-
Baba Builds an Orphanage
Even though people doubted Baba, he decided to build an orphanage and succeeded, "and everyone shook their heads in awe of his triumphant ways" (Hosseini 13). This quote extends the point that Baba is brave and doesn't listen to the people who tell him he can't build an orphanage, because he built one anyway. Even though it took years to build the orphanage, he proved everyone wrong. -
Amir and Hassan win the kite flying compeition
Amir and Hassan win the kite flying contest in their neighborhood, with Amir hoping to win Baba's approval. After hours of playing in this competition, Amir and Hassan finally won and they were, "screaming, and everything was color and sound, everything was alive and good. I was throwing my free arm around Hassan and we were hopping up and down" (Hosseini 66). This quote extends the point of how important the kite competition is to them. Amir is now relieved that he had won the competition. -
Khan makes new laws
As the new ruler, Khan proposes, "a new constitution that grants women rights and works to modernize the largely communist state" (Admin 1). He also kicks those who didn't support him out of the government. -
Hassan Gets Raped
Hassan showed his loyalty to Amir when he got raped my Assef trying to save Amir's kite. Amir, "ran because [he] was a coward. [He] was afraid of Assef and what he would do to [him]" (Hosseini 77). This quote expresses how Amir was too afraid of Assef to step up and help Hassan in this situation. He left Hassan to be raped, showing no loyalty to their friendship, as Hassan always has. -
Hassan and Ali separate from Amir and Baba
After the rape, Amir and Hassan started to separate because of what happened. Amir feels guilty about not helping him when he could so, "for a week, [he] barely saw Hassan" (Hosseini 80). They both tend to avoid talking about the rape and just not talk at all. Later in the chapter, Amir takes out his anger at Hassan by throwing fruit at him on the top of the hill. This shows how much guilt is being build up in Amir and he doesn't know how to deal with the traumatic experience. -
Amir's big 13th birthday party
Baba throws a huge party for Amir's 13th birthday, inviting over 400 people and he receives many gifts. When Amir looks at the attendance list of who is coming and he doesn't recognize over half the people's names, he, "realized they weren't really coming for me. It was my birthday, but I knew who the real star of the show was" (Hosseini 94). They took days to set up all the decorations for the party, but Amir thinks Baba is just throwing the huge party to show off to others. -
General Daud and Khan are killed
In the pro-soviet group, General Daud was overthrown and killed. This is remarkable because, "Gen Daud was one of the most prominent power brokers in northern Afghanistan and a significant figure in the country’s recent history" (Farmer). Khan is also killed, and Mohammad Taraki takes over Afghanistan as president. After he takes over, he is taking his independence from Soviet influence, and he also signs a peace treaty with the Soviet Union. -
Soviet Army invades and Adolph Dubs is killed
Because of the death of Adolph Dubs, the United States is terminating their support to Afghanistan. Taraki is killed on September 14th. In December, the Soviet Army, "Invades and props up communist government" (Admin 1). Babrak Karmal becomes prime minister, and violence and riots start to appear. -
Russian forces start to invade Afghanistan
Baba tries to stand up for a woman, but soon gets threatened to be shot by a Russian guard. For a week they stay in a basement with other refugees with harsh conditions and people fear the Russians when one, "soldier shouted something that made the other two flinch" (Hosseini 114). This quote expresses how the people are living in fear of the Russians who just started to take control. This is the start of a decline in Kabul from what it used to be, with the community making big changes. -
Baba and Amir flee to Fremont
Baba and Amir now live in Fremont, California and Baba works in a gas station, trying to fit in with a whole new environment. Amir thinks that, "America was a place to bury my memories. For Baba, a place to mourn his" (Hosseini 129). This quote expresses how Baba and Amir are trying to adapt to the new setting together and go through big changes together, but they are in America for two different reasons. Amir wants to clearly forget about what had happened, but Baba still wants to mourn. -
Afghans fleeing the country
2.8 million Afghans fled from the war to Pakistan, and 1.5 million fled to Iran. While in tough times, "Afghan guerrillas gain control of rural areas, and Soviet troops hold urban areas" (Admin 1). -
Amir graduates high school
Amir graduates high school at the age of 20, and he finally gets some approval from Baba like he wanted when he won the kite competition. They celebrate and Baba, "took me to a bar across the street from the restaurant" and gives Amir an old beat up Ford car. (Hosseini 132). Baba and Amir grow a stronger relationship as they spend more time together in America. He shows his appreciation and love for Amir by celebrating and passing down an old car, which is the best he can get in his situation. -
Amir and Soroya get married
Amir gets married to Soroya in a very short amount of time and the general is, "'honored to welcome the son of a man such as yourself into our family"' (Hosseini 168). Their two families are joined as they accept each other and spend over 35,000 in preparation for the wedding. Amir and Soroya have a very short engagement time, as the wanted to get married sooner then later. -
Baba is diagnosed with cancer and dies
Baba is diagnosed with lung cancer, but keeps working and tries to ignore it. Baba soon passes away and, "now he was gone. Baba couldn't show me the way anymore; I'd have to find it on my own" (Hosseini 174). Amir was frightened by this that now he has to survive and live on him own without Baba by his side. Baba was well liked by many people, as they came into their house saying their final goodbyes and thank you's to Baba. -
Amir publishes his first book
Amir gets his first novel published as he always wanted to since he was young when Baba told him that he couldn't do such a thing for a living. Amir is starting to succeed as a writer as, "we used the advance for my second novel and placed a down payment" (Hosseini 188). Amir uses his money to buy a house for his family in SF.Publishing this novel is a step for Amir in growing as an adult because he is doing something that he actually wants to do and not because he wants to get Baba's approval. -
The war continues between the Soviets and Islams
The al-Qaida, "continue their jihad, or holy war, against the Soviets and other who they say oppose their goal of a pure nation governed by Islam" (Admin 1).The Soviets soon win the first battle and now focus on America. -
Signing Peace
The U.S., Pakistan, Afghanistan, and the Soviet Union all, "sign peace accords in Geneva guaranteeing Afghan independence and the withdrawal of 100,000 Soviet troops" (Admin 1). Mujahideen has repentance towards the new president, Dr. Mohammad Najibullah. -
Hassan's son is born
Hassan's son, Sohrab is born, which Amir is now taking care of. Before Hassan died, he would, "take Sohrab to the zoo to see Marjan the lion, or to the cinema" (Hosseini 212). This reveals that Hassan didn't forget about Amir, as he would take Sohrab to do all the things Amir liked to do when he was a child, such as going to the movies or the zoo. Now that Hassan is dead, Sohrab reminds Amir of him and all the memories they had together. -
Start of Civil War and form of a new state
The United States offered protection toward Najibulla, but their, "government toppled, but a devastating civil war follows" (CBS 1). The Mujahideen form a large Islamic state with someone named Burhannudin Rabbani as their president. -
The Talaban rise and take control
The Talaban, "rises to power on promises of peace" but they take over Kabul and enforce harsh and unfair laws, targeting women and limiting their freedom (Admin 1). -
Hassan and Farzana are killed by the Taliban
Rahim Khan breaks the news to Amir about how he found Hassan. After Hassan protested a second time they, "'they took him to the street... and shot him in the back of the head''' (Hosseini 219). Hassan's death is incredibly important and relevant to the story in many ways, such as tying the main themes of the story together; political injustices and friendship. Amir was highly affected by the news and possibly had a character growth after maturing when he learned from his mistakes. -
Sohrab almost dies
Amir finds Sohrab bleeding and unconscious in the bathtub, and immediately rushes him to the emergency room. Because Sohrab was such an important character is Amir's life, when he found him in the tub he, "was on my knees, screaming. Screaming through my clenched teeth. Screaming until I thought my throat would rip out of my chest and explode" (Hosseini 343). Amir was most likely feeling guilty, angry, and emotionally stressed at this time. He may of thought he let Hassan down. -
Terrorist Attack in New York
Terrorists take control and, "hijackers commandeer four commercial airplanes and crash them into the World Trade Center Towers in New York, the Pentagon outside Washington, D.C., and a Pennsylvania field, killing thousands" (Admin 1). -
U.S. and British forces Fight Back
The U.S. and the British launch airstrikes against main suspects in Afghanistan. After weeks were spent fighting with Taliban troops, the Northern Alliance enters Kabul and the retreating Taliban flee southward toward Kandahar. After many, "days later, U.S. officials say bin Laden, the Saudi exile believed to be hiding in Afghanistan, is the prime suspect in the attack" (Admin 1). -
Amir flies a kite with Sohrab
In resemblance to the first chapter where Hassan and Amir are flying kites, Amir gets a kite for Sohrab and, "tested the string Hassan and I used to, by holding it in between my thumb and forefinger and pulling it" (Hosseini 366). This resembles how Amir and Hassan always used to fly kites together, and now Amir is teaching Sohrab to. This quote also expresses how Amir will always remember Hassan and how loyal he was to him. -
Period: to
Afghanistan History 1975-today