Kite Runner & the History of Afghanistan

  • Baba built an orphanage

    Baba was successful at building a "two-story orphanage" and paying for it "with his own money" (13). Baba spent a lot of time taking care of others to make sure everyone was happy. Although many people doubted Baba at first, he funded all of the work put in to build the orphanage and it opened three years later.
  • Hassan was born

    In a small shack, "Sanaubar have birth" to Hassan in the winter of 1964 (6). Less than a week later, Hassan lost his mother when she took off with a group of singers and dancers. This caused Hassan to feel alone and ashamed when he was made fun of.
  • Hassan is rapped

    After seeing Assef disrespect Hassan, Amir "turned away from the alley" and ran away (77). Amir was afraid of what Assef might do to him, which proves that Amir has betrayed his best friend. After all of the times that Hassan took on fights for Amir, Amir should have stepped in for Hassan this one time.
  • Amir wins the kite contest

    Amir ran after a kite along with Hassan, and suddenly Hassan screamed "You won!" (66). If it wasn't for Hassan guiding Amir towards the kite, Amir wouldn't have won. Hassan is always helping Amir, but Amir does not realize this till it's too late.
  • Amir questions the servents to Baba

    After the incident with Hassan, Amir doesn't feel comfortable around Hassan, which is why Amir asked Baba about "getting new servants" (89). Amir should have helped Hassan when he was being rapped, but since he didn't, Amir should at least tell somebody about the situation so that Hassan does not feel alone and depressed. By bringing up the thought of getting new servants so that there wouldn't be anymore awkward conversations between Hassan and Amir, Amir angered Baba once again.
  • Ali and Hassan leave

    After trying to convince Ali and Hassan to stay as Baba and Amir's servents, they responded "our bags are already packed" which hinted that it was too late for Ali and Hassan to stay (106). Throughout Baba and Amir's whole life, Ali and Hassan have become more than servents to Baba and Amir. They all had a family like relationship, that was torn apart when Amir didn't stand up for Hassan. Baba never realized it, but it was Amir's fault that Ali and Hassan left.
  • Soviet troops in Kabul

    To assist Barak Karmal, the "first Soviet troops parachuted into Kabul" on December 27, 1979.
  • Baba and Amir move to America

    According to Amir, moving to America was a "place to bury [his] memories" (129). Baba thought that moving to America would give himself and Amir a better life. Amir felt that it would help him forget the past and think about the future.
  • Amir graduates from high school

    Finally, Amir "graduated from high school" when he was twenty years old, which made him the "oldest senior" there (131). When Amir graduated, Baba said that he was proud of his son. This made Amir happy to know that Baba believed in him. At first, Baba didn't approve that Amir wanted to major in English when he would enroll in a junior college, but Baba realized it's not his opinion that matters since that is what Amir is interested in.
  • Amir and Soroya get married

    From their first glance, Amir thought Soroya was perfect, but it wasn't until their wedding day that Amir told her he "loved her" for the first time (171). Amir really loved Soroya, but he never told her this till they got married. Amir and Soroya loved eachother, and Baba approved of their marriage.
  • United States supply the rebels

    The Soviet Air Force was useless from Stinger antiaircraft missiles "supplied by the United States to the rebels" (2).
  • Soviet troops left Afghanistan

    The Soviet troops left Afghanistan leaving behind a devastated country that became "a beacon to Islamic extremists from across the globe who had come to assist in the fighting, including Osama bin Laden and the group he helped found, Al Qaeda" (2).
  • Mullah Omar's followers

    Mullah Omar hadaround 12,000 followers, and he created a movement with his promise of "restoring the centrality of Islam to daily life" (2).
  • Pakistani intelligence officers help Omar's men

    Pakistani intelligence officers funneled arms, money, supplies, and military advisors to Omar's men to "help guide them" when fighting in battle.
  • Power was divided

    By summer, power was "anarchically divided" for competing warlords and individual fiefdoms (2).
  • Taliban took control of Afghanistan

    The Taliban took control of Afhanistan enforcing the fundamentalist Islamic law, "banning movies and music and forcing women out of schools" and making them wear covered burqa clothing (3).
  • Amir see's his hometown has been destroyed

    Amir looks outside only to see "just another pile of rubble" that once was his father's orphanage that he worked incredibly hard on (200). The Alliance disturbed the peace that used be in Kabul. Amir was angered, because his dad put a lot of effort into the orphanage and it was all ruined. Amir was also mad, because a lot of things have changed in Kabul that Amir wasn't expecting to see.
  • Rahim Khan admits that Hassan and Amir are half brothers

    Because Rahim Khan and Baba were the only one's who knew about Hassan and Amir, Amir was shocked to find out at thirty-eight years old when he responded "'how could [Rahim] hide this" (223). Even though Baba didn't like the fact that Hassan was a Hazara, they are family and Baba should not have kept that a secret from Hassan and Amir. This secret may have been a part what ruined Hassan and Amir's relationship, besides for what Assef did to Hassan.
  • Amir searches for Sohrab

    After hearing Rahim Khan reveal the big secret about Amir's family, Amir searches for Hassan's son Sohrab, when telling others "[he's] going to Kabul to find a boy" (237). After what Amir did to Hassan, it was really nice of Amir to want to adopt Sohrab after Sohrab lost both of his parents. Although Amir is going to take care of Sohrab, this does not make up for his wrong doings to Hassan.
  • Amir tell's Soraya he's leaving to Pakistan

    Amir told Soroya that he "[had] to go to Pakistan" to see Rahim Khan because he is very ill (191). It was thoughtful of Amir to go and visit Rahim, but he should have went earlier to see Rahim before he got sick since they used to be very close. When Amir showed up he saw that Rahim was very sick, which is why Amir should have taken care of him for a little while instead of storming off. Amir left Rahim alone knowing that he needed medical help.
  • Amir and Sohrab escape Assef

    As Amir was fighting for Sohrab, Amir won with the help of Sohrab and his slingshot, and it finally ended as "the truck's door slammed shut and the engine roared to life" (292). Amir risked his life for Sohrab, just like Hassan did for Amir when they were younger. Assef is a horrible person. Although Sohrab felt ashamed for hurting him, Sohrab gave him what he deserved, and hopefully Sohrab realized that.
  • Hamid Karzai was named chairman

    Hamid Karzai was named chairman of an "interim government" that took place of the defeated Taliban. He became the leader of the country (3).
  • Amir runs a kite for Sohrab

    As soon as Sohrab nodded, Amir "turned and ran" the kite for Sohrab, just like Hassan did for Amir (371). Amir recreated the moment he had with Hassan, except for he was Hassan and Sohrab was Amir. Amir was trying his best to act as a father to Sohrab, which proves that he forgave Hassan for anything he did wrong.
  • Obama's speech

    At West Point, Obama revealed his plan to "deploy 30,000 additional troops", and start bringing American forces from Afghanistan home in the middle of 2011.
  • American combat forces

    In the summer of 2011, it was planned for the American combat forces to "begin withdrawing from Afghanistan" (1).