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Amir Realizes His Love for Writing
When Amir was little, he used to read stories to his Hassan because he was illiterate. However, one day he decided to play a trick on Hassan and he, "abandoned the text altogether, taken over the story, and made up [his] own" (Hosseini 30). Amir tricked Hassan into thinking that he was reading the actual book while he was really making up a story. Hassan really liked the story Amir had told him, and this made Amir realize he wanted to be a writer. -
Hassan Runs for the Last Kite
After Amir had won the kite competition, Hassan ran to get the last kite that had been cut. However, he got stuck in an alleyway and was threatened to hand over the kite by his enemy Assef. Hassan was so loyal to Amir, he refused, but Assef, "Dropped his underwear. He positioned himself behind Hassan. Hassan didn't struggle." (Hosseini 75). Assef was so sour over not getting the last kite, he raped Hassan. Amir had witnessed this all, but chose to run away. This choice haunts him long afte -
Ali and Hassan Leave
Amir had planted a trap against Hassan to try and get Baba to fire Hassan and Ali because of his overwhelming guilt from witnessing Hassan's rape and running away. Baba forgives Hassan, but Ali shocks both Baba and Amir when he said, "'Life here is impossible for us now, Agha sahib. We're leaving'" (Hosseini 106). Hassan had told his dad about all that had happened and Ali decided it was best to leave. Little did Amir know that was the last time he would see both of them again. -
Soviet Invasion
Afghanistan was once a thriving country. However, chaos first erupted in the country when, "Soviet troops parachuted into Kabul" (Afghanistan-An Overview). -
Amir and Baba flee Afghanistan
Russian soldiers had raged war on Afghanistan and Baba and Amir knew it was time to leave. Amir was feeling very nostalgic and thought of, "the way [they'd] left [their] house where [he'd] lived for [his] entire life, as if [they] were going out for a bite" (Hosseini 112). Baba and Amir had to leave thier house discreetly to not raise any suspicions. This makes Amir very sad because it's his childhood house. He will never see it again. -
Baba and Amir arrive in California
Baba moved to flee the perils of the war, but he was far from comfortable afterwards. He faced many problems with his new living, some of which included, "[the] smog stung his eyes, he traphic gabe him headaches and the pollen made him cough. The fruit was never sweet enough, the waer never clean enough, and where were all the trees and open fields" (Hosseini 126). Baba struggled immensly with leaving Afghanistan. He has a lot of trouble adaping, but it brings him closer to Amir. -
Amir Goes to College
Amir had finished high school late because of the delay escaping the war had caused him. He eventually moved on to, "enroll in junior college classes" and major in creative writing (Hosseini 134). Amir had always loved to write and he aspired to be a writer. These classes led him to fulfill his dreams and he moved on to publish several novels. -
Baba and Amir Start Selling at Flee Markets
Baba and Amir had trouble making ends meet because they left all of their wealth behind in Afghanistan. To help aid this, Baba and Amir, "drove to the San Jose flea market off Berryessa, rented a spot, and sold junk for a small profit" (Hosseini 137). Baba and Amir continued to do this for a while and it became a hobby of thiers. This event is important because it brought them to make many connections with other people and it is where Amir meets his soon to be wife. -
Amir Gets Married
At the swap meet, Amir had met and fallen in love with Soraya. It was not long before they decided to get married. At the wedding, Amir connects with Soraya's family and promises, "your pain will be our pain, your joy our joy" (Hosseini 168). This was the beginning of a new chapter for Amir. He tries to bury his guilt in this new beginning, but he eventually has to face his past again to truly move on. -
Soviets Leave Afghanistan
Although there was no victor, by February 1989, "the last Soviet troops left Afghanistan" ("Afghanistan-An Overview). They had yet to know the chaos that woudl erupt from this unfinished war. -
Amir and Soraya Experience Infertility
A couple years after being married, Amir and Soraya try to have a baby. However, they sadly find that they are incapable of concieving a child of their own. They decide not to adopt for various reasons, but Amir's reasoning was one of guilt tha he felt, "perhaps something, someone, somewhere, had decided to deny [him] fatherhood for the things [he] had done" (Hosseini 188). Amir had never moved on from his past. He felt infertility was his punishment for not facing what he had done. -
Taliban Forms
After the departure of the Soviets, Afghanistan was divided into many different groups, but one group ended up gaining the most control. This group was the Taliban, "a student movement dedicated to purifuying the country" ('Afghanistan-An Overiew). -
Taliban Grows
Although the Taliban had many supporters, it still wasn't enough for the group to flourish. However, it continued to grow because "Pakistani intelligence officers began funneling arms, money and supplies" ("Afghanistan-An Overview"). -
Taliban Becomes Leading Group In Afghansitan
After the Soviets had invaded Afghanistan, the country was divided into many different groups, but one group, the Taliban had managed to, "[take] over Afghanistan" ("Afghanistan-An Overview"). -
Amir Goes to Pakistan to Visit Rahim Khan
Amir had gone to visit Rahim Khan in Pakistan because he was dying. He was surprised to find that when he arrived, "a thing made of skin and bones pretending to be Rahim Khan opened the door" (Hosseini 197). Rahim Khan had been broken down by the disease he was facing. This visit with Rahim Khan was very important because Rahim Khan had given him the opportunity to redeem himself by making him find Hassan's son Sohrab. -
Amir Meets Farid's Family
When Amir finally faces his guilt by going to Afghanistan to get Hassan's son, he finds many surprises along the way. One of which is when he met his driver Farid's family. When at their house, the thinks his sons are looking at his watch but, "they hadn't been staring at the watch at all. They had been staring at [his] food" (241). At this time, Amir starts to see the world outside of what he had known. This gives him a new perspecitve and it helps him develop his values and morals. -
Amir Fights Assef
While Amir is looking for Sohrab, Hassan's son, he finds out a Taliban had taken him. When meeting that Talib, he realizes it was his arch enemy Assef who had siezed the boy and would ask to fight him because they had, "some unfinished business" (Hosseini 286). Assef was still sour from the quarrels during childhood. However, now Amir didn't back down. This was the first time he ever showed real courage. -
Amir Asks Sohrab to Live with Him
After rescuing Sohrab from the Taliban, Amir makes one more courageous descision and asks Sohrab if he, "would like to live in America wih [him] and [his] wife." (Hosseini 320). Amir had never been fond of adopting, but this was one more act of love and courage for his old friend Hassan, to nurture and care for the boy because he had hurt Hassan so long ago. This sparked what seemed to be a new chapter for Amir, but more was yet to come. -
Sohrab Attempts to Commit Suicide
Amir had broken his promise to Sohrab that he would never send him back to another orphanage. This destroyed all hope Sohrab had. Later, Amir had found he didn't need to send Sohrab to an orphanage, but it was almost too late because when he, "stepped into the bathroom. Suddenly [he was on [his] knees screaming" (Hosseini 343). Sohrab had tried to commit suicide because he had given up all hope. Amir had not realized how big of an impact he had on the boy, but this opened his eyes. -
Nine Eleven Attack
The day of september eleventh seemed like any oridnary day, but its peace was crushed with a bang when terrorists, "attack[ed]...the World Trade Center" (Afghanistan-An Overview). This terrorism ultimately drove the US to join forces witht the rebels in Afghanistan. -
Baba Passes :(
Amir and Soraya knew that after thier wedding, Baba's cancer would only allow him to live a couple more months at the most. However, only a month after thier wedding Baba and Soraya put Baba to bed, but, "Baba never woke up" (Hosseini 173). Baba's passing made Amir feel like his past was completely behind him. He never expected to face his regrets again. However, later, he finds he has to reedeem himself from his unpunished sins. -
American Troops Go To Afghanistan
Ever since the shock of nine eleven, American troops have been, "militarily involved in Afghanistan" ("Afghanistan-An Overview"). -
Taliban No Longer is Dominant
By 2001, the US had succeeded in, "dislodging Al Queda and removing the Taliban from power, but not in eradicating either group" ("Afghanistan-An Overview"). -
Sohrab Smiles
It had been almost a year since Sohrab had spoken or shown any sign of emotion. However, on one day when Amir cut a kite when flying one of his kites like in the old kite competitions he used to compete in, "one corner of [Sohrab's] mouth had curled up just so' (Hosseini 370). This was the first time Sohrab had expressed emotion in months. This was a breath of fresh air for Amir as he had worried Sohrab would never be anything but numb. -
New Afghan Leader Emerges
By 2004, Hamid Karazi had emerged as "the leader of the country" ("Afghanistan-An Overview"). He hoped to return peace to the broken country, but he ultimately failed. -
Obama Starts Brining Troops Home
By 2011, President Obama thought it irrationa to keep our soldiers in Afghanistan any longer so he decided to, "deploy 30,000 additional troops" ("Afghanistan-An Overview")