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Dr. Rasul teaches at the University
Dr. Rasul teaches multiple dialects at the Kabul University. Amir meets a homeless man who he later finds out is a former professor at the Kabul University. His name is Dr. Rasul, and claims to have been at the University "From 1958 to 1996. I taught Hãfez, Khayyám, Rumi, Beydel, Jami, Saadi" (Hosseini 249). This is important to the plot because Amir finally finds out more about his mother, and later affects the way he understands his father. -
Sanaubar leaves Ali for a band
Sanaubar flees with a group of singers, leaving Ali and Hassan behind. Sanaubar is the mother of Hassan, and "None of us had seen Sanaubar since she had eloped with a band of singers and dancers in 1964, just after she had given birth to Hassan" (Hosseini 210). This is important to Amir's understanding of Hassan and Ali, and their relationship to Baba and himself. Because Amir later finds that Sanaubar is not the mother to Hassan, Amir percieves the relationships differently. -
Hassan's cleft lip is fixed
Dr. Kumar performs surgery and fixes Hassan's cleft lip. "'Well,' Dr. Kumar said, 'my job is to fix thinks on people's bodies. Sometimes their faces.'"(Hosseini 45). Amir "kept thinking of that day in 1974, in the hospital room, just after Hassan's harelip surgery" (Hosseini 218). This is important to Amir atoning for his sins later in the book. Hassan's harelip might represent his morality, since Amir also had one after his fight with Assef, atoning for his own sins. -
The Kite Tournament is held in Wazir Akbar Khan
The Kite Tournament is held in Amir's neighborhood, Wazir Akbar Khan, and other districts are invited. It is stated that "In the winter of 1975,...the tournament was going to be held in my neighborhood, Wazir Akbar Khan, and several other districts...had been invited" (Hosseini 55). This is a crucial point in the book, mostly because of Hassan's loyal words to Amir. "For you a thousand times over" is a quote stated thrice throughout the book. -
Amir's Thirteenth Birthday
Amir turns thirteen. "I turned thirteen that summer of 1976" (Hosseini 93). Amir's birthday is very important to his relationship to Baba. Baba threw the party for Amir because he won the Kite Tournament. This is a proud moment for Baba, for he wants Amir to be like him. -
The Soviet Invasion of Afghanistan
Soviet troops parachute into Kabul. "The first Soviet troops parachuted into Kabul on Dec. 27, 1979" ("Afghanistan-An Overview") -
Amir and Baba flee Kabul with others
Amir and Baba flee the city of Kabul with other refugees due to Russian invasion. Amir leaves with Baba in "March 1981...My innards had been roiling since we'd left Kabul just after two in the morning" (Hosseini 110). This flight to America represents a large power shift for Baba and Amir. They no longer have the same social order they were used to back in Afghanistan. Baba's wealth and respect no longer put him above others. -
Amir graduates High School
Amir graduates high school at the age of twenty. "That summer of 1983, I graduated from high school at the age of twenty" (Hosseini 131). This is a large milestone for Amir. Baba is very proud of Amir, and urges him to attend college. This is another moment in which Baba and Amir can bond, despite their differences. -
Baba sells his Buick
Baba sells his Buick and buys a Volkswagen bus from an Afghan acquaintance for $550. "The following summer, the summer of 1984--the summer I turned twenty-one--Baba sold his Buick and bought a dilapidated '71 Volkswagen bus for $550 from an old Afghan Acquaintance who'd been a high-school science teacher in Kabul" (Hosseini 137). This quote shows the power shift and struggles Baba and Amir face in coming to America. -
Amir finishes his first novel
Amir finishes his first novel. "In the summer of 1988, about six months before the Soviets withdrew from Afghanistan, I finished my first novel" (Hosseini 182). This quote depicts quite an important moment for Amir. The power shift is represented here. When he came to America, Amir could follow his passion, and wasn't restricted by anyone, unlike in Afghanistan, where such freedoms were non-existent or unlikely. -
Soviet Withdrawal out of Afghanistan
Soviet troops withdraw from Afghanistan. "Eventually, after peace talks moderated by the United Nations, the last Soviet troops left Afghanistan in February 1989, in what was in effect a unilateral withdrawal." (Afghanistan-An Overview) -
Amir's first novel is published
Amir's first novel is released. "The novel was released in the summer of that following year, 1989" (Hosseini 183). Publication of Amir's novel is a success for him. He thinks of what Baba would think of him, and is an example of how much Amir looks up to his father, and how he wishes to please him and be like him. -
Farzana is pregnant for the second time
Farzana is pregnant for the second time. "In early 1990, Farzana became pregnant again" (Hosseini 209). This is an important event leading up to the birth of Sohrab. Sohrab will become an important representation of Amir's atonement for his sins when he is captured in Kabul. -
Sanaubar returns to Baba's estate in Kabul
Sanaubar finds Rahim Khan and Hassan in Kabul. "In early 1990...None of us had seen Sanaubar since she had eloped with a band of singers and dancers in 1964" (Hosseini 210). Sanaubar is a character that adds to the percieved understanding of Hassan's relationships with others. We later discover that Hassan is not her mother, and it changes our understanding of Hassan and his family. -
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Mujahedin forces showers Kabul with rockets
Mujahedin forces cause significant damage to Kabul with rockets. "Mujahedin forces had showered Kabul with rockets between 1992 and 1996, inflicting much of the damage I was witnessing now" (Hosseini 245). This quote shows the real danger in the city, and how Amir was really risking his own life to atone for his sins and save Sohrab. -
The Taliban takes control of Afghanistan
The Taliban takes full control of Afghanistan with help of Pakistani aid. "Buoyed by Pakistani aid, the Taliban by 1996 had taken control of Afghanistan" (Afghanistan-An Overview)
"I told you how we all celebrated in 1996 when the Taliban rolled in a put an end to the daily fighting" (Hosseini 213) -
Osama Bin Laden arrives in Afghanistan
Osama Bin Laden arrives by chartered jet at Jalalabad Airport. "The Taliban also provided a haven for Mr. bin Laden, who arrived by chartered jet at Jalalabad Airport in May 1996" (Afghanistan-An Overview) -
The Taliban Seizes control of Afghanistan
Mullah Omar seizes control of Afghanistan with the help of Pakistanis. "Buoyed by Pakistani aid, the Taliban by 1996 had taken control of Afghanistan" (Afghanistan-An Overview") -
The Hazaras are massacred by the Taliban
The Taliban massacre Hazaras in Mazar-i-Sharif. "And two years later, in 1998, they massacred the Hazaras in Mazar-i-Sharif" (Hosseini 213). The massacres of the Hazara people is a clear demonstration of how race and ethnicity can put people in different social orders. The Hazaras were hated only because of their minority in Afghanistan, just showing how this social system works. -
Amir recieves bad news about Rahim Khan
Amir is notified that Rahim Khan is sick and dying. "June 2001...Rahim Khan is very sick" (Hosseini 191). This is one of the first steps Amir takes to atone for his sins. Rahim Khan calls on Amir mainly for Sohrab. Because Rahim Khan knows about Baba and Amir's relationship, he wants Amir to save Sohrab and atone for their sins. -
The World Trade Center is attacked
The World Trade Center is attacked by terrorists. "After the attack on the World Trade Center in New York on Sept. 11, 2001" (Afghanistan-An Overview) -
Hamid Karzai is named Chairman of the Interim Government of Afghanistan
Harmid Karzai, a relative of the former exiled king, is named chairman of the replacement government of the Taliban in Afghanistan. "In December 2001, Hamid Karzai, a supporter and relative of Mohammad Zahir Shah, the exiled former king of Afghanistan, was named chairman of an interim government that replaced the defeated Taliban, making him the leader of the country." (Afghanistan-An Overview) -
Hamid Karzai is elected as president of Afghanistan
Hamid Karzai is elected to a five-year term as president of Afghanistan. "saying he hoped to secure peace for Afghanistan and win the country much-needed international aid, Mr. Karzai was elected to a five-year term as president in 2004 -
General Patraeus takes charge of US Central Command
General Patraeus takes charge of United States Central Command. "General Patraeus, the Iraq commander who received much of the credit for the success of the surge there, had taken charge of United States Central Command in October 2008" (Afghanistan-An Overview) -
Obama deploys more troops into Afghanistan
President Barack Obama announces his decision to deploy 30,000 additional troops into Afghanistan. "In a speech delivered Dec. 1, 2009, at West Point, Mr.Obama announced his plan to deploy 30,000 additional troops." (Afghanistan-An Overview)