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Sanubar Leaves
Hassan's mother, Sanubar, was well-known around Kabul before and even after she left. She was a "beautiful but notoriously unscrupulous woman who lived up to her dishonorable reputation" (Hosseini 8). Sanubar was a woman frowned upon for her seduction. Her being labeled as dishonorable show specific gender roles set for women, one being that they should remain modest and save themselves for their husbands. -
Gunfire in Kabul
At the time Zahir Shah was overthrown, Amir and Hassan were young. Amir can remember "Ali... [taking] me and Hassan in his arms, told us not to be afraid, that they were just shooting ducks" (Hosseini 365). Here, Ali is not only a father figure to Hassan, but to Amir as well, making up for Baba's absentness. Baba may not want to comfort Amir as it is not what is to be expected of him as a boy, showing further gender stereotypes. -
Hassan's harelip surgery
Amir is looking back on his time with Hassan, noting that Baba never forgot Hassan's birthday. One year, Hassan is given an unusual present, that being a plastic surgery to which at the end he responds, "'Tashakor.' Thank you" (Hosseini 46). Baba never missing Hassan's birthday show how important Hassan was to Baba, as he was his secret child. This large gift shows to what means Baba was willing to go to show how much Hassan meant to him while staying inconspicuous. -
Amir Wins the Kite Fighting Competition
Amir wins the annual kite fighting competition with Hassan by his side. He looks towards Baba and sees him "standing on the edge [of our roof], pumping both of his fists. Hollering and clapping...that was the single greatest moment of my twelve years...seeing Baba...proud at last" (Hosseini 66). Amir craves his father's appreciation and love. By winning the kite competition, he finally achieves this. -
Hassan is Raped
Just after winning the kite competition, Hassan goes to run the blue kite and is cornered into an ally by Assef and his friends. Amir sees what is happening and watches as "Assef knelt behind Hassan, put his hands on Hassan's hips and lifted his bare buttocks" (Hosseini 75). This is the start of Amir's guilt and his journey for redemption. Here, Amir feels that achieving Baba's proudness is more important then helping Hassan. -
Amir's 13th Birthday Party
At Amir's birthday party, he receives a gift from Assef. He was shocked when he saw that he had gotten "a biography of Hitler" (Hosseini 97). Assef supporting Hitler and giving the book as a gift shows how crazy Assef is and the control he has over his parents, who allowed him to buy the book. It also shows us his thoughts on social heiarchy, treating Hazaras as Hitler treated Jewish people. -
Ali and Hassan Leave
Hassan and Ali decide to leave Kabul after Amir's party. Amir feels guilty for what he had done, thinking, "I was sorry, but I didn't cry and I didn't chase the car. I watched Baba's car pull away from the curb, taking with it the person whose first spoken word had been my name" (Hosseini 109). This is Amir's attempt to relieve his guilty feelings without actually atoning for what happened to Hassan. This shows that Amir is running away from his problems and not solving them. -
First Soviet Troops Arrive
On December 27, the first Soviet troops arrived to "assist Babrak Karmal, who had become president in a coup within the Afghan Communist leadership" (The New York Times) -
Baba and Amir Begin to Sell Items at the Flea Market
Since Baba and Amir moved to America,they would and they partake in the Flea Market to make money. Every Saturday, "Baba woke [Amir] up at dawn...[They would] stop at garage sales and bought knickknacks that people no longer wanted...early Sunday mornings, we drove to the San Jose flea market off Berryessa" (Hosseini 137). Amir and Baba show the life of immigrants in the U.S. and how they live their lives. Selling things at the flea market show how difficult it can be to make ends meet. -
Rahim Khan Goes to Hazarajat
Rahim Khan traveled to Hazarajat for many reasons, the main one being that he "was lonely...[He] barely knew anyone in Kabul anymore, the city where [he] had lived [his] entire life." (Hosseini 203). Rahim Khan illustrates the effects war has taken on Kabul, stating that people he had known his entire life in Kabul had left. This shows the dangerous and disastrous conditions left behind. -
Last Soviet Troops Leave Afghanistan
After talks about peace with the United Nations, "the last Soviet troops left Afghanistan...in what was in effect a unilateral withdrawal" (The New York Times). -
Sanubar Arrives in Kabul
During the summer of 1990, "a woman covered in a sky blue burqa knocked on the front gates...[Saying,] 'I have walked long and far to see if you are as beautiful in the flesh as you are in my dreams. And you are. Even more'"(Hosseini 210). Sanubar returns to Kabul to see Hassan, having regretted her decision to leave when Hassan was born. This shows the importance of family, and how older, single women with no family are frowned upon. -
Taliban Seizes Control of Government
The Taliban was an "extremist Islamic group that seized control in 1996 after years of civil war" (The New York Times). -
Taliban Provides Haven
The Taliban provides a safe haven for "Mr. bin Laden...[after arriving] by chartered jet at Jalalabad Airport" (The New York Times). -
Hassan and Faranza are killed
Once Amir returns to Kabul, Rahim Khan informs him that Hassan had been killed, saying, "'So they took him to the street-' 'No,'...'-and order him to kneel-'...'-and shot him in the back of the head'" (Hosseini 219). Amir's protests throughout the quote show how upset he is, and that he regrets not being able to atone sooner. Here, he also decides that the only way to do good by Hassan and to finally atone is to take care of Hassan's son, Sohrab. -
Hamid Karzai Named Chairman of Interim Government
After the Taliban was defeated, Hamid Kazari "the exiled former king of Afghanistan, was named chairman of interim government" (The New York Times). -
Amir and Sohrab Arrive in America
Soraya's want for a child is shown in the way she treats Sohrab, when she says "'Salaam, Sohrab jan, I'm your Khala Soraya. We've all been waiting for you.' Looking at her smiling at Sohrab, her eyes tearing over a little." (Hosseini 358). In Afgan culture, being a woman and having a child and family is extremely important. Soraya is unable to have children, and hopes that Sohrab will be able to fufill this dream. -
9/11 Attacks by Al Qaeda
The U.S. became militarily involved in Afghanistan after Al Qaeda "led an invasion after the Sept. 11 attacks" (The New York Times). -
Taliban Continues Attacks
Regardless of their defeat in 2001, "the Taliban continued to wage guerrilla warfare from a base in the mountainous and largely lawless tribal area on the Pakistan-Afghanistan border" (The New York Times). -
Sohrab Smiles
Sohrab starts to show happiness since being in America during a kite competition when he and Amir cut the final kite. He shows this when "One corner of his mouth had curled up just so. A smile. Lopsided." (Hosseini 370). This shows the tole that losing his family has taken on Sohrab, but how feeling connected to Hassan's childhood makes him happy. It shows how his happiness in kite fighting makes Amir happy, as Amir has finally atoned. -
Amir is beaten up by Assef
In order for Amir to take Sohrab, he must handle Assef. Amir starts to laugh while getting beat up to which Assef replies, "'WHAT'S SO FUNNY?'...What was so funny was that, for the first time since the winter of 1975, I felt at peace." Amir is finally able to atone for what happened to Hassan by getting beaten up by Hassan's rapist. Amir feels that he finally got what he deserved, and has atoned for his sins. -
Sohrab Tries to Commit Suicide
After being betrayed by Amir, Sohrab attempts Suicide. Amir steps into the bathroom and was suddenly "screaming...they said [he] was still screaming when the ambulance arrived" (Hosseini 343). Amir is worried that the last part of Hassan will die after attempting suicide. He feels that he might not atone and that he has failed Rahim Khan and Hassan for letting Sohrab try to kill himself. -
Hamid Karzai Elected As President
Hamid Karzai was elected president, hoping to "secure peace for Afghanistan and win the country much-needed international aid" (The New York Times). -
West Point Presidential Speech
President Obama's speech announced plans to "deploy 30,000 additional troops" (The New York Times). -
Obama Administration Wants to Bring Home Afghan Soldiers
The Obama Administration originally wanted to bring home forces in July of 2014, but "changed its tone to increasingly emphasize the idea that the United States will have forces in the country until at least the end of 2014" (The New York Times).