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Soviet Alliance
"[Afghanistan and Soviet] become close allies" after they agree to help fight against Pakistan (PBS). -
Afghan Communist Party
"The Afghan Communist Party secretly forms" against Daoud's principles (PBS). -
Daud Khan Overthrows the King
"Khan’s regime, the People’s Democratic Party of Afghanistan, comes to power" after defeating the previous king (PBS). -
TKR Assef's Threat
Assef told Hassan and Amir "I'm a very patient person", right after Hassan stood up for Amir. Assef's threat seems empty at the time, even though it will come back to take a considerable bite out of both Hassan and Amir. Most foreshadowing in The Kite Runner is just like this one as they seem insignificant when they come up, but are very important later on. -
TKR Monarchy is a Thing of the Past
"Daoud Khan had ended the king's forty year reign" while the king was away. It took many people a while to realize that Afghanistan was becoming a Republic. Since the country used to be run by a king, as a Monarchy, becoming a Republic overnight was bound to create problems -
Rights for Women
Khan continues his campaign by "grant[ing] women rights" (PBS). -
TKR Trauma for everyone
After winning the kite running competition, Amir found Hassan with Assef in a dead end alley, Assef had "positioned himself behind Hassan", and raped him. This caused obvious trauma for Hassan, but it also caused trauma in Amir, as he feels like he could have done something. -
TKR Stolen?
Amir "lifted Hassan's mattress and planted [his] new watch and a handful of Afghani bills under it" because he wanted to make it seem as if Hassan had stolen from him (104). Amir did this because he wanted to remove his source of guilt from him life; Hassan. Amir was absurdly selfish to do this as not only did he lie, he messed up Hassan and Ali's lives -
Nur Mohammad Taraki Takes Control
"The guerrilla movement Mujahadeen is created to battle the Soviet-backed government" after a disorganized armed revolt (PBS). -
TKR Baba and Amir's Escape
Baba and Amir were being smuggled from "Kabul just after two in the morning", and Amir was carsick (110). Baba decided that Afghanistan was unsafe for them, so he uprooted himself, and got them onto a smuggling truck. This shows that Baba cares more for his and Amir's safety than their wealth. -
TKR Settling Down in America
Amir and "Baba loved the idea of America", but struggled to thrive there (125). Baba didn't like how people were not trusting of him, as he was used to being well respected. Amir truly did love America. He was able to say that he was a writer without getting weird looks from people. -
TKR Graduation
"tossing [his] mortarboard on the football field that day", Amir felt relieved, but he didn't feel as much relief as Baba. Baba feared that his son would drop out of high school so that he could become a full-time writer. This irrational fear shows how cultures are different from one another. -
TKR Marriage
Baba told Amir over the phone that "the general accepted" his request to marry Soraya (163). Amir had to ask his dad to ask Soraya's dad, the general, if he could marry Soraya. This overcomplication comes with culture and was most likely included to show cultural differences. -
TKR Inevitable Death
Just one month after Amir's wedding, Baba went to bed, and "never woke up" (173). Baba's death came at the appropriate time, Baba got to see his son complete the three biggest achievements in life through his eyes, graduation, marriage, and success. It was also a good time for Amir, as he had already accepted that Baba was going to die soon. -
Help From the Outside
As the war rages on, "The Mujahadeen are receiving arms from the United States, Britain, and China via Pakistan" (PBS). -
TKR Visit Back Home
When Amir looked back on his life, he said, "I went to Hazarajat to find Hassan in 1986" (203). Amir wanted to look for his childhood best friend, Hassan, not only because he was looking for forgiveness, but he was lonely. He said it himself, he was lonely and he felt detached from the people in his life. -
Peace?
"The U.S., Pakistan, Afghanistan, and the Soviet Union sign peace accords in Geneva guaranteeing Afghan independence and the withdrawal of 100,000 Soviet troops", causing a false sense of security in the United State's people (PBS). -
Taliban's Rise to Power
"The United States refuses to recognize the authority of the Taliban", as the States feel that the Taliban do more bad than good (PBS). -
Missile Attacks
President Bill Clinton orders air attacks on training camps, but "the attacks miss the Saudi" (PBS). -
TKR Visiting the Impostor
Amir decided to visit Rahim Khan, and when he arrived "a thing made of skin and bones pretending to be Rahim Khan opened the door" (197). When Amir sat down to talk with Rahim Khan, he revealed that Hassan was Amir's half brother, Hassan was dead, and that Hassan had a son who was now in an orphanage, and needed a way to get to his forever home. There was not actually a forever home for Sohrab, but Khan knew that Amir would adopt him once he realized that fact. -
TKR Sohrab's Savior
After Amir fought Assef, "[Sohrab and Amir] made it outside, into daylight, [his] arm around Sohrab" (291). At this point, the reader understands that since Amir was willing to fight for Sohrab, he will most likely adopt him. Amir may not have realized it at the time, but fighting Assef for Sohrab almost guaranteed the fact that he was going to adopt Sohrab in the end. -
TKR Sohrab's Suicide Attempt
Amir remembers Sohrab's face when he first saw him in the bathroom tub, "his eyes, still half-open but lifeless" (349). Sohrab attempted suicide after Amir told him that he might have to go back to an orphanage for a bit. Sohrab was so traumatized because of his past, the tiniest thing was able to push him over the edge. -
TKR Soraya and Sohrab Meet
Soraya was "smiling at Sohrab, her eyes tearing over a little" when she first met her adopted son (358). Soraya did not know it then, but Sohrab would not be a very active and loving child, no matter what she did. This relationship signifies Amir as Sohrab and Soraya as Amir's conscience, as Amir ignored his own guilt for so long. -
TKR Sohrab's Simple Smile
After Amir and Sohrab ran a kite together, Amir "looked down at Sohrab. One corner of his mouth has curled up just so. A smile (370). A smile may not seem like much to someone else but it was the most emotion Sohrab had shown in a year. His lopsided smile leaves the reader hopeful that he will become a more happy-go-lucky kid. -
9/11
The whole world was shocked when "Hijackers commandeer four commercial airplanes and crash[ed] them" into buildings full of people (PBS).
