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Amir and hassan growing Up Without Mom's
Amir's mom died while giving birth to him, and Hassan's mom running away soon after he was born. Since both of the boys' mothers left them when they were very young, they "Hassan and I fed from the same breasts. We took our first steps on the same lawn in the same yard. And, under the same roof, we spoke our first words. Mine was Baba. His was Amir. My name.(11)" This shows how Hassan and Amir grew up without experiencing what it was like to have a mom and it further shows their relationship. -
The Start of the Fighting in Afghanistan
It was July 17, 1973 when Amir and Hassan first heard the explosions and gunfire of the fighting, Amir and Hassan went outside and climbed to their favorite tree, but what they didn't expect was Assef, Assef was a big fan of Hitler, believing that he was a great leader and had a vision. Assef had a similar vision to Hitler, believing that Afghanistan was only a place for Pashtuns. Since Hassan is a Hazara, Assef says, "His people pollute our homeland, our watan. They dirty our blood.(40)" -
Hassan's Rape
When Amir won the kite contest, Hassan went to retreive the kite. But, when Amir went looking for him, he found Hassan, trapped in an alley by Assef. Assef demanded for the kite, but when Hassan refused, Assef let him keep the kite, but with the price of Assef raping Hassan while Amir hid and "...ran. I ran because I was a coward. I was afraid of Assef and what he would do to me. I was afraid of getting hurt.(77)" This shows how Amir wanted to impress Baba, and Hassan was the price he had to pay -
Amir's Guilt For Not Helping Hassan
Amir felt very guilt for not helping Hassan that he stopped talking to Hassan and tried to avoid him. Amir thought about Hassan's dream Hassan had told him before the rape. "I thought about Hassan's dream, the one about us wswimming in the lake. There is no monster, he'd just said, just water. Except he'd been wrong about that. There was a monster in the lake... I was that monster.(86)" This shows Amir's guilt towards Hassan and how he regrets not helping him. -
Hassan's Loyalty and Place in Society
Amir and Hassan were picking pomegranates when Amir started throwing pomegranates at Hassan. They Amir yelled,"Hit me back...Get up! Hit me!(92)" But Hassan only went up to Amir with a pomegranate in his hand, and smashed it on his own forehead. This shows how Hassan knows his place as a Hazara and how he is the lowest social class. -
Ali and Hassan Leaving Amir and Baba
After Amir framed Hassan for stealing, Amir thought Baba was going to get very mad at Hassan. But in Amir's surprise, Baba forgave Hassan. then Ali announced," We are leaving, Agha sahib... We can't live here anymore.(106)" This shows how Ali and Hassan feel unwanted more than ever before and they need to flee for safety. -
Soviet Invasion and After
Before the Soviets invaded Afganistan, it was stable. But when the Soviets stayed in Afganistan for 9 years, the United Nations made peace with them in order for them to leave. The Soviets left behind "a country that was not only devastated by the war but that had become a beacon to Islamic extremists from across the globe who had come to assist in the fighting.(NYT)" -
Amir and Baba's Escape From Afghanistan
Amir and Baba were smuggled out of Afghanistan in an empty fuel tank. While in the fuel tank, Amir thought," You could die in a place like this... A scream was coming.(122)" This shows how Amir and Baba were endangering their lives to get out of Afghanistan. -
Baba Adjusting to Life in America
Baba was still getting used to life in America. He wasn't used to people not knowing who he was and how he didn't have as much political power than in Afghanistan. Baba said,"What kind of a country is this? No one trusts anybody!(128)" This shows how Baba was used to being known in Afghanistan, but now, he is just like all the other immigrants who came to America. -
Amir's Plans to go to College
Baba buys Amir a new Ford, and tells Amir to go to college. Amir, shocked, thanks Baba and says,"I think I'll major in English.(134)" This shows how Baba wants Amir to have a good future and to live a happy life in America. -
Baba Dying From Cancer
As Baba suffered from cancer, Amir tried the best he could to take care of him. But, when Baba died in his sleep, Amir," I'm going to miss him.(176)" This shows how Amir is going to have to survive in America without Baba. -
Amir Gets married to Soraya
Amir marries Soraya, with Baba funding the wedding, spending $35,000, almost all of his life savings. While Amir is with Soraya, they soon decide to,"try to have a baby.(184)" This shows that Amir wants to start a family and have a happy life with Soraya. -
Soraya Discovering She Is Infertile
Amir and Soraya had been trying to have a child for a while, but with no results. Finally, they get tested, Amir passes, but Soraya doesn't. Soraya says that she doesn't want to adopt. Amir says, "If we're going to do it, we shouldn't have any doubts at all about it, and we should both be in agreement.(187)" This shows how even though Amir wants a child, he respects Soraya and wants both them to be happy. -
The Taliban
The Taliban took control of Afganistan in 1996, with the help of the Pakistani. The Taliban were able to take over Afganistan because, "Pakistani intelligence officers began funneling arms, money and supplies to Mullah Omar's men, as well as military advisers to guide them in battle.(NYT)" -
Amir Going Back to Afghanistan For Sohrab
Amir got a call from Rahim Khan, saying to Amir that Hassan and his wife were killed by the Taliban, but Sohrab was in an orphanage. Amir went to Afghanistan to retrieve Sohrab and bring him home. Amir said,"There is a way to be good again...A way to end the cycle. With a little boy. An orphan. Hassan's son. Somewhere in Kabul.(226)" This shows how Amir has to care for Sohrab to atone for his wrongdoings to Hassan. -
After the 9/11 Attacks
After the 9/11 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center, President George W. Bush ordered the Taliban to hand over Osama bin Laden. When the Taliban refused "the United States joined forces with rebel groups that had never accepted taliban rule.(NYT)" -
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Kite Runner & the History of Afganistan
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Amir Meeting A man Who Knew His Mom
While looking for Sohrab, he finds an old man on the street. The man taught at the same university as Amir's mom. He told Amir,"She was a great woman.(250)" This shows how Amir was reminded of his future and learned things about his mother that Baba never told him. -
The Return of the Taliban
After retreating from the American military, the Taliban regrouped and expanded into the southern part of Afganistan. They rose again because of the opium trade. In a 6 year archive of military documents, it describes how "an American-led force often starved for resources and attention as it struggled against an insurgency that grew larger, better coordinated and more deadly each year.(NYT)" -
Amir Finds Sohrab With Assef
Amir finds Sohrab with Assef, but when Amir asks Assef for Sohrab, Assef says no. Amir and Assef fight, but when Assef was about to finish Amir, Sohrab stops him by shooting Assef in the eye with a slingshot, then yelled to Amir,"Bia...Let's go!(291)" This shows how Amir tried to save Sohrab, but Sohrab ends up saving Amir. -
The Karzai Government
Hamid Karzai was elected president of Afganistan in 2004 and was a favorite at the White House. But as Karzai faced the Afgan population, who were mad at the lack of economic progress. They were also mad at "the corrupt officials who seem to stand at every doorway of his government.(NYT)" -
Amir and His New Family In America
Amir went flying a kite with Sohrab. As Amir taught Sohrab to fly a kite, Sohrab had,"A smile. Lopsided. Hardly there. But there.(371)" This shows how Amir and his new family can have a happy life in America. -
Obama's Actions
When President Obama was in office, he deployed 30,000 additional troops into Afganistan and promised that they would be back by 2011. But when 2011 came, he announced that the troops would stay in Afganistan until the end of 2014.