,"(190). When Amir gets this call he decides he needs to go to Pakistan. This is his last connection to his old life in Kabul and feels he needs to return, -
Amir rescues Sohrab
Amir and Assef are having a meeting, Amir reveals his true intentions for being there, Amir says, "All I want is the boy,"(284). Amir realizes how much danger he is in, but he still inists that Sohrab must come with him. This is also Assef's chance to hurt Amir. -
Amir sees kabul
Farid and Amir are driving to Kabul, which Amir hasn't seen since his childhood, he describes it in two words, "rubbles and beggars,"(244). Amir is greatly shocked by this drastic change. Amir can't believe that this happened to his home. -
Sohrab tries to kill himself
Amir gets some great new about bringing Sohrab to the US but when he goes to tell him he discovers that Sohrab tried to commit suicide, he saw it in his head, "Sohrab...raised the blade and brought it down,"(350). This creates a huge shift in the book, things finally look up but the boy he trying to save takes his own life. This is a devastating blow to Amir who thought things were finally going well. -
9/11
Terrosists attack the World Trade Center in New York, leading Bush to give the Taliban a demand "to hand over Mr. bin Laden,"(New York Times). -
Changing Power
After the attacks Hamid Karzai "exiled the former king of Afghanistan,"(New York Times). -
Sohrab smiles
Amir and Sohrab are fighting kites in San francisco and Sohrab does something suprising, "it was only a smile,"(371). This is how the book ends, a glimmer of hope. One sign that after all this loss things might be okay. -
New President
Mr. Karzai does his best to re-stabilize the country, "he took office as interim president,"(New York Times). -
Control of US forces in Afghanistan
The US needed on man focused of afghanistan full time, "[Obama] put Gen. David H. Petraeus... in command,"(New York Times).