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The first Soviet troops parachuted into Kabul
To assist Babrak Kamal, who had become president in a coup within the Afghan Communist leadership, "the first Solviet groups parachuted into Kabul on Dec. 26, 1929"(The New York Times). -
Amir is born, his mother Sofia Akrami passes away
When Amir is talking about his mother he thinks of how Hassan's mother gave birth to him and nothing went wrong," While my mother hemorrhaged to death during childbirth"(Hosseini 6). This quote shows that Amir thinks he was the cause of his mother's death and if he hadn't been born his mother would still be alive. This leads to Amir not having a strong relationship with his Baba. In addition, Hassan had more of a father-son relationship with Baba than Amir ever did. -
Hassan is born
When Amir talks about Hassan and his mother he mentions that "Hassan lost his [mother] less than a week after he was born"(Hosseini 6). This quote shows that both Amir and Hassan lacked a mother figure. In addition, although they both did not have a mother figure, Hassan had two father figures since both Ali and baba acted as a father figure towards him. -
Amir wins the kite running competition. On the same day Hassan gets raped.
After the kite flying competition that Amir won, Assef brought Hassan into an alley and told him to give them Amir's kite. When Hassan refused, Assef raped him and Amir saw this yet he ran away. After Hassan came home " he had the blue kite in his hands and that was the first thing [Amir] saw"(Hosseini). This quote shows that the only thing Amir cared about at the moment was getting the kite to baba so he can finally be proud of Amir and forgive him for killing his mother. -
The Soviet Union invades Afghanistan
In 1979, the soviet troups invaded Afganistan and since than, "officially the Islamic republic of Afghanistan has known little peace since 1979, when the Soviet Union invaded"(The New York Times). -
Hassan gets raped
As Amir runs away from Hassan getting raped Amir tells himself that, "Hassan was the price I had to pay, the lamb I had to sacrifice"(Hosseini 76). This quote shows that Amir was willing to sacrifice his friendship with Hassan in order to regain baba's trust and love. In addition, instead of helping Hassan, Amir ran away so he could get the kite to baba and be forgiven. -
The Russians invade Kabul, Baba and Amir leave for America
While Baba and Amir are fleeing Kabul, Amir states "it was a pretty lucrative business then, driving people out of Shorawi-occupied Kabul to the relative safety of Pakistan"(Hosseini 111). Here, it is shown that since the Shorawi took over Kabul, many people drove out of Kabul to go to Pakistan, where it is safe. In addition, not only did Amir and Baba leave Kabul behind after the russians invaded it, but they left their lifestyle and culture behind as well. -
Amir graduates High school
When Amir graduated he states, "That summer of 1983, I graduated high school at the age of twenty, by far the oldest senior tossing his motarboard on the football field that day"(Hosseini 131). This quote shows that, even as an immigrant Amir was graduate high school in America. Additionally, although he came from a foreign country Amir studied hard and at age 20 he achieved his goal of graduating from high school. -
The Afghans fight back
Even though many Afghans went to foriegn countrys many guerilla fighters stayed behind "to form [alliances] angainst soviet troops"(BBC News). -
Amir and Soraya get married
When Baba is asking for Amir to have Soraya's hand in marriage he states, "Amir jan is my only son...my only child, and he has been a good son to me. I hope he proves... worthy of your kindness. I ask that you honor Amir jan and me...and accept my son into your family"(Hosseini 168). In this quote, Baba is asking Soraya's family to accept him and Amir as a family. However, while stating that Amir is his only son, Baba lies and is not telling the entire truth. -
Baba dies of lung cancer
Soraya helps Baba go to bed and asks him about his pain, Baba states, "not today [Baba] said. 'There is so pain tonight.' 'Okay', [Soraya] said. She pulled up his blanket. We closed the door. Baba never woke up"(Hosseini 173). This quote shows that Baba knew that he was going to die and this is shown when he tells Soraya that has no pain. Also, even though baba knew he was going to die, he did not say good bye to Amir or Soraya and instead he told them that he had no pain. -
Soviet troops leave Afghanistan
The Soviet troops eventually leave Afghanistan and withdrawled,n "Eventually, after peaks talks moderated by the United Nations, the last Soviet troops left Afghanistan in February 1989, in what was in effect a unilateral withdrawl "(The New York Times). -
Hasan's son, Sohrab is born
When Rahim Khan is telling Amir about Hassan's son he mentions, "they named Sohrab after Hassan's favorite hero"(Hosseini 211). This quote shows that Amir is just learning about Hassan's son and Rahim Khan is telling him about Sohrab because Hassan was killed by the Taliban and Sohrab is in an orphanage. Additionally, Rahim Khan tells Amir about Sohrab so Amir can make sure that Sohrab has a good life, and by doing so Amir would be able to atone for not helping Hassan in the alley. -
Mullah Omar gains followers
The taliban were starting to take over and "by the end of 1994 Mullah Omar had nearly 120,000 followers and was rolling uo the warlords to the noth and east"(The New York Times). -
Power in Afghanistan gets divided
After the Soviet forces left,"Afghanistan descended into vicious internecine strife; by the summer of 1994, power was anarchically divided among competing warlords and individual fiefdoms"(The New York Times). -
The Taliban take control of Afghanistan
The New York Times states, "buoyed by Pakistani aid, the Taliban by 1996 have taken control of Afghanistan, imposing strict inforcement of fundamentalist Islamic law, banning movies and music and forcing women out of schools and into all-enveloping burqa clothing"(The New York times). -
Hassan and his wife are killed by the Taliban
When Rahim Khan is explaining to Amir how Hassan died he states, "They told Hassan they would be moving in to supposedly keep it safe until I return. Hassan protested again. So they took him to the street- 'No' [Hassan] breathed.-and ordered him to kneel- 'No. God, no.'-and shot him in the back of the head"(Hosseini 219)."This quote shows that by hearing how Hassan died, Amir relives his guilt of what he did to Hassan. Also, Amir is still guilty for not helping Hassan in the alley. -
Invasion by Al Quaeda
According to The New York times, "The United States has been militarily involved in Afghanistan since 2001, when it led into an invasion after the Sept. 11 attacks by Al Qaeda"(The New York Times). -
Sohrab tries commiting suicide
Amir was about to tell Sohrab that he would not be put in an orphanage and they would be able to go to America together but then "[Amir] pushed the door open. Stepped into the bathroom. Suddenly I was on my knees, screaming. Screaming through my clenched teeth. Screaming until I thought my throat would rip..."(Hosseini 343). In this quote, Amir went into the bathroom to tell Sohrab that he would not be going to the orphanage but when Amir went to tel Sohrab the news, he was too late. -
The United States join forces with rebel groups
When President George W. Bush gave the Taliban an ultimatum to Mr. bin Laden. and " when it refused, the United States joined forces with rebel groups that never accepted Taliban rule, Notably the northern alliance, which represented minority tribes"(The New York Times). -
Amir learns that Hassan was his half-brother
When Rahim Khan tells Amir that Hassan is his half-brother, Amir believes that baba stole " from me the right to know I had a brother, from Hassan his identity, and from Ali his honor"(Hosseini 225). This quote shows that Amir's faith in Baba is detroyed. Also, Amir starts believeing that everything Baba has told him ws a lie and he no longer has the same trust in baba that he has years ago. -
Amir finds out that Hassan is his half brother
Rahim Khan tells Amir that Hassan was his half brother and Amir asks, "did Hassan know? I said through lips that didn't feel like my own. Rahim Kahn closed his eyes. Shook his head"(Hosseini 222). This quote shows that Rahim Khan and Baba were keeping a big secret from Amir of Hassan which was that they were half-brothers. Additionally, Hassan died before he could find out that Hassan was actually his half-brother. -
Hamid Karzai is named chairman
The New York Times states that "In December 2001, Hamid Karzai, a supporter and relative of Mohammed Zahir Shah, the exiled former king of Afghanistan, was named chairman of an interim government that replaced the defeated Taliban, making him the leader of the country"(The New York Times). -
Amir and Sohrab fly a kite
When Amir and Sohrab were flying a kite Amir says, "do you want me to run that kite for you? His Adam's apple rose and fell as he swallowed. The wind lifted his hair. I thought I saw him nod. 'For you, a thousand times over,' I heard myself say" (Hosseini 371). This quote shows that Amir was finally able to atone for his wrongs by managing to give Sohrab the life he deserves. Also, he managed to make Sohrab happy the same way he used to make Hassan happy which was flying a kite. -
Sohrab smiles for the first time
Amir has always tried his best to make Sohrab happy and satisfied. Amir takes Sohrab kite flying, one of his attempts to make Sohrab happy and "[Amir] looked down at Sohrab. One corner of his mouth had curled up just so. A smile. Lopsided"(Hosseini 370). This quote illustrates that even if it was just a smile, Amir was able to finally satisfy Sohrab. Additionally, he was able to make Sohrab happy by the smallest thing which was flying a kite, which gave Amir hope for the future.