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Amir and Hassan read at the Pomegranate Tree
When Amir reads his improvised story to Hassan, he compliments him, and Amir then " gave him a friendly shove. Smiled. ' You're a prince Hassan.You're a prince and I love you'", (Hosseini 30). Despite the fact Amir had changed his story and improvised, Hassan still found it intreging to listen to. The way Amir responds to Hassan demonstrates how tight their bond is towards the beginning of the book, and we are able to compare how this changes later on in the novel. -
Hassan and Amir encounter Assef
Right before Hassan and Amir are able to reach their Pomegranate tree, they run into Assef, along with his two friends Wali and Kamal. The two try to tell Assef there is no problem but he says that "If idiots like you didn't take these people in, we'd be rid of them by now," (Hosseini 40). Assef's interpretation of Afghanistan is that it belongs to the Pashtuns, and Hazaras do not belong. Hassan being a Hazara angers him, which we can see being a large conflict in the book. -
Hassan flies Amir's kite in the Kite Battle
Once Hassan wins the kite battle with Amir's kite, he darts off to attned the daily prayers. Amir asks a merchant for his direction and he says that Hassan was seen running "that way. He had a kite in his hand. A blue one"..." For you a thousand times over," (Hosseini 70). These events all lead up to the main turning point in Amir and Hassan's relationship. Hassan still shows his loyalty towards Amir, but this is one of the last times we see Amir show any concern for Hassan's well being. -
Hassan is raped by Assef
Hassan is cornered in an alley way by Assef and his two friends, Wali and Kamal. Once the rape starts, Amir suddenly " ran because I was a coward. I was afraid of Assef and what he would do to me," (Hosseini 77). Instead of saving Hassan from Assef, Amir selfishly decides to run through cowardness and fear of being hurt also. This is the main cause of Amir and Hassan's distant relationship, which develops further through the novel. -
Ali and Hassan leave Baba's house
After Baba forigives Hassan for "stealing" Amir's watch, Ali breaks the news to Baba that they need to leave the house. As Ali gains the suspiscion that Amir set Hassan up, he realizes " Life here is impossible for us now Agha sahib. We're leaving," (Hosseini 106). Due to Amir's plan to set up Hassan for stealing his watch, it results in Ali and Hassan leaving Baba's house. This event is the last time Amir sees both Hassan and Ali, but aswell what causes Amir's central guilt that he regrets. -
First Soviet troops enter Afghanistan
As Moscow insisted on troops entering Afghanistan, " 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," (2 NYT). -
Amir and Baba travel to Pakistan
Amir and Baba travel to Pakistan with a group of other refugees, but at the checkpoint, a Russian soldier tells them that he wont let them through. Baba decides to stand up to the soldier, however Amir jumps in and insists on Baba to "...sit down please,' I said,...' I think he really means to shoot you," (Hosseini 116). Amir is shown as giving concern for Baba's safety, while Baba is putting others' safety before himself. We can see both of their morals in this part of the book, -
Amir graduates from highschool at age 20
As Amir meets Baba after his graduation ceremony, the two share a picture and hug on the football field. Baba then mentions to Amir that he is "proud. His eyes gleaming when he said that and I liked being on the receiving end of the look," (Hosseini 131). Amir receives the emotional attatchment from Baba that he never had as a child. The two being the only ones in America strengthens their bond, and demonstrates Baba's care for Amir. -
Amir gains Soraya's hand at marriage
After General Taheri accepts Soraya's marriage on the behalf of Amir, she admits many things of guilt from her past to Amir while they are in her house. Despite what Soraya tells him, Amir responds, "Nothing you said changes anything. I want us to marry," (Hosseini 165). Amir is able to look past Soraya's wrong doings if it means their marriage. We can see Amir's growth as a person of morality, but also through maturity. -
Baba's funeral following his passing
After Baba passes away from cancer, Amir holds his funeral in a mosque in Hayward. Soraya comforts him as they walk outtside, and tells her that he is "...going to miss him....Soraya pulled me to her and the tears finally came," (Hosseini 176). Amir is emotianlly affected by Baba's death in multiple ways. One of being that the father that raised him is now gone, but also that the strong bond the two grew is now also. Amir now is an independent man who can look out for himself, and his new family -
Last Soviet troops leave the country
After peace talks were negotaited by the United Nations in 1989, " The last Soviet troops left Afghanistan in February 1989, in what was in effect an unliteral withdrawal," (2 NYT). -
Afghanistan falls into a state of struggle for power
Prior to Soviet military departing from the country, "Afghanistan descended into vicious internecine strife; by the summer of 1994, power was anarchically divided among competing warlords and individual fiefdoms," (2 NYT). -
Mullah Omar's cause gains Pakistani Intelligence backup
While Mullah Omar was followed by 12,000 followers in his promise for Islam, "Pakistani intelligence officers began funneling arms, money, and supplies to Mullah Omar's men, as well as military advisers to help guide them in battle," (3 NYT). -
The Taliban forces gain control of Afghanistan
With the help from Pakistani funds, "The Taliban by 1996 had taken over control of Afghanistan, imposing strict enforcement of fundamentalist Islamic law, banning movies and music and forcing women out of schools and into all-enveloping burqa clothing," (3 NYT). -
Taliban aids Osama and Al Queda
The Taliban assist the Al Qaeda with safety, " a haven for Mr. bin Laden, who arrived by chartered jet at Jalalabad Airport in May 1996, and for Al Queda," (3 NYT). -
Rahim Khan requests for Amir to go to Pakistan
Amir and Soraya are relaxing in their home, when Amir receives a call from Rahim Khan to meet him in Pakistan. As Amir walks along in golden gate park, he remembers that Rahim Khan told him,"Come, There is a way to be good again," (Hosseini 192). This is when the past comes back to Amir, now in his new life. Even though Amir left his guilt and wrong doings to Hassan in the past, it can be seen here that this is where atonement is in play. -
Amir meets with Rahim Khan in Pakistan
Once Amir arrives at Rahim Khan's residence, the two talk about life, but then suddenly switch to the Taliban. As Amir asks about the level of the situation, Rahim Khan tells him that it is "Much worse,' he said. 'They don't let you be human," (Hosseini 198). Ever since Amir left Afghanistan, the Taliban have taken over and ravaged the people of the coutnry. Amir is new to the news, and this becomes the main conflicting factor in how Amir comes back to see his home country. -
Amir stays at Farid's house
While Amir stays as a guest in Farid's home, the family feeds him their food. However, realizes that they don't have any food left over . When he drives away the next morning, it occurs to Amir that "In a different world, those boys would'nt have been too hungry to chase after the car," (Hosseini 242). Once Amir realizes the truth to why the boys were looking at his food, he experiences the daily changes that have been caused from the war and Taliban. This correlates time period to the setting. -
Sohrab attempts suicide
Amir finds out that the only way to bring Sohrab to America is to put him back in the orphanage for a couple years, however he discovers an alternative. Amir goes to tell Sohrab the news, but finds him bleeding and passed out in a bath time, which Amir ends up "on my knees screming...Later, they said I was still screaming when the ambulance arrived," (Hosseini 343). Sohrab tries to kill himself in order to prevent going back to the orphanage. Now, we can learn more of the setting and it's state -
Amir encounters Assef while trying to get Sohrab
After Amir realizes that Assef is in possesion of Sohrab inside the compound, Amir attempts to convince Assef to let him have the boy. Assef questions Amir's purpose with Sohrab and Amir insistingly repeats to him," All I want is the boy...I want the boy,' I said again," (Hosseini 285). Seeing the circumstances Sohrab is in under the possesion of the Taliban, Amir is determined to bring him to safer place for his own well being. At the same time, he is able to atone for what he did to Hassan. -
Amir takes Sohrab to Golden Gate Park
During Amir, Soraya, and Sohrab's visit to Golden Gate Park, Amir offers Sohrab to fly a kite, which he is hesitant at first. Sohrab eventually accepts and as Amir runs the kite for him, he says, " For you, a thousand times over," (Hosseini 371). Flying kites with Sohrab reminds Amir of when he used to do so with Hassan, and Sohrab is able to fill the gap Amir has of Hassan. This closing to the book relates to Amir's childhood, and to his relationship with Hassan. -
The attack on the Twin Towers in New York
The attack by Al Queda forces in New York," On the World Trade Center in New York on Sept. 11, 2001, President George W. Bush gave the Taliban an ultimatum to hand over Mr. bin Laden," ( 3 NYT). -
Hamid Karzai takes power in Afghanistan
Being part of the government that defeated the Taliban," Mr. Karzai was elected to a five-year term as president in 2004," (3 NYT). -
Hamid Karzai becomed interm president of Afghanistan
As part of an interim government in Afghanistan, "He took office as interim president in June 2002," (3 NYT). -
Obama announces the deployment of additional troops in Afghanistan
With war effort in mind, Obama,"...announced his plan to deploy 30,000 additional troops," (4 NYT)