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Amir witnesses Hassan being abused
When Amir is making a decision, he thinks to himself, "I could step into that alley, stand up for Hassan-the way he'd stood up for me all those times in the past-and accept whaterver would happen to me. or I could run. In the end, I ran" (77). The level of guilt that Amir will feel is something that he can never lift off his shoulders. He took that decision out of fear of what Assef would do to him. -
Amir wins the kite running competition
When Amir is flying a kite in the finals, "'We won! We won!...that right therer was the proudest moment of my life, seeing Baba on that roof, proud of me at last" (66). Amir is elated because this may be a crucial step to receiving acceptance from his father. This also bring him and Hassan closer together. -
Hassan and Ali leave
When they all have a meeting, Ali says, "Life here is impossible for us now, Agha sahib. We're leaving" (106). This is when Amir realizes that Hassan knows everything that happened and what Amir failed to do. It also reveals the level of damage that Amir has caused for both his generation and Baba's. -
Soviet Union Troops invade Kabul and overthrow the Afgan leader
According to the article , "thefirst Soviet troops parachuted into Kabul on Dec. 27, 1979 -
Amir and Baba find refuge in the US
After Kamal commits suicide, the story zooms forward, and Amir says, "Baba loved the idea of America" (124). Their journey to America gives them a new beginning. Power shifts from Baba to Amir, since Amir has more of a career opportunity. -
Amir graduates highschool
When Amir has finally completed his studies, “That summer of 1983, [he] graduated from high school at the age of twenty, by far the oldest senior tossing his mortarboard on the football field that day.” (131) This is significant because it is an important step to getting a successful career. Without a diploma, publishers may not even want to view the novels that he has written. -
Baba is diagnosed with cancer
Baba and Amir go to a doctor after Baba had gotten very sick and, "It turned out that, like Satan, cancer had many names. Baba's was called 'Oat Cell Carcinoma.' Advanced. Inoperable" (156). This signifies a turning point in the story. Amir will no longer be able to depend on Baba and must make all of his own decisions from now on. -
Amir asks Baba to ask General Taheri for his blessing
After Baba is discharged from the hospital, Amir states, "I want you to go khastegari. I want you to ask General Taheri for his daughter's hand" (161). Baba has carried out many honorable and some dishonorable actions, and this may be his last chance to do one last honorable deed. This also means that Amir will become part of the General's family. -
Soviet Air Force is rendered useless by Stinger missiles from the Americans and the rebels
According to the article, "The Soviet Air Force was also rendered largely useless by advance d Stinger antiaircraft missiles supplied by the UnitedStates to the rebels" (2). -
Amir finishes his first novel
Just before the Soviets withdraw, Amir, "...finished [his] first novel, a father-son story set in Kabul..." (182). This marks the start of his career in writing. This will also ensure that he can provide for Soraya and her family in times of need. -
Soviets Leave
The article states, "After peace talks moderated by the United Nations,the last Soviet troops left Afganistan in February 1989, in what was in effect a unilateral withdrawal. -
Sohrab is born
In the winter, "It was Saunabar who delivered Hassan's son that winter of 1990" (211). Without the birth of Sohrab, Amir would never be able to redeem himself. Sohrab also eventually becomes the son Amir could never have. -
Ruling power is split
By the summer of 1994, "power was anarchichally divided among competing warlords and individual fiefdoms" (2). -
Mullah Omar and Taliban gain popularity
In the text, "By the end of 1994 Mullah Omar had nearly 12,000 followers and was rolling up the warlords to the north and east" (2). -
Taliban take over Afganistan
Aided by Pakistan, the Taliban had "taken control over Afganistan, imposing strict enforcement of fundamentalistic Islamic law..." (3). -
Amir gets a phone call from Rahim Khan
When Amir gets a phone call from Rahim Khan, he explains "I have to go to Pakistan...Rahim Khan is very sick" (191). Amir will once again be reminded of his past. The mistakes that he has made will eventually persuade him to atone for his sins when he arrives back in the middle east. -
Hassan is shot
Rahim Khan explains that when the Taliban find Hassan in Baba's house, "they took him to the street... and order him to kneel...and shot him in the back of the head" (219). This traumatic news gives Amir much more guilt of what he has done. This also makes him more determined to try to make up for it. -
Rahim Khan reveals a secret about Hassan
Rahim Khan reveals, "Ali was sterile...He and Saunabar had Hassan didn't they?...No they didn't, Amir. Then who-...I think you know who" (222). The fact that Baba is really the father of Hassan changes the whole perspective of the story. Amir is very angry that Baba never mentioned that he had a half-brother right beside him all this time. -
Amir decides to rescue Sohrab
After thinking it through Amir reflects, "'There is a way to be good again,' he'd said. A way to end the cycle. With a little boy. An orphan. Hassan''s son" (227). Amir desperately wants to make things better. He also wants to break the cycle of flawed pasts in his family. -
George W. Bush demands Taliban to hand over bin Laden
After the attack on the world trade center, "President George W. Bush gave the Taliban an ultimatum to hand over Mr.bin Laden" (3). -
Americans and rebels drive out the Taliban
According to the article, "An air and ground campaign began that drove the Taliban ot of the major cities by the end of the year" (3). -
Amir fights Assef over Sohrab
As Amir is about to fight Assef, Amir recollects from the future, "I don't know if I gave Assef a good fight. That was the first time I'd fought anyone" (288). Amir finally feels healed from the guilt all those years ago. This is also the point when Sohrab shows his bravery by defeating Assef, the action that Hassan had never completed. -
Hamid Karzai is named leader of the country
In december of 2001 Hamid Karzai, "was named chairman of an interim government that replaced the Taliban, making him the leader of the country" (3). -
Sohrab smiles when they are flying kites
When Amir and Sohrab are flying a kite in the park, and they cut the green kite's string, "I looked down at Sohrab. One corner of his mouth had curled up just so. A smile. Lopsided. Hardly there. But there" (370-371). The smile makes it seem like things are looking up for Sohrab and the people around him. Amir is given hope that Sohrab is mentally healing. -
General Petraeus takes charge of US central command
General Petraeus "had taken charge of United States Cenral Command, with responsibility for military operations in Iraq, Afganistan, and across the region" (4).