-
Amir and Hassan's First Words
In the opening of the book, Amir remembers his and Hassan's first words, "Mine was Baba. His was Amir. My name" (Hosseini 11). Just like the beginning of any young child's life Amir and Hassan both say their first words, under the same roof, normally expressing who they care for the most. Though the difference here is the names the boys say happen to be the person they long for attention and to please the most, as well as who they would sacrifice themselves for later on life. -
"Stealing is the Worst Sin"
At the picnic, Baba tells Amir that "when you tell a lie, you steal someone's right to the truth ... there is no act more wretched than stealing, Amir" (Hosseini 18). From a young age, Baba has taught Amir that stealing is the worst possible sin, but Amir discovers later Baba has lied about Hassan's relationship to Amir, not just friends, they are half-brothers. Baba lied to Amir, stealing Amir and Hassan's right to the truth, which creates irony because he violates his own rule. -
Start of True Friendship
When Amir and Hassan were around 8 and 9 years of age they "used one of Ali's kitchen knives to carve our names on [the pomegranate tree]: 'Amir and Hassan, the sultans of Kabul'" (Hosseini 27). Carving their names into the tree meant the official start of their friendship, with their names carved into the tree to prove how dedicated they were to one another. The growth of the tree shows the development of their friendship, holding all of their cherished memories at the sacred site. -
Hassan's Rape and Amir's Decision
After finally pleasing Baba by winning the kite, Amir witnesses Assef rape Hassan thinking, "I could step into that alley, stand up for Hassan ... and accept whatever happens to me. Or I could run" and in "the end I ran" (Hosseini 77). At this moment Amir has to choose to protect Hassan, who constantly looks after him, or wait for the kite to please Baba. In a panic, Amir chooses to flee and get the kite to earn his appreciation, even though he sacrificed their friendship completely. -
Ali and Hassan Leave Baba and Amir
During a meeting between Ali, Hassan, Amir, & Baba, Ali announces that "Life here is impossible for us now, Agha sahib. We are leaving" (Hosseini 106). In the statement Amir discovers that Hassan told Ali about the rape, how Amir said nothing and why he was sacred, causing Ali to say this place is no longer safe for them to live. Essentially, this is the beginning of the feelings for Amir's guilt and atonement that will cost him much pain and suffering throughout the rest of his life. -
Pomegranate Tree Fight
At the pomegranate tree, they sit peacefully until Amir throws pomegranates at Hassan telling him to "Get up! Hit me!" (Hosseini 92) but when Amir thinks Hassan will finally hit him he "opened it and crushed it on his own forehead" (Hosseini 93). This point is one of the few times the boys have spoken since the rape of Hassan, though Amir wants Hassan's forgiveness, only to have him hit himself. This fight signified the end to their long friendship, only because Hassan would always protect Amir. -
Soviet Invasion
Afghanistan has seen minimal peace since "the first troops parachuted into Kabul on Dec. 27, 1979" (New York Times) to assist the president of the Afghan Communist leadership, Babrak Karmal. -
Amir and Baba Flee Afghanistan
The Russian troops invade Afghanistan, so Baba and Amir decided it's best to find someone to "[drive] people out of Shorawi-occupied Kabul to the relative safety of Pakistan" (Hosseini 111). At this point in their lives, Amir and Baba can no longer live in their hometown because it is too dangerous to survive. They are forced to leave everyone and everything behind, traveling only with the clothes on their back to find a new, safer life. -
Amir and Baba Arrive in America
Finally, after fleeing Afghanistan, the two men arrive in America, where, "For [Amir], America was a place to bury my memories. For Baba, a place to mourn his" (Hosseini 129). Fleeing to America was Amir's way to escape his memories and regrets and for Baba to remember the good ones. America provides the men with an opportunity for them to start over and begin a new life with new memories to charish. -
Amir and Soraya get Married
At the wedding day, Baba makes a speech asking "that you honor Amir jan and me ... and accept my son into your family" (Hosseini 168). Through his speech Baba implies that soon he will die, leaving Amir within need of a family and someone to love and support him, causing him to ask Amir's step parents to take him in. Now Amir will follow under his step father's guidance as if it was his owns, leading him through the rest of his life under their wing. -
Baba Dies
After Baba peacefully dies in his sleep, Amir realized that "Baba couldn't show me the way anymore; I'd have to find it on my own" (Hosseini 174). Baba guided Amir for his whole life, and now Amir is on his own to venture in his life. Up until he died, Baba controlled almost every action Amir made whether he was aware of that or not; now Amir will no longer constantly beg for Baba's appreciation and approval and he can focus on living his new and his own life. -
Soviet Air Force "rendered useless"
After many years of constant battling in 1986 the Soviet Air Force "rendered largely useless by advanced Stinger antiaircraft missiles" (New York Times) which were supplied by the US to use against the rebels. -
Soviet Troops Leave Afghanistan
As an attempted withdrawl after multiple peace talks recorded by the UN, "the last Soviet troops left Afghanistan in Feburary 1989" (New York Times). -
Afghanistan Divided
The country of Afghanistan expeirenced huge drawbacks from the Soviet Invasion in that "power was anarchically divided amoung competeting warlords and individual fiefdoms" (New York Times) by the summer of 1994. -
Mullah Omar Gains Power
After warloads raped and physical harmed a young woman, Mullah Omar was formed and by the end of 1994 "had nearly 12,000 followers and was rolling up the warlords to the north and east" (New York Times). -
Taliban Takes Control
With the assistance of Pakistani, Taliban took control of Afghanistan in 1996 by enforcing strict following of foundational Islamic laws by "banning movies and music and forcing women out of schools and into all-enveloping burqa clothing" (New York Times). -
Amir Goes Back to Pakistan
After 25 years of living in America, Amir finally returns to Pakistan when Rahim Khan calls to say, "Come. There is a way to be good again" (Hosseini 192). Rahim notifies Amir of his disease, how he will die soon, calling him to come to America not only for him but to be good again. Rahim implies that he knows about not speaking up during Hassan's rape, which is why when Hassan dies and ophans his child, he calls Amir, as another way of atonement for his wrongdoings. -
Assef beats Amir
When taking the beating from Assef to receive Sohrab, Amir breaks out into laughter feeling "healed at last" (Hosseini 289). Since witnessing the rape of Hassan, Amir has never felt at peace with himself but now by taking Assef's beating, Amir feels he finally gets what he deserves. Assef's beating to Amir is Amirs way of atonement, feeling in the same scenario as Hassan was, now taking what he deserves by protecting Sohrab as Hassan protected Amir. -
Revisiting the Pomegranate Tree
On his journey back to Afghanistan Amir visits his old home and finds that the "pomegranate tree hadn't borne fruits in years. Looking at the wilted, leafless tree, I doubted it ever would again" (Hosseini 264). Twenty-five years after Amir and Hassan fought under this very tree, Amir finally returns to see for himself and recall the memories. The tree is dead and wilted, never to bring fruits again, which relates to their friendship, how it is dead and can no longer be saved. -
Sohrab's Suicide Attempt
Crying out in the night, moments before attempting to commit suicide, Sohrab wails, "Please promise you won't! Oh God, Amir agha! Please promise you won't!" (Hosseini 342). After promising to take him to America, Amir betrays Sohrab when telling him he will be placed into an orphanage. Even the thought of the orphanage brings back the scaring memories and experices Sohrab had, causing him to feel that his life would no longer be worth living if he stepped foot in there again. -
Al Qaeda Attacks US on 9/11
Up until 2001, the United States was extremely militarily involved in Afghanistan, when it "led to an invasion after the Sept. 11 attack by Al Qaeda" (New York Times). -
Rise of Hamid Karzai
Hamid Karzai, supporter and relative of Mohammad Zahir Shah, the exiled former king of Afghanistan, was "named the chairman of an interim government that replaced the defeated Taliban, making him the leader of the country" (New York Times) in December 2001, taking office as president in 2002, and elected a five year term as president in 2004. -
Flying Kites and Running Kites Again
For the first time since 1975 Amir flies a kite with Sohrab, and when Sohrab asks for Amir to fetch the kite he replies with, "'For you a thousand times over'" (Hosseini 371). The final scene in the novel reminds the reader of a similar event that happened back with Amir and Hassan in 1975. Though instead of Hassan, Sohrab fills in, and even repeating the same quote Amir takes Hassan's place, finally feeling atoned. -
Taliban Forms Once Again
Despite their defeat in 2001, Taliban "regrouped and began to extend its influence in the southern part of Afghanistan" with their rise "assisted by opium trade, which helped to fill the group's coffers" (New York Times). -
Speech Announcing Troop Deployment to Afghanistan
To reassure the stability of the Middle-Eastern countries, President Obama announced in a speech "his plan to deploy 30,000 additional troops" (New York Times) on December 1, 2009, though they pushed the deadline until the end of 2014.