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Chapter 2
Amir’s mother dies giving birth to him, and Hassan’s mother left Ali five days after giving birth to Hassan. Amir discovers that for a long time the Hazaras have been persecuted by his own people.
Race and history- Ali and Hassan, are viewed inferior by the Pashtun for being Hazara. History to favour the victors and the intolerance of most Afghanis as opposed to Hazaras shows how Hassan is brought up to think differently about Hazaras. Amir views Hazaras differently to most Afghanis. -
Chapter 3
Amir believes his father hates him because his mother died giving birth to him. He overhears his father talking to Rahim Khan about how much more manly Hassan is. His father has fixed notions of masculine identity. Amir thinks his father prefers Hassan and takes his jealously out on him.
Foreshadowing- Baba says of the religious leaders, ‘God help us all if Afghanistan ever falls into their hands’ (p 16) foreshadowing the later rule of the Taliban, and injects a note or warning of future tragedy -
Chapter 4
Starts with a flashback of 19933, the year Ali was born
Foreshadows his future as a writer
Amir is afraid Hassan is smarter than him, despite being illiterate and deprived of an education, due to being Hazara.
This chapter establishes Rahim Khan as a better father figure for Amir
Neither Baba nor Amir refer to Ali and Hassan as friends, despite relying on them
Foreshadows the origin of Hassan's son's name, Sohrab- the story of Rostam and Sohrab. -
Chapter 5
Psychotic and vicious Assef, a racist thug who believes in ethnic cleansing, confronts Amir for his own cowardice and disloyalty. In the face of Assef’s aggression, Amir says nothing to defend Hassan. He abandons the ties of years and assures Assef that Hassan is merely just his servant. In stark contrast, Hassan’s loyalty and courage are unquestioned and he defends Amir in the face of overwhelming odds.Significantly, Hassan never reproaches Amir and unquestioningly accepts his inferior status. -
Chapter 6
Chapter all about kites and kite flying
Kite flying is symbolic of guilt, but at the same time redemption and forgiveness
Kites come to represent Amir's guilt. He doesn't fly another kite since the incident, but earns the right to do so after he saves Sohrab at the end of the novel.
The tournament is a metaphor for the journey of childhood to adulthood, a rite of passage.
A sense of national identity, though a social hierarchy is still evidently present. Amir flies the kite, H can only run it -
Chapter 7
Amir and Hassan win the kite flying tournament. Amir is looking for Hassan who has gone to retrieve their kite, when he encounters people who regularly bully and are racist towards Hassan. Pivotal moment in the novel, key turning point- Hassan trapped in the alley by Assef and his friends. This chapter is referred to at the start of the novel in chapter 1, through a memory of Amir's. Memories in literature are often fragmented, and are not linear or accurate. -
Chapter 8
Amir and Hassan don't see each other anymore- he can't bear to spend time with Hassan as he is reminded of his cowardice and selfishness. The cycle of sin and betrayal against Hassan.
Amir and Baba go to their relatives' house. Amir finds some peace when he is with Baba: "I understood the nature of my new curse: I was going to get away with it".
After Amir returns, Hassan tries to mend their friendship, Amir rejects him and his treatment towards Hassan deteriorates. -
Chapter 9
Amir plants his watch and money under Hassan's mattress and told Baba. Hassan admitted to stealing from Amir; it was in that moment that he knew that Amir had seen what had happened, what chose to protect Amir because he knows Baba would would never forgive Amir if he found out what he did. Amir then realises Hassan told Ali what happened, resulting in them having to leave. Baba cries and refuses to let them leave. this was the first time Amir had seen Baba cry. -
Chapter 10
Amir and Baba flee
Baba confronts a Russian soldier and stops a rape happening- represents parallels between Amir and his father. Baba did what Amir couldn't do, willing to take a bullet to defend a stanger, but Amir couldn't stand up for someone he grew up with.
His father reveals Kamal was also raped during the violence of the Russian occupation. After one week in Jalalabad, they are transported in a fuel truck. Kamal dies in the fuel truck and his father takes Karim’s gun and shoots himself. -
Chapter 11
America
The tensions of middle-eastern politics have been transplanted into the Afghan-Afghan community. Baba’s controversial and apparently pro-Israeli views arouse controversy. He loathes Jimmy Carter and is an admirer of Reagan. He is the ‘lone republican’ in the apartment building.
Baba is working long hours in a gas station, Amir is a student.
They sell at a flea market. An entire section of the market is worked by expatriate Afghans. Amir meets General Taheri and his daughter Soraya. -
Chapter 12
Amir falls in love with Soraya, asks for Baba's blessings to marry her
Baba is diagnosed with terminal cancer
Male privilege is openly discussed in this chapter- Soraya tells Amir that she had been with a man previous (female oppression is introduced briefly). Her father disapproves of her passions of becoming a teacher. -
Chapter 13
The wedding takes place quickly due to Baba's declining health.
Mind casts back to Hassan, wonders if he he married and misses Rahim Khan.
Baba passes away in his sleep, his funeral taking place a few days later.
three milestones: becomes a husband, father dies, becomes an author
Unable to have children- believes it is the price he has to pay for what he did, a form of punishment.
Women are unfairly treated for their actions (women gossiping about Soraya)
War in Afghanistan is still going on -
Chapter 1
Amir tells us about a phone call he received six months earlier. It was from his father’s old friend Rahim Khan, asking him to come to Pakistan. He reminisced about his childhood friend and half-brother, Hassan, remembering an event from his past as a young boy in Afghanistan in which he watched a great injustice take place in an alley to the person who protected him above anything or anyone else. Betrayal and redemption- Amir and Baba both betray childhood friends. -
Chapter 14
Ten years passed.
Chapter 14 links to chapter 1- back to how the novel began. Rahim Khan's phone call is significant in terms of the structure of the novel. This is Amir's chance at redemption, "Come. There is a way to be good again".
Amir dreams of Hassan running through the snow, calling over his shoulder, "For you a thousand times over".
Amir boards a flight to Pakistan to meet Rahim Khan a week later.
