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Amir and Hassan Hear Gunfire
Amir and Hassan were kept awake one night because of the sound of gunshots, and "they had frightened [them] badly, because none of [them] had ever heard gunshots in the streets" (36). This is a significant even, because it turns out to be the beginning of a new era in Afghanistan. More importantly, this event would change Amir and Hassan's lives forever, although they weren't aware of it. -
Hassan Stands up to Assef
When Assef tries to pick on Amir and Hassan, Hassan threatens him with his slingshot, as "His hand trembled with the strain of the pulled elastic band and beads of sweat had erupted on his brow" (42). Hassan took a big risk by standing up to someone of higher status than him just to protect Amir. This proves that Hassan would do anything for Amir, while Amir still isn't sure what Hassan is to him. -
Amir Wins the Kite Flying Tournament
When Amir knocks down his opponent's kite and wins the tournament, he was "throwing [his] free arm around Hassan and [they] were hopping up and down, both of [them] laughing, both of [them] weeping" (66). This was one of the most important days of Amir's life, because he would win the respect he craved from Baba after winning the tournament. However, this happy day would be tainted from what happens to Hassan after they rejoice. -
Hassan Gets Raped
After Assef and his friends corner Hassan, "Hassan lay with his chest pinned to the ground" (75) as Assef rapes him. Amir acts cowardly and runs from the scene, leaving Hassan to suffer a traumatizing event. The fact that Amir doesn't stand up for Hassan later generates a feeling of guilt that will follow Amir for the rest of his life. -
Ali and Hassan Leave Baba's House
After Ali tells Baba they are leaving, he says "Life here is impossible for us now, Agha sahib. We're leaving" (106). The feeling of guilt that Amir couldn't handle caused him to hide the money and watch, making Hassan and Ali decide to leave. Also, Baba's extreme sadness towards their decision foreshadows the fact that Hassan was his own son, and he had to suffer losing him. -
First Soviet troops invaded Kabul
Although Afghanistan used to be a prosperous country, "The turmoil and extremism that have dominated its history since then can be traced to the 1979 invasion by the Soviet Union..." (NYT). -
Baba and Amir Leave Kabul
As Baba and Amir were on their way to Jalalabad, "[Amir] thought of the way [they'd] left the house where [he'd] lived [his] entire life" (112). Having to flee Kabul because of the invasion of troops in their country began a new and uncertain journey for Baba and Amir. Leaving behind the place where he spent his childhood was significant for Amir, especially since he is leaving behind countless memories, but carrying with him lots of guilt and regret. -
Baba and Amir move to America
After moving to Fremont, Amir thinks to himself "For me, America was a place to bury my memories. For Baba, a place to mourn his" (129). Moving to America was a big step for Amir and Baba, and Amir saw it as a way to leave behind his past. However, moving to America also shifts the power from Baba to Amir since Baba is still hung up on his old way of life. -
Amir marries Soraya
When Amir and Soraya decided to get married, "Baba spent $35,000, nearly the balance of his life savings, on the awroussi, the wedding ceremony" (169). Even though Baba didn't have much time left to live, he was happier than ever to see his son get married. More importantly, this was an important event in Amir's life and it gave him a wife to rely on once Baba was gone. -
Baba Dies
As Amir thinks of all that Baba had done in his life, he thinks "In the end, a bear had come that he couldn't best. But even then, he had lost on his own terms" (174). Even though Baba and Amir had their differences, Baba was still someone that Amir had great respect for. Baba's death led Amir to come to terms with the fact that he would finally have to make a name for himself since he didn't live in Baba's shadow anymore. -
Last Soviet Troops left Afghanistan
According to the article, "Eventually, after peace talks moderated by the United Nations, the last Soviet troops left Afghanistan in February 1989, in what was in effect a unilateral withdrawal" (NYT). -
Taliban takes Control of Afghanistan
By this point, the Taliban was "imposing strict enforcement of fundamentalist Islamic law, banning movies and music and forcing women out of schools and into all-developing burqa clothing" (NYT). -
Osama Bin Laden Arrives
The NYT article says, "The Taliban also provided a haven for Mr. bin Laden, who arrived by chartered jet at Jalalabad Airport in May 1996, and for Al Quaeda" (NYT). -
Hassan Dies
When Rahim Khan describes to Amir what happens to Hassan, he says "Hassan protested again. So they took him to the street---and order him to kneel--and shot him in the back of the head" (219). The fact that Hassan died was extremely hard to process for Amir, especially after he had hopes of seeing him again. Hassan's death made Amir believe there was no way for him to ever apologize to Hassan for what happened when they were younger. -
Hamid Karzai Made New Leader
Karzai, a relative of the former kin, "was named chairman of an interim government that replaced the defeated Taliban, making him leader of the country" (NYT). -
Amir Goes to Afghanistan
After talking to Rahim, Amir realizes there is "A way to end the cycle. With a little boy. An orphan. Hassan's son. Somewhere in Kabul" (227). By risking his life to find Sohrab, the importance of atoning for the sins that Amir committed comes to light. This is significant because he finally works up the courage to decide against living with constant guilt, and instead take action and do something good. -
Sohrab Attempts Suicide
While waiting in the hospital, Amir remembers Sohrab's "eyes, still half open but lightless. That more than anything. [He] wants to forget the eyes" (348). Sohrab was ready to take his life at such a young age because of all the promises people had made to him but broken. Additionally, Sohrab almost dying serves as an awakening for Amir, who promises to become a practicing muslim as long as he doesn't have to live with the guilt of causing Sohrab's death. -
Amir Fights Assef
When Amir comes face to face with Assef many years later, Assef says "We have some unfinished business, you and I" (286). The fact that Amir unexpectedly meets this face of his childhood brings back painful memories after what Assef did to Hassan. Moreover, Amir knows he has to get through Assef in order to win Sohrab, even though it is painful for him. -
Amir brings Sohrab to America
After realizing he had no choice, Amir "brought Hassan's son from Afghanistan to America, lifting him from the certainty of turmoil and dropping him in a turmoil of uncertainty" (356). Amir wanted to give Sohrab a happy new life as a way to atone for what he did to Hassan. However, he knew that Sohrab only wanted his old life with his father back more than anything and that moving to America was only a silent surrender. -
Attack on World Trade Center
The article states, "After the attack on the World Trade Center in New York on Sept. 11, 2001, President George W. Bush gave the Taliban an ultimatum to hand over Mr. bin Laden" (NYT). -
End of the Taliban
After the United States invaded Afghanistan, "An air and ground campaign began that drove the Taliban out of the major Afghan cities by the end of the year" (NYT). -
Sohrab Smiles for the First Time
When Amir shows Sohrab how to fly a kite, he "looked down at Sohrab. One corner of his mouth had curled up just so. A smile" (370). This small but important moment came from something that had given Amir many happy memories during his youth - kite flying. More importantly, Sohrab smiling after so long gave Amir hope that things would turn out alright in the end. -
General Petraeus Put in Charge
Petraeus was the Iraq commander who "had taken charge of the United States Central Command in October, 2008, with responsibility for military operations in Iraq" (NYT). -
Obama Announces His Plan
According to the article, "In a speech delivered Dec. 1, 2009 at West Point, Mr. Obama announced his plan to deploy 30,000 additional troops. He vowed to start bringing American forces home from Afghanistan in the middle of 2011..." (NYT). -
General McChrystal is Removed
McChrystal, an expert in counterinsurgency warfare was removed by President Obama "after contemptuous quotes from the general and his staff about senior administration officials..." (NYT).