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History of Afganistan
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Kabul is turned into a republic and the monarchy is destroyed, confusing the young boys
After the gunshots are heard, Hassan whispers,"'Amir agha... What's a 'republic'?' I shrugged" (Hosseini 37). In this quote, Amir and Hassan are completely oblivious to what is hppening around them. This is significant because it demonstrates their innocence in regards to everything happening around them and what is going to start happening in the future. -
Amir wins the kite fighting competition
When Amir sees Baba clapping, he calls it the,"...single greatest moment of my twelve years of life, seeing Baba on that roof, proud of me at last" (Hosseini 66). This quote demonstrates a life goal finally acheived for Amir, because he feels he has finally been accepted. This is interesting though, because it shows how shallow Amir is. He believes this superficial win will make Baba proud of him, but the accomplishment won't last forever. If it does, it shows how shallow everyone has become. -
First Soviet troops parachute into Kabul
As discussed in the text, "(t)he first Soviet troops parachuted into Kabul on Dec. 27, 1979, to assist Babrak Karmal..." ("Afghanistan," 2011). -
Amir graduates high school
After graduation, Baba tells Amir,"'I am moftakhir, Amir,' he said. Proud... I liked being on the reciving end..." (Hosseini 131). In this quote, Baba is telling Amir he is proud once again. Yet amir isn't as excited as he was on the day of the kite tournament. This is significant because it demonstrates the depth Amir has gained with the knowledge collcted throughout his life. -
Amir meets Soraya Taheri
After meeting Soraya, Amir nicknames her,"My Swap Meet Princess" (Hosseini 142). Here, Amir is declaring his love for Soraya, but he does so in an interesting way. Baba called Amir's mother, Sofia Akrami, 'princess' as well. This shows how much Baba affects Amir's entire thought process, for even figure of speeches rubbed off him. -
Baba finds out he has cancer
When Amir begs Baba to go through chemo, he responds saying, "Don't you challenge me in public, Amir. Ever. Who do you think you are?" (Hosseini 156). In this quote, Baba is showing Amir his place. Even though Baba lost a lot of power through hearing his diagnosis, he still wanted to keep as much of it as he could over Amir. -
Soraya and Amir are married
Soraya is angry becasue," Their sons go out to nightclubs... Oh, they're just having fun... I make one mistake... and I have to have my face rubbed in it for the rest of my life" (Hosseini 179). In this quote, Soraya demonstrates her aquired hatred of young men. Yet she still decided to marry Amir, which is significant because it demonstrates her love and trust towards him. She does not see him to be "just one of the others", but a completely different person. -
Baba passes away
After the funeral, Amir finally realizes,"Now he was gone. Baba couldn't show me the way anymore"; I'd have to find it on my own" (Hosseini 174). In this quote Amir now reconises he has to make his own decisions. This difference is shown by the fact that Baba ran from sins, but Amir makes his own decision and repents with Sohrab. -
Soviet Airforce becomes useless due to advanced missiles of the United States
According to the text, "...the Soviet Air Force was... rendered largely useless (after 1986) by advanced Stinger antiaircraft missiles supplied by the United States to the rebels" ("Afghanistan," 2011). -
Amir gets his first novel published
Hassan once said, "Some day, Inshallah, you will be a great writer, he had said once, and people all over the world will read your stories. There was so much goodness in my life. So much happiness. I wondered whether I deserved any of it" (Hosseini 183). In the text, Amir is reflecting on the words of Hassan, which give him hope for the future. Yet at the same time, the fact that Hassan spoke those words makes Amir question whether he deserves his tranquility, and tacks on guilt to his hope. -
Soviet troops leave Afghanistan
After many peace talks oragnized by the United Nations,"... the last Soviet troops left Afghanistan in February 1989..." ("Afghanistan," 2011). -
Pakistani intelligence begin to send supplies to the Taliban
In the article, readers are told that, "(a)s early as 1994, Pakistani intelligence officers began funneling arms, money and supplies to Mullah Omar's men..." ("Afghanistan," 2011). -
Power becomes divided between fueding warlords and feifdoms
According to the article "...by the summer of 1994, power was... divided among competing warlords and... fiefdoms" ("Afghanistan," 2011). -
Mullah Omar gains almost 12,000 followers
Due to his promises of restoring Islamic life, "...Mullah Omar had nearly 12,000 followers (by the end of 1994)... " ("Afghanistan," 2011). -
Osama Bin Laden arrives at Jalalabad Airport by chartered jet
According to The New York Times, Osama Bin Laden"...arrived by chartered jet at Jalalabad Airport in May 1996..." ("Afghanistan," 2011). -
Rahim Khan and friends rejoyce when the taliban rolled in, but Hassan is not so sure
After the Taliban takes over, Hassan replies with,"'God help the Hazaras now...'The war is over, Hassan... But he just turned off the radio" (Hosseini 213). After the Taliban take over, Hassan is able to see through their current plan. This mistrust demonstrates the corruption power can bring. The Taliban originally came to get rid of the Russians, but in the end they took advantage of the position they gained and began to be influenced to do bad things. -
Hassan and Farzana are shot by the Taliban
After hearing the story of Hassan's death, Amir feels that his,"...hands are stained with Hassan's blood..." (Hosseini 346). In this quote it is apparent that Amir feels this blood is on his hands. In other words he feels Hassan's entire fate wouldn't have happened if not for him. His grief is making it impossible to see that Hassan had a good life, with a family that loved him. He wouldn't have wanted that taken away, and yet Amir continues to look at the small picture. -
Amir goes to see Rahim Khan in Peshawar
Over the phone, Rahim Khan tells Amir,"There is a way to be good again" (Hosseini 192). This quote is another way Rahim Khan is giving advice to Amir. Throughout the book, Rahim Khan represents redemption. Through seeking to find him back in Peshawar, it is evident that Amir was looking for a way of reedeeming himself. -
Amir finds out he and Hassan are brothers
After being told of Hassan's lineage, Amir shouts,"...my whole life is one big... lie" (Hosseini 223). Amir becomes very angry at the news, mostly because his idol is now shattered in his eyes. Further than that, there is now no excuse for how he treated Hassan, for everything he did to him in the end was done to make Baba like HIM more. Now there was no excuse because Baba no longer deserved his respect, and yet Hassan did. -
Amir has his last battle with Assef
During the fight, Amir thinks,"My body was broken... but I felt healed. Healed at last. I laughed" (Hosseini 289). In this moment, he finally feels he has made up for all he has done and feels finally repented. The thing is, Assef experienced this same feeling, but in a different way. He felt content with punishment because it passed his kidney stone. Amir was content because it passed his sins, In this way the priorities of people are shown. -
Sohrab attempts to commit suicide
When Amir comes to visit Sohrab, he tells him,"I wish you had left me in the water" (Hosseini 355). Here Sohrab is telling Amir that he wants to get away from his life, but that statement can be seen by many as selfish. This is the difference from his father; Sohrab wants to die because he has had too much suffering. Yet Hassan was also abused, and he would never dream of suicide for it would cause too much pain to the people around him. -
Al Qaeda attacks World Trade Center
In 2001, Al Qaeda led an "...attack on the World Trade Center in New York on Sept. 11..." ("Afghanistan," 2011). -
United States leads an invasion of Afghanistan after 9/11
As discussed by the article, "(t)he United States has been militarily involved in Afghanistan since 2001, when it led an invasion after the Sept. 11 attacks..." ("Afghanistan," 2011). -
Hamid Karzai is named the leader of Afghanistan
As discussed by the article,"...Hamid Karzai... was named chairman of an interm government... making him the leader of the country (in December 2001)" ("Afghanistan," 2011). -
Sohrab smiles and amir runs him a kite
Before running him a kite, Amir tells Sohrab,"'For you, a thousand times over...'(Hosseini 371). Not only has Sohrab finally begun to find happness again, but Amir's scarred memories of Hassan have finally healed. By using this quote, it demonstrates that Amir is content with his memories and ready to move on and make Hassan proud. -
Hamid Karzai takes office in Afghanistan
After being given the position, Hamid Karzai "...took office as interim president in June 2002..." ("Afghanistan," 2011). -
Hamid Karzai is elected to a five year term as president
After being given the position initially, "Mr. Karzai was elected to a five-year term as president in 2004" ("Afghanistan," 2011). -
Obama announces plan to deploy 30,000 additional troops
While giving a speech at West Point on, "...Dec. 1 2009... Mr. Obama announced his plan to deploy 30,000 additional troops" ("Afghanistan," 2011).