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Assef Beats Hassan
After Amir wins the kite competition and Hassan runs the kite, Assef finds Hassan, and violates him, claiming he is "just a Hazara" in the process (Hosseini 75). Assef wants revenge from when Hassan stood up to him with his slingshot in hand, and joked about calling him 'One-Eyed Assef'. However, Amir, standing nearby, does nothing, and instead runs away, not knowing what to do in the situation. -
Amir Enters and Wins Kite Competition
When Amir wins the kite-fighting competition, he finally feels that he has earned Baba's favor, "And that right there was the single greatest moment of [Amir's] twelve years of life, seeing Baba on that roof, proud of [him] at last" (Hosseini 66). He feels that he is to blame for his mother's death, and that is why Baba does not pay much attention to him. Therefore, Amir wants to show Baba that he cares about him and that he wants appreciation in return. -
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Amir's Childhood
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Baba Pays More Attention to Amir, Amir and Hassan Rarely Talk
After Amir wins the kite tournament, he starts to have a better relationship with Baba and a worse one with Hassan, as "[he] barely [sees] Hassan" after the incident (Hosseini 80). Baba believes Amir has become more of an honor to the family, as he treats him more lovingly, especially at Amir's 13th birthday party, where he spoils him with food and gifts. Hassan and Amir rarely talk, as Amir is overwhelmed with guilt over what his inability to act during the incident. -
Hassan & Ali Leave the House
The day after Amir's 13th birthday party, Amir slips money under Hassan's pillow, but when asked, Hassan admits he stole it. They leave soon after when they realize they cannot live like this anymore. Amir feels that either he or Hassan could not stay at the house anymore, because of the rocky relationship between the two. Likewise, "[Amir] was a liar, a cheat, and a thief. And [he] would have told, except that a part of [him] was glad" (Hosseini 105). -
U.S.S.R. Invades Afghanistan
In 1979, the Soviet Union invades, which threatens the peaceful lives of the Afghan people, including Amir. Two years later, he and Baba leave Afghanistan and their home. This affects Amir because "when Russian tanks would roll into the very same streets where Hassan and [he] played, bringing the death of the Afghanistan [he] knew and marking the start of a still ongoing era of bloodletting" (Hosseini 36). Baba and Amir must now readjust to new life in another country, America. -
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Amir's Life in America
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Amir & Baba Move to Fremont, CA
Due to the Soviet invasion in Afghanistan, Baba and Amir move to America to try and start a new life there, as "Baba loved the idea of America", but "it was living in America that gave him an ulcer" (Hosseini 125). Amir, however, adjusts easily to life in America, as he can pursue his dream of becoming a writer and attending school, while Baba is now a gas station manager and has lost the power he once had. -
Amir Meets Soraya Taheri, They Get Married
Baba runs into an old friend, General Taheri. However, Amir meets his daughter, Soraya, with whom he falls in love. Eventually, after they get to know each other, Baba and "the general [accept]" their marriage, and they want their children to live a happy life together (Hosseini 163). Amir moves on with his life successfully, but can't help thinking that he wishes Hassan could be there with him. -
Baba Diagnosed With Lung Cancer, Dies of Disease
Shortly before Amir and Soraya's wedding, Baba is diagnosed with "Oat Cell Carcinoma," a form of lung cancer due to Baba's smoking addiction (Hosseini 156). However, Baba refuses any treatment, as he knows that he does not have much time left to live. This shows that Amir has the power in the family, and reciprocates by taking care of Baba during the day and night. -
Rahim Khan Invites Amir Back to Pakistan
Rahim Khan tells Amir many things about Hassan's life after he and Baba moved, such as Hassan and his wife being shot in the streets by the Taliban, and their son, Sohrab moving to an orphanage. He also reveals that Hassan is Amir's half-brother, which makes Amir feel like his life is "one big f***ing lie" (Hosseini 223). He is upset because although Baba had told Amir that theft was the worst sin, he had stolen Hassan's right to know the truth. -
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Back to Afghanistan: Amir's Adult Life
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Amir and Farid Head to Kabul, Ghazi Stadium
Amir meets Farid, a friend of Rahim Khan, who takes him to Kabul. Amir feels "certain that [Farid] had taken a wrong turn somehwere," as it is now extremely gloomy and run-down (Hosseini 244). Amir realizes his life as a child in Afghanistan was more comfortable than most, and was not aware of the despair of others. At the orphanage, they find out that Sohrab was taken to Ghazi Stadium, where they find a Taliban officer stoning people to death for their sins. -
Amir & Assef Fight
Assef realizes that he needs to complete "some unfinished business" with Amir, and they start to fight (Hosseini 286). While fighting, Amir starts laughing while in pain because he knows the guilt is off of his back. After being faced with the guilt of not intervening with Hassan and Assef as a child, he finally feels that he has redeemed himself. -
Amir Reunites with Assef, Meets Sohrab
Amir finds that the Taliban officer stoning children is Assef, who believed in joining the Taliban to "take out the garbage" (Hosseini 284), He also took Sohrab hostage and violated him. Throughout the large timeline of the story, Assef is really the one who sticks to his personal morals and values more than anyone else. This is because he always maintains the same opinions and goals throughout, and acts on them in a consistently destructive way. -
Amir & Sohrab Bond
Amir is in a hospital bed with many injuries, and he finally introduces himself to Sohrab, who shot Assef in the eye with his slingshot to save Amir from further injury. The aftermath of the fight allows them to bond and play "panjpar most of the next day" (Hosseini 307). They spend more time together, and Amir sees a miniature Hassan in front of him, which makes him happy and reminds him of the old days. -
Amir Starts Adoption Process, Sohrab Attempts Suicide
Amir has been thinking about adopting Sohrab, but it is a long process, and he hints to Sohrab that he may have to live in the orphanage again. As a result, "[Amir] was on [his] knees...screaming through [his] clenched teeth. Screaming until [he] thought [his] throat would rip and [his] chest explode" (Hosseini 343). Amir's bonding leads him to care for Sohrab like his own son and his best friend, too. Therefore, his emotions are triggered when he finds out Sohrab has attempted suicide. -
Amir Adopts Sohrab
Amir realizes that Sohrab is alive and well. He and Soraya then adopt him, but Sohrab stays silent every day. One day, Amir and Sohrab fly a kite, and he shows Sohrab the technique of kite fighting. When they cut the other kite, Amir runs the kite saying, "For you, a thousand times over" (Hosseini 371). As he repeats the phrase Hassan said to him many years ago, this shows their relationship has come full circle.