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Amir is Born
Amir is born "one year" (Hosseini 6) before Hassan. He is born to Baba and Sofia Akrami, but Sofia dies while giving birth to Amir. It is due to this that Amir feels a desire to impress Baba and atone for what he did as he was birthed. This desire for atonement caused Amir to not stand up for Hassan while he was being raped to keep the kite to show Baba. -
Hassan is Born
Amir says that "Hassan was born in the winter of 1964" (Hosseini 6) in a small shack. Sanaubar abandons Hassan to join a traveling band of entertainers. Everyone thinks that Hassan was Ali and Sanaubar's child, but Ali was actually sterile and Baba was the real father. When Rahim Khan reveals to Amir that Hassan was really Amir's half-brother concieed by Baba and Sanaubar, Amir felt a deeper connection to Hassan. This motivated Amir to rescue Hassan's son, Sohrab. -
Baba builds an Orphanage
Without any architectural experience, "Baba decided to build an orphanage" (Hosseini 13) and succeeded, despite others thinking that the plan would fail due to his lack of experience. This demonstrates that Baba is a very stubborn and smart man. His possesion of those qualities are why everyone, especially Amir, looks up to Baba. -
Amir writes his first short story
Amir wrote a short story that contained "irony." (Hosseini 32) Rahim Khan and Hassan both enjoyed the story. Rahim Khan's and Hassan's encouragement eventually inspired Amir to become a novelist. Ironically enough, Amir's life story is full of irony, like when he recieved an injury similar to Hassan's cleft lip after his fight with Assef. -
Hassan is raped by Assef
"Assef knelt behind Hassan" (Hosseini 75) and raped Hassan in the alleyway. Out of fear, Amir abandoned Hassan while he was being raped. This event makes Amir wonder if his attempts to impress Baba are worth having his friend suffer. -
Amir's 13th Birthday
Baba threw a large party with "four hundred" (Hosseini 94) people for Amir on his birthday. Baba threw such a massive party because Amir impressed Baba enough at the kite tournament. Though it was meant to be a happy event, Amir could only think about his guilt when he abandoned Hassan to be raped by Assef. -
Ali and Hassan leave Amir and Baba
Hassan and Ali leave, saying that they "can't live here anymore." (Hosseini 106) This is the final blow to Amir and Hassan's friendship. Amir originally considered winning the kite festival to be a means to make everything better, but ironically, the kite destroyed Baba and Amir's 40-year relationship and ended the brotherhood between Amir and Hassan. -
Soviet Invasion of Afghanistan
Soviet troops came to "assist Barak Karmal" ("Afghanistan" 1) and his communist coup. -
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The Soviet Union's War in Afghanistan
For a decade, the Soviet Union invades Afghanistan to replace "Hafizullah Amin... who had lost their trust." ("Afghanistan" 2) -
Baba and Amir arrive in Fremont, CA
When Baba "stepped off the Boeing from Peshawar" (Hosseini 129) he abandoned his fortunes, social standing, and company in Afghanistan to run from the Soviets that invaded his country. Baba and Amir in America are given a new life, starting from nothing. Baba has a second chance to live and Amir has a second chance to atone for his actions. -
Amir graduates High School and gets a new car
Amir "graduated high school at the age of twenty." (Hosseini 131) Baba gave Amir a new car as well. Though Amir is majoring in a subject that Baba does not necessarily agree with, Baba still gives Amir the car, symbolizing Amir's new independence as an adult. This is also Baba's way of telling Amir that Baba does love Amir, despite how Baba acted before. -
Amir marries Soraya Taheri
As Baba's condition worsens, Amir asks Baba to ask General Taheri to give Amir Soraya's hand, which Taheri accepts. "Baba spent $35,000" (Hosseini 169) on the wedding ceremony. Baba's final act of kindness demonstrates his love to Amir. This can be interpreted as Baba's own atonement for not being as loving to Amir in the past. -
Baba dies
After months of cancer, Baba went to bed one night and "never woke up." (Hosseini 173) Baba's death marked a new stage in Amir's life, where Amir is completely independent. Amir does not have a guide to help him through his troubles, as now he must guide himself. -
Soviet Troops Leave Afghanistan
The Soviet Union leaves Afghanistan after "peace talks moderated by the United Nations." ("Afghanistan" 2) -
Sanaubar returns to Hassan
When Sanaubar arrived at Baba's old house, she just "collapsed right there in the driveway." (Hosseini 209) Sanaubar abandoned Hassan at birth to join a traveling band of entertainers, but she returned to Hassan full of guilt and seeking redemption for abandoning Hassan. This moment demonstrates that Sanaubar and Amir are similar, redemption-seeking characters. -
Hassan and Farzana have a son
Though their first child was stillborn, "Sanaubar delivered Hassan's son" (Hosseini 211) and named the son Sohrab after a character from one of Amir and Hassan's favorite books. Because she delivered Hassan and abandoned him immediately, Sanaubar delivered Hassan's son and helped care for him as a means of atonement for what she did at first. Sanaubar soon died with her guilt and sins cleared. -
The Taliban is Formed
"Mullah Omar, a Pashtun who had lost an eye fighting the Soviets," ("Afghanistan" 2) forms a student movement called the Taliban. He attacks some warlords who had "raped a girl and shaved her head." ("Afghanistan" 2) -
The Taliban Grows
At this point, the Taliban is "12,000" ("Afghanistan" 2) strong. Pakistani agents supply it with munitions and military advisers. -
The Taliban takes over Afghanistan
The Taliban imposes "strict enforcement of fundamentalist Islamic law," ("Afghanistan" 3) on Afghanistan, banning Western culture and reducing rights for women. -
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Taliban Control of Afghanistan
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Osama bin Laden arrives in Afghanistan
Bin Laden and Al Qaeda are welcomed by the Taliban, who chartered a "jet" ("Afghanistan" 3) for them to arrive in Afghanistan. -
Hassan and Faraza are killed
The Taliban "shot him [Hassan] in the back of the head." (Hosseini 219) six months before Amir met with Rahim Khan. Once Amir learned of it, he felt as if he would be forever be guilty unless he rescued Sohrab. This shows that Amir is not heartless like Assef, but knows that he must atone for his sins. -
Amir visits Rahim Khan in Pakistan
When Rahim Khan told Amir to "come [to Pakistan], because there is a way to be good again," (Hosseini 192) Although he initially refused to retrieve Sohrab from Kabul, he agreed eventually because he was overburdened by guilt. This illustrates that Amir is willing to atone for his actions. It also highlights how much Amir has matured in 20 years; Amir would be way too scared to do such work years ago, but now he has learned that righteousness is more important than his safety. -
Amir and Sohrab return to America
Amir "arrived home... in August 2001" (Hosseini 357) with Sohrab. Sohrab seemed to be Amir's solution to all his problems. Amir's guilt over his cruelty to Hassan was fixed when he saved Hassan's son from abuse by the Taliban. Amir and Soraya's inability to raise a child was solved when they adopted Sohrab. -
Al Qaeda attacks America
The "World Trade Center in New York" ("Afghanistan" 3) and Pentagon are attacked by Al Qaeda. "George W. Bush gave the Taliban an ultimatum to hand over Mr. bin Laden," ("Afghanistan" 3) and the Taliban refused. Thus began the War on Terror. -
Hamid Karzai is leader of Afghanistan
Karzai was a "supporter and relative of Mohammad Zahir Shah, the exiled former king of Afghanistan" ("Afghanistan" 3) so he was placed as the chairman of a temporary governing body of Afghanistan. -
Karzai Becomes President of Afghanistan
Karzai is elected to a "five-year term in 2004." ("Afghanistan 3) His popularity "steadily plunged" in the years to come.