-
Hassan Threatens Assef
Hassan puts up a confident facade when him and Amir are cornered by Assef and his friends. Amir recalls that "[he] had to strain to hear the fear that [Amir] knew hid under his calm voice," (Hosseini 42). Hassan threatens to shoot Assef in the eye with a slingshot, which is important forshadowing for what Hassn's son does later in the novel. Frurthermore, this scene shows the inportance of standing up to bullies. -
Zahir Shah is Overthrown
While Zahir Khan was away on business in Italy "his cousin Zahir Kahn had ended the king's fourty-year reign in a bloodless coup," (Hosseini 36). -
Hassan Raped
Just after Amir wins the kiite tournament, Assef gives Hassan payback for threatening him by raping the younger boy. Assef "justifies" is ny saying "'It's just a Hazara," (Hosseini 75). Assef was embarassed when he was scared by AHssan, so he gets back at him by violating him and thinking it's okay because Hassan is of lower class. Rape is never okay, no matter the circumstances or the people involved. -
Kite Tournament
During the winter of 1975, Amir wins the local Kite tournament and gain some respect from his father. Amir remembers that moment as "the single greatest moment of [his] twelve years of life," (Hosseini 66). Amir feels like he has finally done something to make hi sfather proud. Amir is just like any kid; everyone wants their patents to be proud of what they've done. -
Amir Frames Hassan
Amir feels guilty that he did not intervene when Hassan was being violated by Assef, and it eats him up inside. When he frames Hassan for stealing, he feels as though "[his] heart sank and [he] almost blurted out the truth," (Hosseini 105). Amir's guilt is too much for him to handle, and is constantly reminded of that guilt whenever he sees Hassan. People do crazy things when they are driven by guilt. -
Ali & Hassan Leave
Ali cannot frogive his son's actions and insists they leave. Baba cannot handle the loss of his lifetime companion and does something Amir had never seen him do before: he cries (Hosseini 107). Baba was devastated by the loss of Ali and reacted how anyone else in his position would. The loss of someone is always hard on thos ewho cared about them. -
Soviets Invade
Soviet Union troops parachuted into Kabulon December 27, 1979. This resulted in "roughly 15,000 [lost] lives.
("Afghanistan-- an Overview") -
Baba & Amir Move to America
Baba and Amir are able to esacpe a war-ridden Afghanistan and come to America as Baba loved the idea of it (Hosseini 125). America is a fresh start for the duo, and they cherish it. Many people wish for a clean slate, and these two actually gte a new start in a new country. -
Amir & Soraya talk for the First Time
Amir and Soraya's first real conversation is awkward to say the least. Amir had "bared [himself], and left little doubt as to [his] interest in her," (Hosseini147). In Afghan culture, any prolonged conversation between an unmarried man can show a man's interest in a woman. Amir had been dreaming of Soraya for months and seized the opportunity to show his interests. -
Amir & Soraya Marry
Amir and Soraya are married soon after their first conversation. At their wedding, Amir whispers to her for the first time that he loves her (Hosseini 171). Amir and Soraya's wedding was a happy occasion, a light in the dark time of Baba's cancer. Baba was a proud father that day, giving his son off to a sweet woman. Sadly, Baba dies shortly after their matrimony. -
A Semblence of Peace
A semblence of peace finally came to the Afghans when "the last Soviet troops left Afghanistan in February 1989," (Afghanistan-- an Overview"). -
Chaos in the Government
LIfe was hard in the "summer of 1994 , [when] power was anarchically divided among competing warlords," (Afghanistan-- An Overview"). -
Start of the Taliban
The Taliban began as a student movement "dedicated to purifying the country" and had about 12,000 followers at the end of 1994. -
Taliban in Control
The Taliban took over the government and 'by 1996 had taken control of Afghanistan," ("Afghanistan-- An Overview"). -
Government Supports Terrorists?!
It is shocking that 'the Taliban also provided a haven for Mr. bin Laden"("Afghanistan-- An Overview"). -
Amir Visits Rahim Khan
Amir flies to Pakistan after Rahim Khan calls him, to find him on the verge of death. Rahim Khan tells Amir everthing: finding Hassan, living in his and Baba's old house, Hassan's son, and Hassan's death (Hosseini 201). Amir doesn't take the news well (especially the fact that Hassan was his half brother), but reluctantly agrees to save Sohrab from the orphanage in Afghanistan. Amir is atoning for not coming back for Hassan. -
Amir Discovers Assef's Identity
Amir is shocked when he arrives at the orphanage to find that Sohrab was tken by a Taliban leader, who is none other than Assef himself. The moment "felt surreal-- no, not surreal, absurd," (Hosseini 281) in Amir's eyes. It had been almost twenty years and Assef was just as terrifying and cruel as he was when he was a child. His superior and barbaric beliefs as a kid only intensified with age. -
Amir & Assef Fight
Assef feels the need to exert his dominance whenever he can, thus he challenges Amir to a fight in odrer to earn his and Sohrab's freedom. Assef initiates the fight under the prestenses of "unfinished business" (Hosseini 286). Assef still carries the grudge from when he was threatened by Hassan. -
Payback
While Assef is beating Amir, Sohrab asks him to stop, when he doesn't, Sohrab shoots Assef in the left eye with his slingshot, just like his father promised so many years ago (Hosseini 291). In a way, Sohrab is finishing what his father started. -
Amir Brings Sohrab to America
Sohrab is silent upon his arrival in America. When meeting Soraya, his new mother, "Sohrab shifted on his feet and looked away," (Hosseini 358). Soharb felt betrayed when Amir went back on his promise to not send him to the orohange. Sohrab is afraid to form a relationship, because Amir betrayed him before. -
9/11
The Country was in shock after the "Sept. 11 attacks by Al Qaeda," ("Afghanistan-- An Overview") on the Twin Towers in New York City. -
Hope
While at an Afghan gathering, Amir convinces Sohrab to fly a kite with him. Sohrab reluctantly joins Amir and they use one of Hassan's old tricks to cut a kite, and Sohrab smiles for the first time. When Amir offers to run to kite fro Sohrab he promises, "for you, a thousand times over," (Hosseini 371). This heart-wrenching scene shows that Amir is trying to atone for past mistakes with Hassan, by saving Sohrab. -
New Government
In December of 2002 Hamid Karzai "replaced the defeated Taliban, making him the leader of the country," ("Afghanistan-- An Overview"). -
A New Leader
A peace finally came when "Mr. Karzai wsa elected to a five-year term as president in 2004,"("Afghanistan-- An Overview"). -
Homecoming
In 2009 in a speech at West Point Obama "vowed to start bringing American forces home from Afghanistan in the middle of 2011,"("Afghanistan-- An Overview").
