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Amir is Born
Amir was born in 1963, one year before Hassan was. -
Hassan is Born
Hassan was born, "In that little shack... in the winter of 1964" (Hosseini 6). Hassan's birth is a significant event in the novel because Hassan and Amir only became close friends because they were close in age. Hassan's birth is an important date because if Hasssan had even been born a few years later, Amir and Hassan would not have become friends, and many of the significant events in the novel would not have occured. -
Baba Builds his Orphanage
When Amir was still a yound child, "Baba decided to build an orphanage." (Hosseini 13). This event shows Baba's generosity, and shows that he still cares about people who might not be from families as fortunate as his. This character trait becomes imporant when the author tells the reader that Hassan is infact Baba's son. -
Baba pays for Hasan's surgury
Hassan was born with a cleft lip, and as a gift, Baba pays to get it fixed. This event is significant because it shows the reader that Baba cares for Hassan a little bit more than it may seem like he does. -
Amir and Hassan go Kite Running
In the Winter of 1975, Amir and Hassan go Kite running together, and Amir said,"I saw Hassan run a kite for the last time" (Hosseini 55). This is a foreshadoing to an important econflict between Hassan and Amir later in the book. -
Amir Wins Kite Tunning Competition
In the winter of 1975, Amir won the kite running contest. Amir was so happy because he thought that he would make Baba proud by winning, but Baba so past the victory. Baba knew that Amir didn't win it all by himself, he knew that Hassan had helped Amir the whole way through, in fact, when Amire won, Hasssan was cheering for him, "You won Amir agha, you won!" (Hosseini 58). Insteading of being proud of Amir, Baba found a new respect for Hassan. -
Hassan is Raped
In december of 1975, Hassan gets raped by Assef. The actual rape is not nearly as significant as the effect that it has on Amir and Hassan's relationship is. The event shows Amir that his relationship with Hassan must be more two-sided in that Hassan and Amir contribute equal ammounts to their relationship and both treat eachother as equals.
(Not using a quote because the event was so gruesome) -
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Soviet Invasion of Afganistan
Before 1979, Afganistan was a peaceful, stable country. In 1979 the Soviets invaded Afganistan, and "the turmoil and extreamism that have dominated its history since than can be traced to the 1979 invasion by the Soviet Union" (Afganistan - An Overview 2). This invasion had a lasting effect on Afganistan. -
First Soviet Troops deployed in Afganistan
On this day, December 27th of 1979, Afganistans future was changed forever. This is the day that the soviet invasion started, and this is the day that the effects of this invasion began. -
Assef makes fun of Hassan for being a Pashtun
In the fall of 1980, Assef insults Hassan for being a Pashtun, "Afganistan is the land of the Pashtuns. It always has been, always will be..." (Hosseini 40). This event is more than just an insult, this envet shows how Assef i -
Amir and Baba go to America
in 1981, Amir and Baba decide that moving to America would be better for their faimly, Amir says, "my innards had been rolling since we left Kabul just after two in the morning." (Hosseini 78). This event marks the beginning of a new chapter in Amir and Baba's life. -
Amir and Soraya are Married
Amir and Soraya get married in 1985. (No real quote for this event) -
Baba dies
Jun 7, 1987 marks the day that Amir's father, Baba dies of lung cancer, but contrary to what many would thinkm Amire is able to get past Baba's death quickly. The night that Baba dies, Amir has already gotten over it, in fact he even says that "there is no pain tonight" (Hosseini 173) the night he dies. These words demonstate Amir's stong soul and newfound courage. -
Amir Finishes His First Book
Towards the beginning of the novel, Amir tells his father, Baba, that he wants to be a writer. Baba, as a successful businessman does not approve of Amir's aspirations. After Amir finishes his first book, he is reassured that he can reach his goal of becoming a writer when he gets a call from his agent saying that he "was going to be a published novelist" (Hosseini 183). This event shows Amir that he can aceive things by himself, and does not need to stand on Baba's shoulders to achieve. -
Sanabaur comes back
Nobody in the novel had seen Hassan's mother, Sanabaur since she left "with a band of singers and dancers in 1964" (Hosseini 210). When Hassan's mother left the faimly, Sanabaur was portrayed as a weak and selfish character, but the fact that she came back after so many years demonstrates that she has grown out of her old, immature self into a brave and caring mother. -
The Taliban Grows
By this date, the Taliban group had grown to over 12 thousand members, "By the end of 1994 Mullah Omar had nearly 12,000 followers..." (Afganistan - An Overview 2) -
Taliban Take control of Afganistan
When the Taliban took control of Afganistan in 1996, they started "banning movies and music and forcing women out of schools and into all-enveloping burqa clothing." (Afganistan - An Overview 3). They also tried to establish new social norms and dicriminate certain social classes. -
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Taliban Takeover Afganistan
During this period of time the taliban invaded and tookover Afganistan, "...the Taliban by 1996 had taken controll of Afganistan..." (Afganistan - An Overview 3). They also became more popular, and "partnered" with Al Qaeda. -
Rahim Khan calls Amir to Pakistan
In the summer of 2001, Amir gets a call, and tells his wife that he needs to go to Pakistan Because "Rahim Khan is very sick" (Hosseini 191). Amir was very close to Rahim when they livend in the same country, but ever since Amir moved to America, they have grown further and further apart. This event is significant simply because it is the beginning of many other conflicts that occur shortly after in the novel. -
Hassan Finally Smiles
Amir said that he saw "A smile. Nothing more...".(Hosseini). This event is so significant to the plot because it showed Amir that he is a true friend. -
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Obama's Involvment in Afganistan
Since 2008 Obama has been involved in Afganistan with troops.His involvment has started a "debate in which Vice President Biden warned against getting into a poltical and military quagmire..." (Afganistan- An Overview 4) -
Obama Announces that he will deploy troops in Afganistan
On December first of 2009, "Mr. Obama announced his plan to deploy 30,000 additional troops." (Afganistan - An Overview 4). This is a significant event because it showed the rest of the world that the US is serious about helping solve the problems in Afganistan. In his speech he also "vowed" that he would remove troops from Afganistan by mid-2011. -
US Troops are predicted to be removed from Afganistan
December of 2014 is the date that many are assuming the US government will withdraw troops from Afganistan, and they missed their previous deadline of July 2011, "The Obama administration changed its tone to increasingly emphasize the idea that the United States will have forces in the country at least until the end of 2014." (Afganistan - An Overview 4).