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Amir discovers his dream job of writing
Amir first decides to trick Hassan by pretending to read a story but actually learns he likes to create his own stories. Hassan mentions, "Best story you've read to me in a long time"(30). Later Amir writes his own story which is praised in a letter by Rahim Khan stating" It is something that some writers reach for their entire careers and never attain. You have achieved it with your first story"(33). Amir has a gift for writing and others think he has it too. This determines his entire future. -
Hassan get plastic surgery
For Hassan's birthday, Baba got him a plastic surgeon who's "Job is to fix things on people's bodies. Sometimes their faces"(45). Because we find out later that Baba was Hassan's father and cared for him, he was willing to pay a lot of money for Hassan. This contributes to Amir's jealousy which may have been the reason he never helped Hassan in the ally way or considered him a friend. -
Hassan is violated by Assef
After Amir wins the kite running tournament, Hassan is asked to retrieve the kite. Assef and his friends ask for the kite and when Hassan refused Assef said,"I'm letting your keep the kite, Hazara. I'll let you keep it so it will always remind you of what I'm about to do."(73). Amir runs away without helping. This event affects both Hassan and Amir because of the feelings of guilt Amir felt for not standing up causing Ali and his son to move out. Assef could have changed everyone's lives. -
Ali and Hassan leave
Amir had commented that summer about getting new servants which Baba responds to with anger. After Amir's birthday party, he plants a watch and money given to him under Hassan's mattress. Hassan claims he stole them being quickly forgiven by Baba. Ali decides to leave claiming,"Life is impossible for us now, Agha shaib.We're leaving"(106). The selfishness of Amir changes everyone's entire life because of this event. Ali's sacrifice for his son had showed he cares a lot for his son. -
The Soviet Union Invades Afghanistan
The Soviets had invaded Afghanistan "to assist Babrak Karmal, who had become president in a coup within the Afghan Communist leadership...most Western analysis say the Soviets engineered the coup as a pretest ot replace Haflizullah Amin, the Afghan leader, who had lost their trust"(NYT 2) -
Amir and Baba leave for America
When the war against the Soviet Union begins, Amir and Baba flee to America for safety. The journey to the U.S. was dangerous, there was a gas leak on the ride and Amir describes,"The air wasn't right, it was too thick, almost solid... You could die in a place like this"(121-122). Many people knew that if you wanted to be safe, you had to risk your life. Baba had risked his life for Amir's future showing how much he loved his son. The move also meant a loss of status for safety. -
Baba's graduation gift
When Amir graduated high school, Baba was very proud. After drinking at the bar, Baba surprises his son with a car saying, "You'll need it to go to college". This demonstrates how Baba has more respect for his son than when he was younger. They were poorer now so this was a grand gesture of how proud he was of his son. -
Baba asks the Taheris for Sorya's hand in marrige for Amir
Before Baba dies, Amir asks him for one last favor, the hand of Soraya. Amir asks, "Then wonder if you'll do something for me. If you're not too exhasted...I want you to ask General Taheri for his daughter's hand"(161). This shows Baba's love for his son, he wouldn't of asked the Taheris if Baba didn't want amir to be happy. This was one of Baba's final gestures to his son before he died, Baba wanted to make everything right for Amir to make up for his childhood.Shortly after, they get married. -
Baba dies
The Amir and Soraya's wedding was rushed because they wanted Baba to be there before he died. Baba who was prepared to die said, "There is no pain tonight" and never woke up the night after(173). Amir and Baba were on good terms and saw eachother as equals. Amir's life was changed forever because this was the first time in his life he had not been with his father. Baba's death also helped contributed to the marrige to Soraya and brought Amir and him closer. -
Rahim Khan goes to find Hassan
Rahim Khan was feeling very lonely caring for Baba's house alone so he went to retrieve Hassan to live in Kabul with him. At first Hassan and his family did not want to leave but after they found out Baba had died, "Hassan told me he and Farzana had decided to move to Kabul with me"(207). Hassan loved Baba so much, he wanted to change his life for him. Even though Baba still wasn't around anymore, he wanted to move. Hassan also didn't care about money because he didn't want to move at first. -
Amir publishes his first novel
Living in America and married, Amir publishes his first novel. He remembers his past and thinks of "Rahim Khan and the little note of support he had written me after he'd read my first story. And I thought of Hassan. 'Some day, Inshallah, you will be a great writer' he had said once"(183). The people in his past have made an impact and created who he is today. Without their encouragement no one knows what Amir would be doing. -
The Soviets leave Afghanistan
Once the Soviets left, "they left behinda country that was not only devestated by the war but that had become a beacon to Islamic extremist from across the globe who had come to assist in the fighting"(NYT 2) -
A Divided Country
After the Soviets left the"power was anarchally divided among competing warlords who and individual feifdoms"(NYT 2) -
Mullah Omar becoming popular
The author explains, " Mullah Omar had nearly 12,000 followers and was rolling up the warlords to the north and east. With his promise of restorunf the centrality of Islam to daily life, he created a genuinly popular movement in a country wear of corruption and brutality."(NYT 2) -
Taliban takes over
The author says,"Bouyed, by the Pakistan aid, the Taliban by 1996 had taken control of Afghanista, imposing strict enforcemnt of fundamentalist Islamic law"(NYT 3) -
Bin Laden getting wealthier
Bin Laden was getting liked, "The Taliban also provided a haven for Mr. Bin Laden, who arrived by chartered jet at Jalalabad Airpot in May 1996, and for Al Qaeda"(NYT 3) -
Hassan and his wife are killed by the Taliban
Soon after Rahim Khan left and Hassan and his family were living life in Baba's old house, Hassan was accused of stealing the house then "The Talibs said he was a liar and theif like all Hazaras and ordered his to get hid family out of the house by sundown Hassan protested...and shot him in the back of the head"(218-219). This is the event that changed Sohrab's and Amir's life because it brought them both together. This shows how ruthless and unfair the Taliban were to the citizens. -
Amir decides to go to Pakistan for Rahim Khan
Rahim Khan had contacted Amir to ask him to see him, just before Rahim Khan hung up he said, "Come. There is a way to be good again"(192). That comment was the comment that persuaded Amir to go to Pakistan. He had been reminded of guilt for Hassan's rape. This is the time that started a new journey for Amir of revisiting his past. -
Amir breaks his promise to Sohrab
Amir breaks his promise and tells Sohrab that he might have to return an orphanage, Sohrab exclaims, "You promised you’d never put me in one of those places, Amir agha...I'm scared of that place. They'll hurt me! I don't want to go"(341). Sohrab gave Amir a great amount of trust so when he broke the promise of Sohrab not having to go back to the orphanage, he was heartbroken. This caused Sohrab to become suicidal and not trust Amir for a very long time. -
Attack of the World Trade Center and Taliban Ultimatum
The author illustrates that "after the attack on the World Trade Center on New York in Sept. 11, 2001, President George W. Bush gave the Taliban an ultimatum to hand over Bin Laden"(NYT 3) -
Sohrab helps Amir in kite fighting
After Sohrab had stayed silent and uninstrested with his life in America, he had done something that everyone was surprised to see him do, Amir explains,"when I held te string out for him, his hand lifted from his pocket. Hesitated. Took the string."(368-369). After months of silence and unanswered questions, Sohrab shows a sign that there is a possibility to get better and be involved. Sohrab also demonstrates that he is beginning to feel more at peace with what happened in the past. -
Hamid Karsai Becomes President
Mr. Karzai said, "He hoped to secure peace for Afghanistan and win the country much- needed internationa aid"(NYT 3) -
Gen. Petraeus becomes the U.S. Central Command
General Patraeus had been successful in the Iraq surge, "had taken charge of the United States Central Command in October 2008, with responsibility for military operations in Iraq, Afghanistan and across the region"(NTY 4) -
Obama Deploys 30,000 Troops
In a speech, " Mr. Obama announced his plan to deploy 30,000 additioal troops
'(NYT 4) -
Amir fights Assef
Assef will only give up Sohrab if Amir wins a fight against him. Amir starts to laugh during the fight and explains,"for the first time since the winter of 197, I felt at peace...I'd been looking forward to this"(289).Amir is happy to be punished and is willing to be killed for a boy he doesn't know because he wants to make it up to Hassan. Amir views Hassan as an equal now which id different from when they were kids because he has developed greater values as he grew up.