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The First Republic
When the king of Afghanistan left, "his cousin, Daoud Khan had ended the king's forty-year reign with a bloodless coup" (Hosseini 36). With this, he also made the country a republic. -
The First Encounter with Assef
While walking to their favorite spot, Assef confronts them and insults Hassan by saying, "I'll ask the president to... rid Afghanistan of all the dirty, kasseef Hazaras" (Hosseini 40). Assef's hate and strong bias against Hazaras has been evident since he was younger. He would continue to grow this hatred to his adulthood, and no one would correct him because his feeling of superiority interferes with that. -
Hassan Gets Assaulted
In chapter 7 Amir admits that he "actually aspired to cowardice" when he ran away instead of saving his Hassan from Assef (Hosseini 77). His cowardice led to the sexual assault of his best friend, all for the temporary praise his father would give him. This reveals how pride and honor mattered more to him, and that he would never stand up for his friend the way Hassan would defend him. -
Ali and Hassan Leave Baba and Amir
After Amir's birthday, Ali and Hassan pack their bags to go, leaving Baba devestated and Amir says that he saw Baba "do something [he] never seen him do before: He cried" (Hosseini 107). This left Amir shocked because Baba has been perceived as tough, and him breaking down in front of Ali and Hassan shows how much he cared for them. He was willing to break down his walls and reveal the emotional side of him just so Ali and Hassan would stay longer, he truly loved the two of them. -
The Soviet Troops' Arrival
"The first Soviet troops parachuted into Kabul on Dec. 27, 1979 to assist Babrak Karmal" who only became president when he had a coup with the Afghan Communist leadership (The New York Times 2). -
Amir and Baba Leave Kabul, and a Woman is Saved
While they were escaping a woman was sold to a Russian soldier (for his personal pleasure) and Baba stands up for the woman saying, "Tell him I'll take a thousand of his bullets before I let this indecency take place" (Hosseini 116). This reveals how Baba is the opposite of Amir, because he stands up to help a stranger. This reveals how Amir and Baba are different. Amir aspires to cowardice and leaves Hassan to impress his father, while Baba was willing to die to save the woman. -
Baba Takes Pride in Seeing Amir Graduate
When Amir graduated high school at the age of 20, Baba was highly proud of him and says, "'I'm moftakir, Amir,' he said. Proud" (Hosseini 131). The war made Amir and Baba have a better bond. All they had in America was each other, and that gave them a healthier and stronger relationship as father and son. -
Amir Notices a Beautiful Woman, but Must be Cautious
Amir takes notice of a beautiful girl, Soraya, the daughter of his father's acquaintance, but his father says, "I hear she is a decent girl, hardworking and kind. But no khastergars, no suitors, have knocked on the general's door since" (Hosseini 142). This reveals how a woman's reputation must (somehow) be clean and have utmost perfection. If a woman did not meet the standards, it meant that her flaws impacted her love life and reputation. -
Rahim Khan Visits an Old Friend
Rahim Khan traveled to Hazarajat to visit Hassan, and explains that there "were many reasons why [he] went to Hazarajat to find Hassan in 1986" and proceeds to say "The biggest one, Allah forgive me, was that I was lonely" (Hosseini 203). The war has made people do drastic things, and feel a sense of loneliness due to the pain and multiple murders happening. Rahim Khan feels as if his loneliness left Hassan hurt and dead. -
Baba's Cancer Worsens
In early January, Baba is rushed to the hospital and it is apparent that "the cancer's metastasized" (Hosseini 159). With this, it can be observed that Baba has less time to live; however, his relationship with Amir has grown stronger. The pain people endure can bring people together. -
Amir Asks for Soraya's Hand Through Baba and Learns Her Secret
Baba goes to Soraya's house to ask for her hand for Amir. When she says yes, she tells Amir her secret and asks, "Does it bother you enough to change your mind?" to which Amir replies, "No Soraya. Not even close" (Hosseini 165). This shows Amir's unconditional love for Soraya, and how nothing can change the way he thinks about her. It also reveals how the two of them are different because she had the bravery to reveal her secret while Amir continued to hide in his cowardice. -
Amir and Soraya Get Married
During their joyous day, Amir "whispered to [Soraya] for the first time that [he] loved her" (Hosseini 171). Even with a past that was rough and rebellious, Amir still loves her no matter what. They experience an unconditional love for each other, despite the Afghanistan standards and their pasts. -
The Rebel Against the Soviet Union
"After 1986, the Soviet Air Force was also rendered largely useless" due to the advanced antiaircraft missiles given to the rebels by the United States (The New York Times 2). -
Sanaubar Returns Home and Atones for Her Wrongdoings
In the year 1990, Rahim Khan opened the door, to find Hassan's long lost mother, Sanaubar and Hassan explains that she is now "home with her family" (Hosseini 210). Even though Sanaubar abandoned Hassan since birth, he still found it in his heart to forgive her. Even the most unforgiving sins, can be forgiven in the eyes of Hassan. -
Mullah Omar's Followers
"By the end of 1994 Mullah Omar had over 12,000 followers and was rolling up the warlords to the north and east" because he promised to bring the centrality of Islam in the lives of people (The New York Times 2). -
The Taliban Takes Over Afghanistan
"Bouyed by Pakistani aid, the Taliban by 1996 had taken control of Afghanistan" (The New York Times 3). They banned movies, music, and forced women to stop going to school! -
Amir Gets a Call from Rahim Khan
Amir made the decision to visit Rahim Khan because he was ill, and remembers that during the call, he said, "Come. There is a way to be good again" (Hosseini 192). This shows how Rahim Khan knows about what happened between the Amir and Hassan and is attempting to let Amir atone for his sins. This one quote means so much more than a visit to Pakistan, but atonement for Amir's wrong doings and a drastic change in his life. -
Assef and Amir Fight for Sohrab
To retrieve Sohrab, Assef explains that he and Amir have to fight, to which Amir replies, "All right" (Hosseini 286). This shows Amir's determination to save Sohrab, finish the childhood war between him and Assef, and atone for his wrongdoings. Unlike his past self, he is defending Sohrab, instead of aspriting to cowardice. -
Amir and Sohrab Arrive to America
Once Amir and Sohrab get picked up by Soraya at the airport, she greets Sohrab and Amir notices "her eyes tearing over a little" and takes "a glimpse of the mother she might have been" (Hosseini 358). Sohrab arriving to America has made Soraya feel like her life was finally content, with a child that she could raise as her own. Stepping foot on American soil changes all of their lives, and it was for the better. -
The Replacement of the Taliban
"In December 2001, Hamid Karzai, a supporter and relative of Mohammad Zahir Shah, the exiled former king of Afghanistan, was named chairman of an interim government that replaced the defeated Taliban" (The New York Times 3). Because Karzai became the chairman, he technically became the leader of Afghanistan. -
Taliban, Not Completely Defeated
"Despite their defeat in 2001, the Taliban continued to wage guerilla warfare" that came from a base in a mountainous area with a lawless tribe in the border between Pakistan and Afghanistan (The New York Times 3). -
Amir Runs a Kite for Sohrab
After a rainy day in San Francisco, dozens of kites rise into the sky and Amir asks if Sohrab wanted him to fly a kite, to which Sohrab says yes and Amir replies, "For you, a thousand times over" (Hosseini 371). This reveals how Amir is finally at peace with his guilt, and with Sohrab. They are starting a new life together, but also remembering and honoring Hassan in any way they could. -
General Patraeus Takes Charge
"General Patraeus, the Iraq commander... had taken charge of United States Central Command in 2008" (The New York Times 4). His responsibility was to take care of the military operations in Iraq. -
30,000 Troops to Deploy
In a speech delivered at West Point, "Obama announced his plan to deploy 30,000 additional troops. He vowed to start bringing American forces home from Afghanistan" (The New York Times 4). -
A Long Wait Until They Get Home
The deadline for deployment had been missed and the government has said that they will "have forces in the country until at least the end of 2014" (The New York Times 4).
