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Amir's Birth; Says His First Word: "Baba"
When Ali reminds Hassan and Amir of the brotherhood they have, Amir remembers his first words spoken under the same roof as Hassan. His "was Baba" (11). This foreshadows which figure is really significant in Amir's life and who he'll try to make the best impression on. It reveals that the relationship between Amir and Baba is the one he cares about the most. -
Hassan's Birth; Says His First Word: "Amir"
Amir is reminded that Hassan and him were fed from the same breast and were raised in the same place. Amir knows Hassan's first word "was Amir. [His] name" (11). This signifies Amir's value and importance to Hassan. It further demonstrates the great amount of loyalty that Hasssan has for Amir. -
Khan Rises To Power In Afghanistan
"Khan overthrows the last king, Mohammed Zahir Shah, in a military coup. Khan’s regime, the People’s Democratic Party of Afghanistan, comes to power. Khan abolishes the monarchy and names himself president. The Republic of Afghanistan is established with firm ties to the USSR." -
Amir and Hassan Win the Kite Flying Contest
When the crowd roared as their blue kite reached its final destination, Amir and Hassan celebrate, exclaiming, "'You won, Amir agha! You won!'...'We won! We won!' was all [Amir] could say" (66). This quote demonstrates that in the kite flying contest, Hassan seems to know that Amir really would not have been able to win without him, but he still stays unpretentious. In addition, it brings up the idea of Hassan's immense amount of humbleness. -
Khan Proposes a New Consitution
"Khan proposes a new constitution that grants women rights and works to modernize the largely communist state." -
Hassan Is Raped By Assef; Amir Fails To Protect Hassan
As Amir witnesses Hassan's rape take place, he contemplates whether he "could step into that alley, stand up for Hassan- the way he'd stood up for [him] all those times in the past... Or [he] could run. In the end, [he] ran" (77). This quotes signifies Amir cowardice overpowering his morals. It further demonstrates that Amir cared more about his well-being than his relationship with Hassan. -
Ali And Hassan Leave Amir And Baba
As Ali and Hassan make the grave decision to move out of Baba's house, Amir "[sees] Baba do something [he] had never seen him do before: He cried. It scared me [him] little, seeing a grown man sob. Fathers weren't supposed to cry" (107). This example shows the impact Ali and Hassan has over Baba because he is seen as a very strong man who doesn't show the most emotions. It foreshadows the later event of Amir finding out that Hassan is his half brother, making this a significant part of the book. -
Afghanistan's New President
"Khan is killed in a communist coup. Nur Mohammad Taraki, one of the founding members of the Afghan Communist Party, takes control of the country as president, and Babrak Karmal is named deputy prime minister. They proclaim independence from Soviet influence. Taraki signs a friendship treaty with the Soviet Union. But a rivalry between Taraki and Hafizullah Amin, another influential communist leader, leads to fighting between the two sides." -
Amir and Baba move to San Francisco, California
After fleeing to San Francisco from Afghanistan, Baba soon finds out that "loved the idea of America. It was living in America that gave him an ulcer" (125). This quote proposes that from an outside view, America seems like an amazing place to live in. However, because Baba is coming from a completely foreign place with different societal expectations, beliefs, and norms, his perception of living there may change because of the frustration and struggle of having to adjust to the living style. -
Afghans Become Refugees
"Some 2.8 million Afghans have fled from the war to Pakistan, and another 1.5 million have fled to Iran. Afghan guerrillas gain control of rural areas, and Soviet troops hold urban areas." -
Amir Graduates From High School
After Amir walked across the stage and received his diploma, he meets up with Baba. Pleased, he expresses, "'I am moftakhir, Amir,' he said. Proud. His eyes gleamed when he said that and I liked being on the receiving end of that look" (131). This moment is significant because throughout his whole childhood, Amir constantly tried to make Baba proud, but didn't often succeed. Now, Amir finally feels like he received validation from Baba, being one of the very few times this may ever happen. -
Baba Passes Away
Amir and Soraya help Baba get into bed, offering that Soraya will be back with his morphine and a glass of water. Baba declines, saying, "'Not tonight'...'There is no pain tonight.'... Baba never woke up" (173). This event is noteworthy because it foreshadows Baba's death. Because he decided to not take the pills that night, his cancer may have overtaken his body. -
Afghanistan Gains Independence
"The U.S., Pakistan, Afghanistan, and the Soviet Union sign peace accords in Geneva guaranteeing Afghan independence and the withdrawal of 100,000 Soviet troops." -
Farzana and Hassan Have Their First Child
Rahim Khan explains that Hassan and Farzana have bred a child. He describes that "by the time Sohrab was two, he was calling her Sasa. The two of them were inseparable" (211). Sanaubar finally has someone to care for, after all those years of abandoning Hassan. Her relationship with Sohrab may symbolize her redemption for leaving her child and spouse. -
Rebel Groups Fight for Afghanistan's Future
"The Mujahadeen and other rebel groups, with the aid of turncoat government troops, storm the capital, Kabul, and oust Najibullah from power. Ahmad Shah Masood, legendary guerrilla leader, leads the troops into the capital. The United Nations offers protection to Najibullah. The Mujahadeen, a group already beginning to fracture as warlords fight over the future of Afghanistan, form a largely Islamic state with professor Burhannudin Rabbani as president." -
The Taliban Gains Power in Afghanistan and Enforces New Laws
"Newly formed Islamic militia, the Taliban, rises to power on promises of peace. Most Afghans, exhausted by years of drought, famine and war, approve of the Taliban for upholding traditional Islamic values. The Taliban outlaw cultivation of poppies for the opium trade, crack down on crime, and curtail the education and employment of women. Women are required to be fully veiled and are not allowed outside alone. Islamic law is enforced via public executions and amputations." -
Missile Attacks on Terrorist Groups
"Following al-Qaida’s bombings of two American embassies in Africa, President Clinton orders cruise missile attacks against bin Laden’s training camps in Afghanistan. The attacks miss the Saudi and other leaders of the terrorist group." -
Amir Finds Out Hassan is His Half Brother
Through Rahim Khan's update when talking to Amir, he reveals that Hassan is actually Amir's half brother. Amir reacts with saying, "I'm thirty years old and I've just found out my whole life is one big [f]ing lie! What can you possibly say to make things better? Nothing. Not a goddamn thing!" (223). In this quote, Amir feels betrayed by Baba, Rahim Khan, and everyone who knew about the situation. He knows that his whole life would have been different if Hassan and he knew. -
Sohrab Attempts to Commit Suicide
Amir decides to check out of the hotel he had recently been staying at where Sohrab had tried to take his own life, reminding him of what Mr.Fayyaz had said to him:"The thing about you Afghanis is that... well, you people are a little reckless... now I wondered. Had I actually gone to sleep after I had given Sohrab the news he feared the most?" (351). Mr. Fayyaz's statement somewhat foreshadows Amir's later actions. It highlights his clumsiness because he wasn't thinking about Sohrab's feelings. -
Rahim Khan Calls Amir
After just getting off the phone with Rahim Khan, Amir reflects on the conversation, "Come. There is a way to be good again, Rahim Khan had said on the phone just before hanging up. Said it in passing, almost as an afterthought" (192). This quote is very prominent in the story because it shows when Amir is given the opportunity to atone for his wrongdoings. After the incident regarding Hassan's rape, Amir has never really given an effort to make up for it. -
Hassan and Farzana Are Killed By Taliban Officials
Rahim Khan tells of the events that led to Hassan and Farzana's passing, saying that when Hassan tried to argue with the Taliban Officials over Baba's house, they "'shot him in the back of the head.'...'Farzana came screaming and attacked them-'...'-shot her too. Self-defense, they claimed later-'"(219). This quote describes the injustice that takes place in the system of Afghanistan. The Taliban are able to get away with almost anything because they are such powerful figures in the Middle East. -
Amir Fights Assef For Sohrab
Following Amir's beating by Assef, he reflects, "What was so funny was that, for the first time since the winter of 1975, I felt at peace... My body was broken-just how badly I wouldn't find out until later-but I felt healed. Healed at last" (289). After years of guilt and shame for choosing not to stand up for Hassan, Amir feels like he has finally reached redemption. The burden he has felt has finally been lifted off of his shoulders and he feels like he got what he deserved. -
Hijackers Place Attacks On Three Locations in The United States
"Hijackers commandeer four commercial airplanes and crash them into the World Trade Center Towers in New York, the Pentagon outside Washington, D.C., and a Pennsylvania field, killing thousands. Days later, U.S. officials say bin Laden, the Saudi exile believed to be hiding in Afghanistan, is the prime suspect in the attack." -
Sohrab Smiles Again
As Amir is about to demonstrate his skills and fly his kite for Sohrab, Sohrab gives him a little smile. Amir knows that "it was only a smile, nothing more. It didn't make everything all right. It didn't make anything all right...But [he'll] take it. With open arms"(371). Amir knows a smile isn't such a big deal, but if it's one from Sohrab, it becomes much more significant. It may take Sohrab a very long time to open up, so Amir will take any sign from him of trying to become comfortable again. -
Afghanistan Elects a New President
"Presidential elections are held. More than 10.5 million Afghans register to vote and choose among 18 presidential candidates, including interim leader Karzai. Karzai is elected with 55 percent of the vote."
