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Hassan is born
Hassan had entered this world when "Hassan's mother, Sanaubar gave birth to him one cold winter day in 1964" (6). This event was one of the most important in the story due to Hassan being such a main character. It is also the reason that Amir had so much guilt when Rahim Khan called him. -
Amir Starts Writing
Amir described that he had "told [Baba he had] written a story" (31). This quote shows the first time Amir had finally found interest in writing. This would later become his dream and a possible career. This day was the beginning of his interest in becoming a writer. -
Baba's Gift to Hassan
Baba's gift to Hassan had not been very regular, "but [that] present will last [Hassan] forever" (46). Baba had given Hassan the gift of plastic surgery for his birthday. This was one of the times Baba had shown great affection to Hassan which caused Amir to not feel as special. -
The Kite Tournament
Hassan had told Amir after the kite tournament, "[y]ou won, Amir agha! You won" (66). This quote led to absolute joy within Amir and praise within Baba. However, it also showed that Hassan never really saw him and Amir as a team and that they would one day seperate. -
Hassan gets violated
The horrific incident occured when Assef "positioned himself behind Hassan" (75). Assef had violated Hassan without even thinking about what he was doing was inhumane or any of the repurcussions. This quote had also started one of the turning points in Amir and Hassan's relationship. -
Amir's thirteenth birthday party
Rahim Khan had revealed to Amir that, "[i]n the end, the world always wins. That's just the way of things" (99). Rahim Khan had just finished talking to Amir about a Hazara woman he used to love which caused Amir to learn this lesson. This quote revealed to Amir that sometimes what an individual wants is not always what they get, it is what the majority of people want. -
Soviet Union Invasion
December 27, 1979 was the date when "[t]he first Soviet troops parachuted into Kabul" (NYT 2). -
Amir and Baba Escape Afghanistan
Amir and Baba had left Pakistan for "the relative safety of Pakistan" (111). Amir and Baba had to get smuggled out of Afghanistan because at the time it was not safe to live there. They just needed to escape Afghanistan in order to stay safe and have the best chance of living, which led to the journey to Pakistan. This ultimately led Amir and Baba to begin a fresh start in an unfamiliar and distant country, America. -
Kamal's Past is Revealed
Kamal had been "bleeding down there ... his pants" (120) after being violated. Kamal have pretty much received the consequence for helping Assef violate Amir, the repurcussion was being violated himself. This quote shows pretty much the exact same situation that Hassan had been in after being violated which led to Hassan's life changing and eventually also Kamal's life changing. -
Baba's First Trouble in America
Baba showed the great contrast between Afghanistan and the United States when he said, "[w]hat kind of a country is this? No one trusts anybody" (128). Baba had gotten mad when the store owner asked for his ID, due to the fact that things such as that never happened in America. This quote also revealed how Baba's life really was Afghanistan, with being recognized and always trusted. It also reveals the difference between the two countries, trust. -
Amir Graduates from High School
After Amir graduated high school Baba said, "I am [proud], Amir" (131). Amir had finally graduated from high school at the age of 20 which was a big step in becoming a man and having to live independently. The quote also was exactly what Amir had wanted his Father to feel, proud of his accomplishments. -
Amir Falls in Love
Amir called Soraya Taheri his "Swap Meet Princess" (142). Amir had found love while in America during a swap meet. Amir had found something the he wanted. It also shows that Amir is becoming a man by falling in love and to call her a princess just like his father called Sofia Akrami. -
Amir's First Interaction with Soraya
After Amir told Baba he was going to get drinks, Amir saw Soraya and "meant to simply walk by ... except, suddenly [he] was ... staring at Soraya" (145). Amir had previously only wanted to just walk by Soraya and her station, but the temptation inside his heart was too strong. The love he had for Soraya caused his instantaneous movement and actions towards Soraya which eventually led to him marrying her and having a family. -
Amir's First Novel
Amir had finally "finished [his] first novel, a father-son story set in Kabul" (182). This quote is the beginning of Amir's possibly career in writing. It is also a big step in following his childhood dream to become a writer and a big step in a journey of having an occupation. -
Soviet Troops leave
The Soviet association ended when "the last Soviet troops left Afghanistan" (NYT 2). -
Bin Laden's Arrival
Osama bin Laden wanted to have a part in the Afghanistan conflict "who arrived by chartered jet at Jalalabad Airport in May 1996" (NYT 3). -
Rahim Khan calls
Amir had started his recolllection by saying, "[o]ne day last summer, my friend Rahim Khan called from Pakistan ... It was my past of unatoned sins" (1). This quote showed the beginning of Amir going back to Afghanistan and to the life he had left behind when he moved to America. It also reveals the feelings Amir had towards everything he had done in his childhood. -
9/11
On September 11, 2001 the Taliban called an "attack on the World Trade Center in New York" (NYT 3). -
Hamid Karzai named chairman
After the Taliban ceased their leadership, "Hamid Karzai ... was named chairman of an interim government ... making him the leader of the country" (NYT 3). -
Amir Kite Runs
As soon as Sohrab nodded for Amir to run after the kite Amir said, "For you, a thousand times over" (371). Amir had finally gotten the opportunity to participate in kite fighting and kite running after all the years of shame and guilt. Amir also had wanted to make it up to Hassan by repeating Hassan's exact same words he told Amir, to show his loyalty. This allowed Amir to finally show his loyalty to Hassan through Sohrab. -
Karzai becomes interim president
In June 2002, Hamid Karzai "took office as interim president... Saying he hoped to secure peace for Afghanistan" (NYT 3). -
Karzai elected president
Karzai became the long term leader of Afghanistan when he "was elected to a five-year term as president" (NYT 3). -
Petraeus takes charge
The President trusted General Petraeus as he was put in "charge of United States Centeal Command ... with responsibility for military operations in Iraq, Afghanistan and across the region" (NYT 4). -
Obama deploys more troops
Obama wanted the US be more involved when he "announced his plan to deploy 30,000 additional troops" (NYT 4). -
July 2011 Deadline
Obama originally was going to "start bringing American forces home from Afghanistan in ... July 2011" (NYT 4).