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Amir witnessed the rape of Hassan.
When Amir recalls the memory of Hassan, he is horrified by the memory of Assef's "buttocks muscles clenching and unclenching, his hips thrusting back and forth" (Hosseini 116). Evidently, this event shattered the vision Amir had of Hassan. This memory stands so strong in his mind that it affects any pleasant memories he had of Hassan. This shows the breaking of ethics can really have a huge, negative effect. -
Amir visited Jalalabad with Baba.
When Amir cannot sleep, he says out loud that he witnessed Hassan's rape. Afterward, he thinks, "A part of me was hoping someone would wake up and hear, so I wouldn't have to live with this lie anymore" (Hosseini 86). Although Amir is having fun on this trip, his guilt from Hassan is constantly on his mind, distracting him. This shows that guilt has a immense negative effect on us, and makes us desire to alleviate that guilt. -
The Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan, ruining it's prosperity and anonymity.
Afghanistan used to be a stable and somewhat prosperous country, but "the turmoil and extremism that have dominated its history since then can be traced to the 1979 invasion by the Soviet Union" (The New York Times). -
Baba stood up to the Russian soldier who demanded sex from an innocent woman.
Baba starts to get angry over a man who demands sex from an innocent woman in order to get into Pakistan. When Baba starts to contradict the morals of this man, he yells "'[you're] wrong. War doesn't negate decency. It demands it, even more than in times of peace'" (Hosseini 115). Baba values standing up for and protecting innocent people. This shows how he fits the descriptions for a traditional "man" by doing so without fear. -
Baba was diagnosed with cancer but refuses to take medication
When Amir goes to the doctor's office, he learns that "Baba's [cancer] was called 'Oat Cell Carcinoma'" but when the doctor starts to talk about treatment, Baba tells him, "'no chemo medication for me'" (Hosseini 156). Baba only refuses treatment because of his immense amount of pride. This showcases the traditional morals Baba has, as he refuses to accept any help. -
Hassan came back to Baba's house to help Rahim Khan maintain the house.
When Rahim Khan tells Amir of Hassan coming back to Kabul, he tells, "I discovered Hassan had no intention of moving into the house" (Hosseini 208). The power of blood, here relating to socioeconomic status, is so powerful that Hassan is refusing to accept Rahim Khan's offer to stay with him in the main portion of the house, just because of him being Hazara. This portrays that socieconomic status and religion are important values in Afghan culture. -
After a decade of war, the Soviet Union withdrew their troops from Afghanistan.
The attacks of the Soviet Union were slowly becoming ineffective and a waste of money, so the final troops "left Afghanistan in February 1989, in what was in effect a unilateral withdrawal" (The New York Times). -
Saunaubar came back to Baba's house to see Hassan.
When Saunabar shows up to Baba's house and meets Hassan, she starts to cry, saying, "'And I wouldn't even hold you. Allah forgive me, I wouldn't hold you'" (Hosseini 210). Sanaubar, although ithere could have been many obstacles, comes back to Baba's house to atone for leaving Hassan, which shows how the breaking of common ethics drove her to atone. This shows how reciprocity is needed to move on, as she still has regrets after a long time. -
Amir learned that the Taliban murdered Hassan.
Amir learns from Rahim Khan that Hassan was murdered by the Taliban and responds by saying "all I could manage was to whisper 'No, No, No' over and over again" (Hosseini 219). Regardless of their socioeconomic differences, Amir is devastated and is in disbelief when he learns Hassan died, which shows how close they were. This shows truly how much we depend on friendships and that they are very important to us. -
Pakistan started to support growth of the Taliban, a corrupt and brutal change-making group.
The invasion of the Soviet Union brought out a new issue: the formation of the Taliban. Many people from Afghanistan rallied to create this brutal, revolting group. Even Pakistan, as "the Taliban might have withered were it not for the intervention of Pakistan ... [who] began funneling arms, money, and supplies" (The New York Times). -
Amir asked Baba to get Soraya's hand in marriage.
When Amir asks Baba for Soraya's hand in marriage, he says, "'I want you to go khastegari. I want you to ask General Taheri for his daughter's hand in marriage'" (Hosseini 161). Amir's love for Soraya is so strong that despite the fact that they never officially dated, he still wants to marry her after a while of knowing her. This shows how influential the power of love can be. -
The U.S. invaded Afghanistan after the terrorist attacks on September 11.
The United States was greatly affected by the 9/11 attacks. As a way to avenge, they "led an invasion [to Afghanistan] after the Sept. 11 attacks by Al Qaeda" (The New York Times). -
Afghanistan became a higher military priority for the U.S. than Iraq.
The Taliban, an extremist Islamic group that had taken control of Afghanistan, was starting to gain power. Because of this, the U.S. president Barack Obama "made Afghanistan the central military focus of his administration, drawing troops out of Iraq and into Afghanistan" (The New York Times). -
Hamid Karzai took the role of the leader of Afghanistan after defeating the Taliban.
Hamid Karzai, a relative of the former king of Afghanistan, was "named chairman of an interim government that replaced the defeated Taliban, making him the leader of the country" (The New York Times). -
The Taliban still started to grow and cause problems.
Even though the election of Hamid Karzai took down the Taliban, they still "continued to wage guerilla warfare" (The New York Times). -
Amir traveled to Pakistan to meet Rahim Khan, who is dying.
When Amir meets Rahim Khan, he says "Nothing could more correctly describe the initial moments of my reunion with Rahim Khan" about the phrase "the elephant in the room" (Hosseini 197). The effect the rape has caused is so massive that it makes them hard to talk to each other and bring it up. This shows how Amir's breaking of common ethics has sparked a huge, negative effect amongst his relationships. -
Amir decided to go to Kabul to retrieve Sohrab.
When Amir is considering whether or not to go retrieve Sohrab, he finally decides to for "a way to end the cycle" (Hosseini 227). Because Amir broke his morals by not helping Hassan regarding the rape, he wants to atone to end the guilt that is eating at him. This shows his major emphasis on reciprocity and how it is needed to make things right. -
Amir visited Farid's family.
After Amir realized that Farid's family was poor, he "planted a fistful of crumpled under a mattress" (Hosseini 242). Amir, although he is not rich himself, decides to help out Farid's family because he feels bad for them. This shows how he values kindness. -
Amir fought with Assef over Sohrab.
When Amir is losing his fight with Amir, he starts to laugh, stating that "for the first time since the winter of 1975, [he] felt at peace" (Hosseini 289). Amir has been carrying guilt since the rape and he finally alleviated that guilt through this fight. This portrays how reciprocity is needed to move on, as he was not able to relieve his guilt and redeem himself until he atoned. -
Amir and Farid visited the orphanage Sohrab supposedly last stayed at.
When Farid learns the director of an orphanage Sohrab has been at has been selling children starts to accuse the director of doing wrong things, the director snaps back, "'There's nothing I can do to stop it'" (Hosseini 256). The director has no other option in order to supply for the other kids in the orphanage, which shows how negatively they have been affected by the chaos that has been rained upon Afghanistan. This shows how their location has greatly affected their actions. -
Sohrab slit his wrists in an attempt to commit suicide.
When Amir is waiting in the waiting room of the hospital after Sohrab cut himself, he prays, "My hands are stained with Hassan's blood; I pray God doesn't let them get stained with the blood of his boy too" (Hosseini 346). Amir doesn't want the guilt of letting Sohrab die because he has experienced guilt with Hassan and didn't like it. This shows how guilt is dreaded because of the negative effect it has. -
Amir taught Sohrab how to fly a kite.
When Sohrab wants Amir to help him run a kite, he responds, "'For you, a thousand times over'", which was a classic line used by Hassan (Hosseini 371). Amir, still trying to atone for his sins, says that he will always help Sohrab whenever he needs it. This shows how reciprocity is a huge emphasis in the book as Amir is acting to Sohrab how Hassan acted to Amir because Amir felt guilty for the rape. -
The standing military general was removed because of his reaction to administration officials.
General McChrystal, the main general of the Afghanistan invasion at the time, did not like the violence in Afghanistan and Iraq. As a result, he made scornful comments on Obama's ways. President Obama "removed Gen. McChrystal" because of the comments he made (The New York Times). -
General Petraeous replaces General McChrystal as lead military general in Afghanistan.
Obama terminated General McChrystal because of his contemptouis comments regarding the Obama administration. Because he needed a replacement for this crucial invasion, Obama "tapped Gen. Petraeous to lead the war efforts" (The New York Times). -
The date for the withdrawal of U.S. soldiers in Afghanistan was postponed.
In 2011, the Obama Administration emphasized that "the United States will have forces in [Afghanistan] until at least the end of 2014" (The New York Times). The did this because of the threat the Taliban posed.