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Great-Grandfather Death
In 1915 Amir thinks to himself, "for the first time since [he] had crossed the border, [he] felt like [he] was back. This was the soil [his] great-grandfather had married his third wife before dying " (Hosseini 240). This quote is important because it shows how much love Amir had for Kabul and he remembered every little detail about the city. Also he cared for everything and everyone there including his great-grandfather, even knowing where he died. Lastly, Amir valued the little moments he had. -
Amir's Birth
The start of the story was Amir's birth. Amir was bron in 1963 and his "mother died giving birth to [him]" (Hosseini 6). This is important because it introduces the main character and his background. Also Amir feels that because he caused his mother to die after his birth, that his father does not care for him. Baba could feel that Amir does not deserve proper respect. -
Hassan's Birth
Another important birth is Hassa. Amir recalls that, "it was there, in that little shack, that Hassan was born in the winter of 1964" (Hosseini 6). Hassan's birth is important because he becomes Amir's best friend and causes Amir's regret for being a coward. The shack is additionally important because it symbolizes how Hassan was in a lower social class than Amir but they still got along well. -
Amir's First Short Story
Amir always had the passion to write and as a little kid he wrote his forst short story. It was in 1973 that Amir "wrote [his] first short story" (Hosseini 30). Amir and Rahim Khan bonded over Amir's first story because it was Rahim who believed in him and thought the story was "bravo!" This also sparked Amir's writing career and he went on to write many more novels. -
Hassan's Birthday
For Hassan's Birthday Baba decided to surprise him, like every year, with a gift that will last a life time. Just like the man Baba is, he, "never missed Hassan's birthday. Every winter Baba picked something out himself" (Hosseini 44). Baba surprising Hassan with a birthday present to fix his harelip is significant because it shows how much Hassan means to Baba. Baba always wants to do the best for Hassan and tries to think of the cleaverest gifts for him. This is a sign of Baba's love for him. -
Kite Tournament
The first kite tournament Hassan and Amir participated in was in 1975. Hassan and Amir shout "you, won, Amir Agha! You won ... We won! We won!" (Hosseini 66). Amir sees himself as an equal toward Hassan because they both contributed to winning the tournament. This is also a bonding moment for the two boys, yet also the last happy point between them. -
Flying a Kite with Amir and Sohrab
During 2002 when Sohrab and Amir were safely in America, they went to a gathering of Afghans. There was a kite stand at the gathering and Amir bought one. Sohrab was always very silent, but when Amir beat the competition, he saw Sohrab with, "One cornre of his mouth ... curled up just so. A smile" (Hosseini 370). This shows that the memories Amir told to Sorab about his father made Sohrab happy. The smile could remind Amir of how proud his father was when he flew a kite back when he was young. -
Period: to
Kite Runner & The History of Afghanistan
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Amir's 13th Birthday
Amir's 13th Birthday was one to remember due to Assef and his appearance. Amir, "turned thirteen that summer of 1976, Afghanistan's next to last summer of peace and anonymity" (Hosseini 93). Amir's birthday foreshadowes him reuniting with Assef towards the end of the novel, when Assef shows up at his party and gifts him an autobiography for Hitler. The birthday also includes Amir framing Hassan for stealing his money, and forces Hassan out of their house, devastating Baba. -
The Soviet Invasion and After
Throughout the Soviet Invasion "The first Soviet troops parachuted into Kabul on Dec. 27, 1979, to assist Babrak Karmal, who had become president in a coup within the Afghan Communist leadership" (The New York Times 2). -
The Soviet Invasion and After
The Soviet troops were fighting in a conflict but "After 1986, the Soviet Air Force was rendered largely useless by advanced Stinger antiaircraft missiles supplied by the United States to the rebels" (The New York Times 2). -
The Soviet Invasion and After
The supplies were carried out and "Eventually, after peace talks moderated by the Untied Nations, the last Soviet troops left Afghanistan in February 1989, in what was in effect a unilateral withdrawal" (The New York Times 2). -
Sanaubar Returns Home to Hassan
When Sanaubar returns home, Hassan "told her she could cry if she wanted to but she needn't, she was home now" (Hosseini 210). Although this is the first time Hassan has seen his mother since he was an infant, he still treats her kindly and lets her into his life with open arms. This characterizes Hassan further because it is clear Hassan is forgiving and treats everyone with respect. Sanaubar made a brave choice and tried to atone for her mistake of leaving Hassan and he gave in to accept her. -
The Taliban Takeover
At the end of "1994 Mullah Omar had nearly 12,000 followers and was rolling up the warloads to the north and east" (The New York Times 2). -
Afghanistan Overview
Before the United States Invasion, "The group had been given safe haven in the country by the Taliban, the extremist Islamic group that had seized control in 1996 after years of civil war" (The New York Times 1). -
Kabul Destruction
After coming back to Kabul, Amir witnesses "much of the damage ... [he] used to come here to Jadeh Maywand when [he] was a kid ... there used to be shops here and hotels" (Hosseini 245). This is significant because it shows that after only a few years of Amir being gone and the Taliban taking over, how much the city can change, not even recognizing it. Also Amir cannot distinguish any part of the town that was the same when he lived there because the Talibans ruined it. -
Sohrab Attempts Suicide
Once Sorab realizes he might have to go back to the orphanage, he decided it wasn't worth living. Amir saw, "water drops dripping from the faucet and landing with a plink into the bloody bathwater; the left arm dangling over the side of the tub" (Hosseini 347). Sohrab attempting to commit suicide shows how deadly the orphanages in Afghanistan were and Sohrab would rather die than live and go there. In Kabul the Talibans took over and from there the city got ripped apart and an unsafe place. -
Amir Fights Assef
When Amir is trying to take Sohrab from the Talibans and Assef, he has a cost to pay. Amir says, "I gave Assef a good fight. That was the first time I'd fought anyone" (Hosseini 288). This shows that Assef was still the same bully he used to be and he always had to get people even if they did not do anything to him. Amir was pulling through this situation because he cares about Sohrab and wants to take him. Amir was so kind to Sohrab to fight Assef just for him and also for Hassan. -
Amir and Sohrab Return to America
After working through legal issues to get Sohrab out of Afghanistan, Amir and Sohrab are finally free to go home to America. They, "arrived home ... on a warm day in August 2001" (Hosseini 357). This is a breaking point for Sohraba and Amir, because it is a promise of a better life and for Sohrab a future away from the orphanages in Afghanistan that traumatized him deeply. They struggled in many ways to leave, and are finally free to go home to live an easier life. -
Amir Flies back to Pakistan
Rahim Khan calls Amir and asks him to visit because he is sick. Amir talks to his wife and says, "I have to go to Pakistan" (Hosseini 191). This visit is where Amir meets Sohrab, and his whole life changes. It also shows his loyalty to Rahim Khan, and how he is willing to uproot his life to visit him and leave his wife behind. -
Farzana and Hassan are Murdered
Rahim Khan tells Amir that the Taliban "shot [Hassan] in the back of the head ... they shot [Farzana] too" (Hosseini 219). The readers can understand the situation that Afghanistan is in during this time period. The Taliban killed innocent civilians such as Hassana and his wife causing no trouble at all. This is a turning point for Amir and he realizes he can not longer atone for his actions. After hearing the news, Amir decided to find Sohrab because he was the only part of Hassan left. -
Afghanistan Overview
The President Obama made "David H. Petraeus, the architect of the 2007 "surge" in Iraq, in command of American forces in Afghanistan, and the pace of American operations stepped up enormously, initially in the Taliban's strongholds in the south" (The New York Times 1). -
Obama's War
Obama's plan to expand the United States and associate with Afghanistan started with "General Petraeus, the Iraq commander who received much of the credit for the success of the surge there, [to take] charge of United States Central Command in October 2008, with responsibility for military operations in Iraq, Afghanistan and across the region" (The New York Times 4). -
Obama's War
On "Dec. 1, 2009, at West Point, Mr. Obama announced his plan to deploy 30,000 additional troops" (The New York Times 4). -
Obama's War
In "2010, President Obama removed Gen. McChrystal after contemptuous quotes from general and his staff about senior administration officals appeared in an article in Rolling Stone magazine" (The New York Times 4). -
Obama's War
Obama decided to bring the American's in Afghanistan back to the U.S. "Yet in a move away from that July 2011 deadline, 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" (The New York Times 4).