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Sanubar Leaves
After Hassan was born, his mother Sanaubar " ran off with a clan of traveling singers and dancers." ( Hosseini, 6). Because Hassan and Amir both never had a mother, they shared a bond that made them good friends.The loss of both of the boys' mothers led them to not be able to show love to others like mothers teach their children to. -
Hassan's Cleft Lip Surgery
Baba decided to gift Hassan for his birthday the surgery to get rid of his cleft lip. This surgery made Hassan into a completely different person. When Amir first saw him post- surgery, he said " I knew just what he was doing. He was smiling." ( Hosseini, 47). This surgery helped Hassan become more confident in himself. He was made fun of his lip from others so the surgery helped him raised his self esteem. -
Hassan gets Raped
After the kite flying tournament, Hassan, the kite runner, was targeted by Assef and his friends, because they wanted the winning kite. After Hassan said he would not give the kite to them, Assef said " And there's nothing sinful about teaching a lesson to a disrespectful donkey."( Hosseini, 75) and him and his friends raped Hassan. This quote illustrates the way people treated Hazara's in Afghanistan. This would soon lead to the change of relationship between Amir and Hassan. -
Amir wins the Kite Tournament
When Amir competes in Afghanistan's annual Kite Flying tournament, Hassan says to him " You won, Amir Agha! You won!"( Hosseini, 66). This scene in the book displays Hassan respect for Amir. It shows that he is loyal and honoring Amir even though he is looked down upon by society because he is a Hazara. The scene also displays amir's success as a child. -
Soviet Union invades Afghanistan
The invasion of " 1979 by the Soviet Union" dominated history and the reactions by the Afghans and their allies in the U.S. and Pakistan. (NYT) -
Soviet Troops in Kabul for First Time
For the first time, Soviet troops " parachuted into Kabul on Dec. 27, 1979 to assist Babrak Karmal..." (NYT) -
Amir Meets Soraya
One day at the flea market, young Amir meets the love of his life. When Amir forgot his tea at Soraya's booth, he describes " Her eyes, walnut brown and shaded by fanned ashes, met mine. Held for a minute. Flew away."( Hosseini, 140). Soraya was to later be the mother of their adopted child, Sohrab. She took care of Amir when he needed her, and cared for their family. -
Baba is diagnosed with cancer
After what Amir thought was just a cold, Baba was diagnosed with Oat Cell Carcinoma, cancer. Baba is refusing to have treatment done, and because of that, he has a seizure at a flea market. At the hospital, the doctor tells Amir " As you can see, the cancer's metastasized."( Hosseini, 159).This quotes shows how Baba uses his high socioeconomic status as a way to manipulate everything, even his health; which leads to his death. -
Soraya and Amir get Married
After meeting the love of his wife at a flea market, they get married a little while later. On the day of the wedding " Soraya and I looked down, solemnly respectful, casting only sideways glances at each other." ( Hosseini, 170). This woman changed AMir's life in a positive way. She cared for the child they never thought they would have, and supported Amir thought his tough life decisions. -
Rahim Khan finds Hassan
After Rahim Khan's quest to find Hassan, he finally did. When he saw him for the first time in many years, "He dropped the dough when he saw me. I had to make him stop kissing my hands." (Hosseini,205) he said. This is important because this is where Hassan hands Rahim the photo of Sohrab, which eventually ends up in Amir's hands. This photo led Amir to save Hassan's son's life. -
Baba Dies
Baba used his high socioeconomic status as an excuse to be stubborn. Baba refused to get treated for his cancer, which eventually led to his death.When Soraya offers to get his Morphine, he says " Not tonight. There is no pain tonight."( Hosseini, 173). He never woke up. This is significant because it let Amir feel free and be the one to have power. All his life, Amir felt that he needed Baba's approval, so now that he was gone, Amir did not need to worry about it anymore. -
Soviet Troops leave Afghanistan
After the United Nations moderated peace talks, " the last Soviet troops left Afghanistan in February 1989." (NYT) -
Sohrab is Born
After the tragic loss of their still born girl, " In early 1990, Farzana became pregnant again." ( Hosseini, 209). They named their son after Hassan's favorite superhero, Sohrab. This son soon became the victim of a tragic loss but also became the motivation for Amir. Amir's choice to go to Afghanistan to save Sohrab saved his life. -
Sanuabar Comes Back
After Hassan thinking for many years that he will never see his mother, Sanuabar again, " a woman covered in a sky blue burqa knocked on the front gates one morning." Rahim Khan asks who she is, " But she just collapsed right there in the driveway."
( Hosseini, 209). When Sanuabar reveals that in fact she is his
( Hassan's) mother, he is surprised. While they were still in shock that it really was her, Sanaubar was the one who delivered Hassan's son, Sohrab. -
Pakistani Intelligence Officers Aid Mullah Omar's Men
In 1994, " Pakistani intelligence officers began funneling arms, money and supplies to Mullah Omar's men..." and helped military advisers to guide them in battle -
Taliban Takes Control
After being uplifted by Pakistan aid, " the Taliban by 1996 had taken 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." (NYT) -
Mr. bin Laden Arrives
Mr. bin Laden, who had a haven from the Taliban, " arrived by chartered jet at Jalalabad Airport in May 1996, and for Al Qaeda." (NYT) -
Rahim Khan asks Amir to Come to Pakistan
After a phone call from Rahim Khan requesting Amir to come to Pakistan, he says to Soraya " I have to go to Pakistan."
( Hosseini,191). When Amir goes to Pakistan, his life is forver changed. He comes bak with someone he'd expect to come back with, a child. -
September 11 Attack by Al Qaeda
The U.S. was militarily involved with Afghanistan since 2001, and it " led to an invasion after the Sept. 11 attacks by Al Qaeda." (NYT) -
Amir visits Rahim Khan in Pakistan
Amir learned from Rahim Khan when he visited how much Afghanistan changed since he was last there. When he got there,he saw how much the Taliban has ruined. The orphanage Baba created was now in pieces, and everything was demolished. Rahim Khan told him if they went to buy a carpet "you risked getting shot by a sniper or getting blown up by the rocket."( Hosseini,199). Amir realized how much has changed while he was gone. he remembered it as such a happy place, but now it is very dangerous. -
Hamid Karzai was Named Chairman
In December of 2001, " Hamid Karzai... was named chairman of an interim government that replaced the defeated Taliban , making him the leader of the country." (NYT) -
Sohrab Returns to America with Amir
After many months of torture, Amir says " we arrived home about seven months ago." ( Hosseini, 357). This quotes supports the idea that Amir and Sohrab came over many challenges, but it only made them stronger. From Sohrab's attempted suicide, to the fight Amir had, they finally accomplished their goal, going back to America together. -
Sohrab Smiles at Amir
Even though Sohrab wasn't the normal kid, didn't play with other kids, didn't talk, he did the smallest thing that made Amir so proud. At the Party, " I looked down at Sohrab. One corner of his mouth curled up just so. He smiled. "( Hosseini, 370). Sohrab never expressed any emotion to anyone, so for him to just smile at Amir, met the world to him . It gave Amir hope that Sohrab will eventually get better and he will be like the other kids. -
General Petraeus Takes Charge
General Petraeus " had taken charge of the United States Central Command In October 2008..."(NYT), and he had the responsibility for military operations in Afghanistan, Iraq, and across the region -
Obama's Speech about his Plan
On December 1, 2009, " at West Point, Mr. Obama announced his plan to deploy 30,000 additional troops. He vowed to start bringing American forces home from Afghanistan in the middle of 2011..."