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King Nadir Shah's Assasination
Monarchies hold very esteemed positions in society, and Amir's grandfather acts as a bridge to that past phase in the history of Afghanistan. Amir observed, "Inside sat framed family pictures: an old, grainy photo of my grandfather and King Nadir Shah taken in 1931, two years before the king's assasination' (5). This event held significance reguarless, but it has even more because there is a family connection. That level of connection deepens the impact of loss and is why is resonates with Amir. -
Baba's Birth and Ali's adoption
Many percieve life to be as a perpetual and reoccuring cycle, and this occured among Baba, Ali, Hassan, and Amir. Amir remembered, "Ali and Baba grew up together as childhood playmates-...just like Hassan and I would a generation later" (25). The two families were forced to have distinctions as a result of their societal positions, but they had undeniabley tight bonds. This is why Baba refused to let anything sever these bonds and why Ali found it so difficult to say goodbye. -
Hassan's Birth
Hassan was an individual who had a deep impact on Amir and Hassan never knew a day without Amir. Amir recalls, "It was there in that little shack, that Hassan was born in the winter of 1964, just one year after my mother dies givinng birth to me" (6). Hassan did something incredibly meaningful that Amir denied for a long time, he helped fill the void left behind by the loss of his mother. Hassan's unwavering loyalty, praise, dependence, and admiration of Amir helped shape Amir's identity. -
Baba begins construction of the orphanage
Unbenownced to Amir, Baba too carried around a great amount of guilt with him, but because he didn't tell Amir, Baba's actions seened to be out of the goodness of his heart. Amir reminises, "Then Baba succeeded and everyone shook their heads in awe of his triumphant ways" (13). Amir interpreted this as goodness, but it was a way that Baba could feel as though he atoned. Amir may have though he was being taught about generic goodness when he was being shown the imprtance of atonment. -
The Kite Flying Competition and The Day Amir's Life Changed
Amir competed in a kite flying competition with the intention of making his father proud, but it ended having the entire day signified an irreversable alteration on Amirs's life. Amir experienced such acute guilt that he tried to justify his actions by convincing himself that he "aspired for cowardice" (77). This is an illogical aspiration and Amir recognised this, but he was also aware of the unethical actions he displayed . After earning his father's respect, he lost respect for himself. -
Soviet Union's Attack on Afghanistan
When this abrupt attack upset the peace of Afghanistan, it symbolized an end to the era of peace. This peace has still not been restored today as "[t]he turmoil and extremism that has dominated its history since then can be traced to the invasion by the Soviet Union" (The New York Times 2). -
Baba's Near-Death Experience
As they travelled away from Afghanistan on a caaravan, a Russian soldier with a mind clouded by alcohol demanded alone time with a woman on board to which Baba began to fight back. This caused Amir shame at first before he realized "it wasn't in his nature. The problem was, his nature was going to get us all killed" (115). Amir still idolizes Baba and does not know of Baba's deciet, but Baba had to overcompensate for his mistakes and refine his nature. Because of his guilt, Baba changed himself. -
Amir's Highschool Graduation
In Amir and Baba's struggle to adapt to an american lifestyle, Amir's accomplishment was especially significant. Baba confessed, "I am moftakhir, Amir" (131). They had fought valiently together and been through grueling struggles, but Baba finally expressed his pride for Amir. This was not only a significant moment for Amir's academic career, but also his relationship with Baba. -
Baba is Diagnosed with Cancer
Amir was devastated and terrified when he found out about his father's inevitable death, but Baba appeared unafraid. He demanded of Amir, "No one finds out about this, you hear me? I don't want anybody's sympathy" (157). Even until the bitter end, Baba stubbornly maintsined his pride and independence. His bravery and refusal of help may have been because he wanted to face his fear rather than prololng his suffering. -
Amir and Soraya are Married
Even when faced with the overwhelming joy of marriage, AMir still felt guilty. He described, "I opened my mouth and almost told her how I'd betrayed Hassan,lied, driven him out, and destroyed a fourty-yeat relationship between Baba and Ali. But I didn't" (165). In this moment, Amir envied her and too wanted to be obsolved of all guilt, but along with guilt, he has great fear. Though he worked to convince himself that he wanted to be a coward, he wanted to have courage. -
The Completion of Amir's first novel
Amir at a young age determined his passion for writing, but many around him frowned upon it, he finally acquired success, With this success and happiness, his thoughts drifted to Hassan and Amir questioned, "There was so much goodness in my life. So much happiness. I wondered if I deserved any of it" (183). As a result of his failure to atone, he is unable to feel adequate. His failure from the past is haunting his future and preventing him from feeling pure joy. -
Final Soviet Troops Vacate Afghanistan
After a prolonged period of inhabiting Afghanistan, the Soviets finally departed from Aftghanistan. It is described," after peace talks moderated by the United Nations, the last Soviet Troops left Afghanistan in Februay 1989" (The New York Times 2). -
Sohrab's Birth
Sohrab was an extremely meaningful part of Hassan's life and helped him create a promising future. Hassan "named him Sohrab, after [his] favorite hero fron the Shahnamah" (211). Through his choice of names, Hassan reveals that he is unaraid of his past and will continually draw fromo it. It is this acceptance that he has reached and growth that he has undergone that has brought him peace. -
The Taliban Take Over and Alter Afghanistan
The Taliban did not have enough self-sufficiency to remain a threat, however as a result of additional support from groups such as the Pakistani "the Taliban by 1996 had taken control of Afghanistan, imposing stict enforcement of fundamentalist Islamic law, banning movies and music and forcing women out of schools and into all-enveloping burqa clothing" (The New York Times 3). -
Hassan and Farzana Are Murdered
This horrendous massacre of the Taliban in this particular instance were unjustifiably interrogating Hassan and were being cruel. Amir was distraught when he found out, and it prompted him to realize, "Baba, Rahim Khan, Ali, and I had huddled around Hassan's bed... Now everyone in that room was either dead or dying. Except for me" (219). Amir is now burdened with the responsibilty of carrying on all of their legacies. This shifts more power to Amir because he has more responsibility. -
Amir Returns to his home coujntry
Rahim began to slowly and painfully die and, he summoned Amir for a final diszcussion. Based of of a single line from their phone call, Amir was able to discern, "My suspicions had been right all those years. He knew about Assef, the kite... He had always known" (192). Amir experienced a flury of emotions with this realization because he may have been afraid of Rahim knowing his secrete, but also relieved in having the truth exposed. He also must have been relieved to have Rahim's faith in him. -
Amir Confronts Assef
On a mission to adopt his half-nephew, Amir improbably confronts Assef who is in possesion of Sohrab currently. Amir was being visciously beaten but stated, "What was so funny wasthat, for the first time since the winter of 1975, I felt at peace" (289). AMir had desperately craved punishment for his failiure and desired physical pain. In being hurt with pain comparable to the emotional suffering of Hassan, he atoned. -
Actions Following The Attack On The World Trade Center
9/11 had an incredibly profound influence on the United States and the overall sense of secturity and "[a]fter the attacks on the World Trade Center in New York on September 11. 2001. President George W. Bush gave the Taliban an ultimatum to hand over Mr. bin Laden" (The New York Times 3). -
Start of Collaboration Between the USA and Afghanistan
Subsequent to the horrific 9/11 incident in New York, the USA formed an alliance with Afghanistan. It is stated, "The United States has been militarily involved in Afghanistan since 2001, when it led an invasion after the September 11 attacks by Al Queda" (The New York Times 1). -
A President Promises Peace
After the defeat of the Taliban, a temporary givernment was given authority and Hamid Karzi fell into a position of power. It is outlined, "He took office as an interim president in June 2002, saying that he hoped to secure peace for Afghanistan and to win the country much-needed international aid" (The New York Times 3). -
General Petraeus Rises to Authority
A large part of the battle is finding a compitent and authoritative leader capable of effectively contributing towars the cause and "General Petraeus, the Iraq commander who recieved much of the credit for the success o the surge there, had taken charge of the United States Central Command in October 2008, with responsibility for military operations in Iraq, Afghanistan and across the region" (The New York Times 4). -
Obama's Delivers a Speech and Provides a Plan
To set expectations property and to demonstrate genuine support of Afghanistan Obama "announced his plan to deploy 30,000 additional troops" (The New York Times 4). -
Original Date of US Withdrawl
The predicted route and finalized route for the Unted States contributions underwent a significant change. The course of action shifted, "Though initial plans called fro American combat forces to begin withdrawing from Afghanistan in the summer of 2011" (The New York Times 1). -
Predicted Date For Continuing US Forces in Afghanistan
In an effort to reassure Afghanistan and to intimidate the taliban the Obama Administration decided that it "will have forces in the country at least until the end of 2014" (The New York Times 4). -
Sanaubar Returns to Hassan
Sanaubar is another character controlled by her regret, but in finding Hassan and gaining forgiveness she could finally reach peace. Sanaubar recalled, "And I wouldn't even hold you. Allah forgive me, I wouldn't even hold you" (210). She had been long tormented by her guilt and was fully aware of her horrendous mistakes and the impact they had. When Hassan declared forgiveness she was immensely grateful.