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Amir and Hassan's hostile "confrontation' with Assef
After Hassan threatens Assef with a slingshot during their hostile exchange, Assef responds by saying "You should know something about me, Hazara...I'm a very patient person. This doesn't end today"(42). This confrontation is extremely detrimental to Hassan because it threatens to destroy the life he holds dear to. Assef had already confided in the vision of a society without Hazaras. Now that he has been threatened by Hassan, he will be more aggressive in pursuing this vision. -
Amir begins writing his short story
After Hassan falls compliments Amir's fictional and made up story, Amir begins to write his "own short story" (30). This short story is extremely significant because it gives Amir freedom in a society in which he is expected to be athletic. Writing is the one thing Amir can do that allows him to escape the desires of others. In addition, this short story allows Amir and Hassan to build on their relationship, as Hassan greatly enjoys Amir's words. -
Amir wins the kite race
Just before his moment of sweet victory, Amir says "I closed , my eyes and loosened my grip on the string. It sliced my finers again as the wind dragged. And then.. I didn't need to hear the crowd's roar..." (66). This event is extremely significant because it can ameliorate the condition of Amir and Baba's relationship. This victory will help Baba acknowledge his son as an accomplished member of society rather than the literary recluse that he envisions Amir to be. -
Amir falls to aid his friend in a time of crisis
While Hassan is being raped, Amir says that "I ran because I was a coward. I was afraid of Assef and what he would do to me" (77). After all the times that Hassan stood up for his companion without fear, Amir failed to help his friend this one time. This event is significant because it may destroy the relationship between Amir and Hassan. Hassan may be angry at Amir for not coming to his aid after all they have endured together and after all the times that he has protected Amir. -
First Soviet Troops arrive in Afghanistan
The start of the conflict and corruption in Afghanistan happened when "the first Soviet troops parachuted into Kabul on Dec. 27, 1979, to assist Babrak Karmal, who had become President in a coup..." (2). -
Amir looks back for the last time at his life in Kabul
Just before Amir and Baba leave Kabul, Amir thinks of "...the way I'd left the house where I'd lived my entire life, as if we were going out for a bite: dishes smeared with Kofta..." (112). This event is of utmost importance, because it marks the end of Amir's comfortable and luxurious life. Baba and Amir are now headed for a new life where they respect no power or respect within the community. They can no longer rely on admiration or respect for survival. -
Baba and Amir start their new life in America
Amir's first memory of living in America is "walking through Lake Elizabeth Park in Fremont, a few streets down from our apartment, and watching boys at batting practice..." (125). This event is very significant because it marks the start of a new life for Amir and Baba. Amir will be able to relieve himself of some of the pain and guilt that was inherent in Afghanistan. In addition, Baba will finally be able to live his "dream" of living in America. Maybe their relationship will improve. -
Baba explicitly voices frustration to the Nyugens
When Mr. Nyugen asks for Baba's license, Baba harshly exclaims "He wants to see my license... Almost two years we've bought his damn fruits and put money in his pocket and the son of a dog wants to see my license" (127). This marks the beginning of Baba's misfortunes in America. He is old now, and clearly lacks the power in which he used to. Baba is no longer the honorable, noble man who ardently stood up for the common good in Kabul. He is now a frustrated, anxious, and aged man. -
Baba is diagnosed with cancer
It is revealed after examination of Baba's lungs, that he has "Oat Cell Carcinoma," a type of cancer that is " [i]noperable" (157). Baba has protected and cared for Amir for the majority of his life. However, now that Baba's health is quickly deterioriating, Amir will be forced to adjust to his new lifestyle quickly. The duties that were once Baba's will now be passed on to Amir who will develop and mature as a direct result of Baba's cancer. -
Amir marries Soraya
During their wedding Amir feels like he is "... set on the stage like a throne, Soraya's hand in mine, as three hudred or so faces looked on." (171). All of his life Amir has been known as "Baba's son," and has always been raised under the protective and watchful eye of his father. However, now that Amir has a family, he can no longer fluctuate in his decisions and beliefs. He must now become the "alpha male" of the family he must take on his reponsibilities as a father. -
Soviet Union's aircraft become futile
The Soviet Union's air force was "rendered useless by advanced Stinger Aircraft missiles supplied by the United States to the rebels" (2). -
The last of the Soviet Troops leave Afghanistan
After peace talks overseen by the United Nations, "the last Soviet Troops left Afghanistan in February 1989, in what was in effect a unilateral withdrawal" (2). -
Pakistan intelligence officers begin supplying Taliban with resources
Pakistani officers aided the Taliban by supplying them with"... arms, money and supplies" (3). -
The Taliban reaches 12,000 followers
The Taliban was a student group that aimed for "purifying" the country, and "by the end of 1994 Mullah Omar had nearly 12,000 followers and was rolling up the warlords to the north and east" (2). -
The Taliban begins its system of providing safe haven for Al Queda
The Taliban first began providing aid and support to the terrorist organization Al Queda, when "Mr. Bin Laden, who arrived by chartered jet at Jalalabad Airport in May, 1996" (3). -
Amir learns that Hassan is his brother
When Amir learns that Ali was sterile, and Hassan is his brother, he yells "Why? What can you possibly say to me? I'm thirty- five years old and I've just found out my whole life is one big...lie." (223). This event is very significant in the development of Amir. He has an important decision to make here. Amir can choose to outgrow his fear and to help locate Hassan's son, as brothers do for each other, or he can choose to leave Afghanistan. -
World Trade Center Attack
"After the attack on the World Trade Center in New York on Sept. 11, 2001," President George W Bush made an offer to the Taliban to hand over Osama Bin Laden and Al Queda's leaders, but were declined by the Taliban. -
Hamid Karzai is brought into power
After the majority of the Taliban were defeated and a new government was needed, "Hamid Karzai, a supporter and relative of Mohammad Zahir Shah, the exiled former king of Afghanistan, was named chairman of an interim government..." (3). -
Amir witnesses public execution
During their time at the Ghaza Stadium, Amir and Farid see a man after execution that is a "mangled mess of blood" (271). This is the first time in which Amir really sees the atrocity and animosity of the Taliban. This event is very influential in Amir's development as a character, and can either cause him to continue his quest to find Sothrab, or to abandon his mission out of fear, therefore losing power over his emotions forever. -
Amir gets beat up by Assef
When Amir is getting obliterated by Assef, he says "It hurt to laugh, hurt my jaws, my ribs, my throat. But I was laughing and laughing" (289). For the majority of his life, Amir has harbored a sort of guilt that is almost impossible for him to erase. However, he has now gained a little bit of redemption because of the fact that he has felt the physical paint that Hassan had experienced. This is no longer the incident with the pomegranites under the tree in which Amir cannot get hurt. -
Amir recieves the letter from Rahim Khan
The letter that Rahim Khan left for Amir says "[y]our father, like you, was a totured soul" (301). Throughout the years of Amir's childhood, he failed to understand why his father was so nice to Hassan. However, this letter has helped him understand Baba's eccentric behavior. Hopefully, with this new information Amir can better understand not only himself, but his father and the environment he grew up in. -
Amir bonds with Sohrab at the mosque
When Sohrab cries about his pain to Amir, Amir realizes that "...a kinship had taken root between us too" (320). This marks the beginning of the relationship between Amir and Sohrab, and it is the first time in which the two have really conversed and "opened up" to each other. Amir now feels Sohrab's pain and I infer that this will compel him to take Sohrab to America. Sohrab will be taken up as the son that Amir and Soraya always wanted. -
Sohrab agrees to have Amir be his Kite Runner
When Amir offers to be Sohrab's Kite Runner, "I thought I saw him nod" (371). This is the first time in which Amir and Sohrab have really bonded with each other after Sohrab cut himself. This may be the beginning of Amir's regaining of power over himself. Everything has to have a beginning, and this small yet significant incident will likely serve this purpose. Maybe at the end of this journey, Amir will finally be able to sleep again. -
2007 "surge" of military activity in Afghanistan
Once General David H. Petraeus was put in charge of the military forces of Afghanistan (American), a surge happened in which "the pace of American operations stepped up enormously, initially in the Taliban strongholds in the south" (1). -
President Obama's speech
President Obama gave a speech at West Point, where he revealed his plan to send "30,000 additional troops" to Afghanistan. (3).