-
Hassan fixes his cleft lip
Hassan's cleft lip was unable to be fixed due to his class but Baba gets him, "a plastic surgeon" (Hosseini 45) for Hassan's birthday. Here Hassan gets rid of a symbol of his status and Baba expresses great compassion. Hassan is a Hazara who are supposed servants of Baba and Amir. So Baba buying this for Hassan is incredible generosity or has a second meaning as the book foreshadows. -
Amir writes his first short story
From a early age his love of literature through his story which was described as a, "story with sound and grammar and interesting style" (Hosseini 32). He grows up with this literature surrounding his goal in life to be a successful writer. This demonstrates what his educational goal is in life but also is a part of his life that he spends trying to get Baba to love. This important subject in his life is something he spends his whole life trying to get Baba to share in and be proud of. -
Period: to
Grace Shin Kite runner
-
Amir wins kite tournament
Kite flying was a huge Afghanistan tradition and Amir had won. This signified a big turning point in his relationship with Baba as he, "[saw] Baba on that roof. Proud of [him] at last" (Hosseini 67). Amir had finally done something worthy of Baba's respect. This demonstrates what Baba values and that Amir had to accomplish specific things important to Baba in order to gain the love he always wished for. -
Hassan gets raped by Assef
Amir watched as Assef, "dropped his underwear [and] positioned himself behind Hassan" (Hosseini 75). Amir stood by and watched, not helping his friend and loyal servant as he was tortured. This event is significant because the whole book revolves around the guilt and atonement Amir has and does. He committed a terrible act of betrayal which scars his whole life. -
Ali and Hassan leave Baba's house
Hassan and Ali had to leave because, "life [there was] impossible for [them]" (Hosseini 106). Amir's actions and attempts to create an unbearable situation for Hassan works and Baba and Amir's life long "family" are forced to leave. Here, Hassan and Ali leave which demonstrates a huge loss for the protagonists. They lose each other and chances of atonement. -
Soviet troops in Kabul
These troops are thought to be sent in to, "replace Hafizullah Amin, the Afghan leader, who had lost their trust," (New York Times). They were sent to help Babrak Karma. -
Amir and Baba flee to Pakistan
Amir and Baba were forced, "out of Shorawi-occupied Kabul to the relative safety of Pakistan" (Hosseini 111). The Shorawi had made Kabul unsafe and started to destroy the country. This is part of their transition to a new life. This signifies an important part in Baba and Amir's life as they have no choice but to leave their hometown to a whole new place. -
Amir and Baba live in California
After, they moved to America and for Baba, "living in America gave him an ulcer" (Hosseini 125). Baba had a hard time adjusting to the culture of America while Amir saw it as a whole new life. The culture of America is very untrusting and new so Baba takes it personally and does not understand it. However, Amir sees this as a chance to start over but realizes that the past always stays with him. -
Amir gets married and becomes a successful writer
Amir had, "gotten married ... and [had] four published novels" (Hosseini 198). Amir had evolved from a young adult who relied on his father for advice to a husband and a successful writer. He finally completed his goals in life and for most people has a comfortable and satisfying life. However, even with all this joy he is not able to enjoy it completely due to his overwhelming not atoned business with Hassan. -
Baba dies
Baba suffered from cancer and one day, "Baba never woke up" (Hosseini 173). Finally, after a courageous life, Baba got defeated by cancer and was not able to fight back. Amir lost his role model and now had to fully transition into adulthood by being forced to take care of himself. This is an important event since it marks the end of one of the most important characters in the book. -
Last Soviet troops left Afghanistan
After staying in the country for a 9 year war, the United Nations peace talked them out however leaving, "behind a country that was not only devastated by war but that had become a beacon to Islamic extremists," (The New York Times 2). -
Pakistan helps Omar
Taliban had a greater chance of thriving when, "Pakistani intelligence officers began funneling arms, money and supplies" (NYT 3) to Omar's men and followers. -
Afghanistan is divided
The Soviet forces left their mark in Afghanistan as it, "descended into vicious internecine strife" (NYT 4). This means that Afghanistan was divided into many parts that all had power over each other and themselves until it didn't. -
Taliban took control
The Taliban is a movement of purification for the country but was put into effect and, "[imposed] strict enforcement of fundamentalist Islamic law," (New York Times 3). -
Hassan dies
Hassan was a Hazara who are prejudiced greatly; a Taliban official accused him of trespassing and, "shot him in the head" (Hosseini 219). Before, Amir had a chance to redeem himself by apologizing to Hassan but now, Hassan is gone and chance of that is slim. Hassan is one of the main characters in the book and the reason Amir spends his life with so much regret. Therefore since he is now dead, Amir must create a new way to atone for his mistakes. -
9/11 attacks
Al Qaeda attacked the,"World Trade Center in New York" (NYT 4). They crashed multiple planes and infuriated Americans -
Amir learns about his half brother and his life
Amir visits his old friend Rahim Khan and learns some disturbing news as he learns that Baba was not only his father but also Hassan's. He recieves this information as Rahim Kahn tells him that he, "know's who" (Hosseini 222). Amir finds a new connection to Hassan as they share the same blood making his sins toward him even more severe. This final piece of information convinces him and puts him on the road to seek atonement -
Amir gets beat up by Assef
Assef was sexually abusing Sohrab, Hassan's son, and Amir stepped in the middle and tole him that he, "want[s] the boy" (Hosseini 285). However, Assef uses this to beat Amir till he and Sohrav barely escape and he is gravely injured. Before Amir had not stepped in and defended Hassan against Assef. But, now, with Sohrab he courageously took a beating in order to redeem his actions. -
Amir decides to bring Sohrab to America
Hassan left behind his son Sohrab in an orphanage with insufficient resources. Amir decides to adopt Sohrab and bring him to America with him; he asks him if he,"would like to come live in America with [him] and [his] wife" (Hosseini 360). Here, Amir believes he is atoning for his sins toward Hassan by saving the last piece of him on earth. This demonstrates Amir's need for redemption and his morals as he commits himself to doing the right thing even though he failed before. -
Amir breaks Sohrab's trust
Amir vowed that Sohrab would never go to and orphanage but complications in the adoption make it hard to keep; this causes Amir to find Sohrab's, "left arm dangling over the side of the tub,[and] the blood soaked razor" (Hosseini 347). This action causes a state of depression in Sohrab even though he eventually gets adopted by Amir. This marks the horror that Sohrab has went through in his life and how desperately he needs saving. -
President Bush responds to 9/11 attacks
Bush ordered them to turn in the leader, Osama bin Laden but as they refused an alliance of America and other countries was made that, "drove the Taliban out of the major Afghan cities by the end of the year" (NYT 3). -
Hamid Karzai is country's ruler
He, "took office as interim president" (NYT 3) and was liked by many including the White House. -
Amir and Sohrab fly kites together
For such a long time, Amir sees no sign of happiness or improvement in Sohrab but as soon as they started to fly kites he finally saw a small and slight, "smile" (Hosseini 370). Kite flying was a connecting love between Amir and Hassan and now this stimulates happiness in Sohrab. The one word gives hope for a happy ending and brings the story back full circle. -
Obama vowed to fight
Obama gave a speech about, "his plan to deploy 30,000 additional troops" (NYT 4) and his promise to bring forces back to America basically creating a timeframe for the war. -
Obama administration expects forces in the country after 2014
The 2011 deadline would not be met so, "the Obama administration 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" (NYT 4).