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Baba's father dies
This event is important because it impacted Baba's beliefs tremendously, "There is no act more wretched than stealing, Amir" (Hosseini 18). Baba had his father stolen from him at such a young age, thus it was very traumatizing to him. As an adult now, he tells Amir his belief of the only sin, theft. Since he was robbed of a father, Baba believes in this sin very strongly. However, this is hypocritical of him because he stole Amir's right to know the truth about Hassan. -
Amir wins the kite competion
When Amir wins the kite competition, he was ecstatic because "Right there was the single greatest moment of my twelve years of life, seeing Baba on that roof, proud of me at last" (Hosseini 66). This is one of the first moments in Amir's life where he finally feels validation from Baba. Hassan's rape occurred right after his feeling of validation, which may have influenced Amir doing what he did. If Amir had lost the competition, the outcome of what happened during the rape might have changed. -
Hassan was raped
Amir runs away instead of helping Hassan because “[m]aybe Hassan was the price I had to pay, the lamb I had to slay, to win Baba” (Hosseini 77). Amir is so desperate for his father's love that he lets Hassan get raped. This depicts that the lack of connection between Amir and Baba was one of the main reasons why Amir did not help Hassan. If Amir had known Hassan was his half-brother, the situation may have turned out differently, because then Amir would know he doesn't have to compete for Baba. -
Ali and Hassan decide to leave Baba and Amir
Baba is extremely desperate for Ali to stay because "You're the brother I never had, Ali, you know that. Please don't do this" (Hosseini 106). This quote illustrates the phycological power Ali has over Baba. Even though Baba had superficial power over Ali due to status, Ali deciding to leave breaks Baba. Without Ali, Baba has no strong emotional connection with anyone his age, which is why Baba is so desperate for Ali to stay. -
Hassan protects Amir from Assef and his gang
When Amir and Hassan are threatened by Assef, Hassan protects Amir by "[holding] the slingshot pointed directly at Assef's face" (Hosseini 42). This event foreshadows Hassan's son protecting Amir when he fights Assef. Both Hassan and Sohrab protected Amir when he was in a time of need, regardless of how it affected them. This adds on to Amir's guilt, because he feels that he didn't truly return the favor. -
Amir and Baba flee to America
Amir looks at America as a place where he can forget, "America was a river... I could wade into this river, let my sins drown... Let the waters carry me someplace far" (Hosseini 136). When Amir comes to America, he views it as an opportunity to let go of everything. To start a new life, and be a new person. However in his head he will never be able to let go and forgive himself for what he did to Hassan. America may feel physically free to him, however emotionally he is still trapped. -
The first Soviet troops parachuted into Kabul
They parachuted into Kabul "to assist Babrak Karmal, who had become president in a coup within the Afghanistan Communist leadership" (NYT). -
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Afghanistan Overview
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Amir meets Soraya Taheri for the first time
While Baba and Amir are driving home he brings up Soraya, "I hear she is a decent girl...But no khategars...what happens in a few days, sometimes even a single day, can change the course of a whole lifetime..." (Hosseini 142). This reflects back on Amir and Hassan. Hassan's rape happened in one day, yet it affected both of them for their entire life. When Baba says this, it foreshadows the day Amir wins the fight for Sohrab. This event happened in 1 day, however it changed them for a life time. -
Baba passes away
When Soraya is about to get medicine for Baba he replies with, "Not tonight... There is no pain tonight" (Hosseini 173). He died on the same night he didn't take the medicine. This can be interpreted as Baba wanted to die on this night. His son was married, and he was surrounded by most of the people he loved. He felt content with what he had done with his life, so he decided not to take the medicine. -
Sanaubar returns
When Sanaubar returns to Rahim Khan's house to see Hassan, he started "running up the hill where you two used to play" (Hosseini 210). However the next day, he came back and said "she was home now" (Hosseini 210). This illustrates how forgiving Hassan is, regardless of the situation. His own mother ran away right after he was born, and he forgives her in just one day. Hassan's softheartedness makes people who betrayed him feel like it is close to impossible to atone for what they did to him. -
Amir finished his first novel
I think this is a very important moment in Amir's life, because he proves Baba's doubts. As he celebrates his book being published Soraya says, "Kaka would have been proud too". (Hosseini 183). Amir wishes Baba could see him this way, as successful. He would finally feel some sort of validation from Baba, fulfilling the need for love from him. He feels that he proved that he can be an "ideal" son to Baba because he was successful. -
The last Soviet troops left Afghanistan
They left "after peace talks moderated by the United Nations" (NYT). -
Mullah Omar had gained around 12,000 followers
Mullah Omar "created a genuinely popular movement in a country weary of corruption and brutality" (NYT). -
The Taliban took control of Afghanistan
The Taliban started "imposing strict enforcement of fundamental Islamic law, banning movies and music and forcing women out of schools and into all-enveloping burqa clothing" (NYT). -
Mr. bin Laden arrived to get to a haven provided by the Taliban
He "arrived by chartered jet at Jalalabad Airport... Al Qaeda helped persuade Mullah Omar to order destruction of the 800-year-old Buddha statues at Bamiyan, an act condemned around the world" (NYT). -
Hamid Karzai exiled the former king of Afghanistan
After this happened, Hamid Karzai "was named chairman of an interim government that replaced the defeated Taliban, making him the leader of the country" (NYT). -
Amir visits Rahim Khan
When Amir visits Rahim Khan, he learns a lot about his past. He learns that Hassan was his half-brother. He's enraged and right before leaving says "I'm thirty-eight years old and I've just found out my whole life is one big fucking lie" (Hosseini 223). It is ironic that Baba claimed that theft is the only sin, however he stole the chance of Amir and Hassan having a brotherly bond. If Amir had known the truth, maybe the rape incident might have gone differently. -
Sohrab attempts suicide
When Sohrab attempts suicide, Amir says that he will "pray that my sins have not caught up with me the way I'd always feared they would" (Hosseini 346). Amir holding onto the extreme guilt he has from Hassan's incident causes him to do something he has never done before, pray. He feels that God is going to punish him for what he did to Hassan by not giving him an opportunity to atone and to live with guilt for the rest of his life. -
President George W. Bush demanded the Taliban to hand over Mr. bin Laden
However the Taliban refused and "the United States joined forces with rebel groups..." (NYT). -
The Taliban was defeated
However, "the Taliban continued to wage a guerrilla warfare from a base in the mountainous and largely lawless tribal area on the Pakistan-Afghanistan border" (NYT). -
Amir receives a phone call from Rahim Khan
When Amir receives a phone call from Rahim Khan, he ends with "Come. There is a way to be good again" (Hosseini 192). This is the moment when Amir realizes that Rahim Khan knows everything between him and Hassan. In a way, Rahim Khan guilt trips Amir into going back to Pakistan. Amir wants a way to atone for his sins, and since Rahim Khan is offering him a way to do it, he mainly goes because of his guilt. -
Hassan fights Assef for Sohrab
When Amir is fighting Assef, he thinks "My body felt broken...but I felt healed. Healed at last" (Hosseini 289). Amir thinks that the fight he is having with Assef is well deserved. He feels that him getting beat up is his punishment for what he did to Hassan. And with that he finally feels at peace with himself. -
Amir and Sohrab fly a kite and Sohrab finally smiles.
Sohrab's smile gives Amir a sense of hope, "It was only a smile...a tiny thing... but I'll take it... because when spring comes, it melts the snow one flake at a time, and maybe I just witnessed the first flake melting" (Hosseini 371). Sohrab's smile gives Amir an optimistic outlook on what is to come. Such a small gesture meant so much to Amir, because to Amir his smile meant progress. Progress for Sohrab to be happy again. And Amir feels that Sohrab's happiness is a way to atone for his sins. -
General Petraeus took charge of the United States Central Command
General Petraeus had a "responsibility for military operations in Iraq, Afghanistan and across the region" (NYT). -
Obama announced his plan to deploy 30,000 additional troops
Obama "vowed to start bringing American forces home from Afghanistan in the middle of 2011" however "the Obama administration changed its tone to increasingly emphasize the idea that the United States will have forces in the country until at least the end of 2014" (NYT).