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Hassan gets raped
After Assef raped Hassan, Amir had, "Pretended that [he] hadn't seen the dark stain in the seat of his pants." (78). After Amir witnessed Hassan's rape, he pretended as if everything was normal. Through this action, Amir damaged a strong bond between him and Hassan for the rest of his life. -
Hassan is accused of stealing the money
After Amir's birthday party, Baba asks Hassan, "Did you steal that money? Did you steal Amir's watch Hassan?' Hassan's reply was a single word, delivered in a thin, raspy voice:'yes'" (105). Even though Hassan did not steal the money or the watch, he pretended like he did to protect Amir. This signifies how one sided Hassan and Amir's relationship was, which had a big impact on the plot of the book. -
Amir and Baba go to America
On their journey to America, Amir begins to get car sick, "My innards have been roiling since we'd left Kabul just after two in the morning." (110). Ever since Amir and Baba left home, Amir has been feeling sick. This illustrates how Amir may be nervous about restarting his life in America. -
Hassan and Ali leave
After Amir accused Hassan of stealing his birthday money, Ali announces, "Life here is impossible for us now, Agha sahib. We're leaving." (106). Since Amir had been so harsh to Hassan after his rape, he made living a good life impossible for Hassan and Ali, which drove them away. This causes both Baba and Amir to loose a brother, who they would never end up seeing again. -
First Soviet entrance in Afganistan
To begin the storyline in 1979, "The first Soviet troops parachuted into Kabul on Dec 27, 1979 to assist Babrak Karmal, who had become president in a coup." (New York Times) -
Amir and Soraya's wedding
For Amir and Soraya's wedding, Baba ended up spending, "$35,000, nearly the balance of his life savings on the wedding ceremony." (169). Baba spent most of his life savings on Amir and Soraya's wedding because as he said it was the happiest day of his life. Baba only spent so much on the wedding because he had months to live, given his current condition which signifies how important Amir is to Baba. (I was unsure of the year for this event) -
Baba dies
The night before his death, Baba says, "Not tonight... there is no pain tonight." (173). Baba died a painless death but he left many in sorrow. He left both Amir and Soraya upset about his death, which caused them to have trouble in their day to day lives.
(I am unsure about the date of this event) -
Last Soviet troops in Afghanistan
After assisting in a coup and involving themselves in a conflict, "The last Soviet troops left Afghanistan in February 1989" (New York Times) -
Baba gets cancer
As Amir finds out Baba has cancer, he says, "Like Satan, cancer had many names. Baba's was called 'Oat Cell Carcnomia'". (155-156) Since Baba has cancer, Amir's life shifts from Baba taking care of him to him taking care of Baba. This causes both of their day to day lives to be significantly different through the rest of the book. (I am unsure of the date in this event) -
Hassan dies
When Amir visits, Rahim Kahn informs him, "[The Taliban] took him to the street...and ordered him to kneel...and shot him in the back of the head." (219). Since Hassan died, Amir is guilty because he never got to atone Hassan for what he did to him all those years ago. Later, Amir is convinced to adopt Sohrab in effort to atone for his actions. (I am unsure of the date of this event) -
Power Division
After the Soviets left, "power was anarchically divided among competing warlords and individual fiefdoms." (New York Times) -
Pakistani Officers give millitary men supplies
Shortly after, "Pakistani intelligence officers began funneling arms, money and supplies to Mullah Omar's men." (New York Times) -
Haven for Bin Laden
Once the US began chasing after Bin Laden, "Taliban also provided a haven for Mr Bin Laden, who arrived by chartered jet at Jalalabad airport." (New York Times) -
Taliban return to Tora Bora
After Bush's threats, "remnants of Al Qaeda and Taliban leadership retreated to Tora Bora in the mountians." (New York Times) -
Taliban Gov. Replaced
After the 9/11 attacks, "Hamid Karzai...was named chairman of an interim government that replaced the defeated Taliban." (New York Times) -
Assef gets shot in the eye
While Amir and Assef were fighting, Sohrab shot Assef in the eye and the Assef, "Put his hand where his left eye had been just a moment ago."(291). Assef got shot in the eye by Hassan's son, which was what Hassan had threatened to do to Assef many years ago. Assef loosing an eye ties up a loose end between Assef, Amir and Hassan since they all had unfinished buisness from many years ago. -
Sohrab tries to commit suicide
When Sohrab is in the hospital, Amir visualizes, "the blood soaked razor sitting on the toilet tank-the same razor [he] had shaved with the day before."(348). Because Amir told Sohrab he may have to return to an orphanage, Sohrab attempted to end his own life. This results in Amir reconnecting with his religion and he ends up praying for Sohrab to survive. -
Rahim Kahn is sick
As Amir explains to Soraya why he looks so pale he says, "Rahim Kahn is very sick." (191). Rahim Kahn's sickness causes Amir to return to Afghanistan, which builds the plot for the rest of the book. Rahim Kahn is the one who informs Amir of Sohrab and how Amir should adopt him. This further builds on to the rest of the book and gives Amir and Soraya a chance at having a kid. -
Amir returns to his hometown
Once Amir is back in his hometown, he tells Farid, "I feel like a tourist in my own country." (231). Amir feels as if he does not belong in his country anymore since he has been in America for so long. this results in Amir feeling a strong disconnect between him and the land where he grew up. -
Amir flies to Pakistan
After Rahim Kahn calls, Amir finds himself, "aboard a Pakistani International Airlines flight." (194). Since Rahim Kahn is very sick, Amir feels the need to put the rest of his life on hold and go visit him. This ends up changing Amir's life forever, since he returns home with a child. -
Sohrab changes
Ever since Sohrab attempted to end his life, he became silent and, "He didn't so much live with [Amir and Soraya] as occupy space. And precious little of it." (361). Sohrab has become silent and a completely different person since he tried to kill himself. This is hard on both Amir and Soraya since they both care for him so deeply. -
Ultimatum by President Bush
After the 9/11 attacks, "President George W. Bush gave the Taliban an ultimatum to hand over Mr Bin Laden." (New York Times) -
Taliban Return
The Taliban never stopped trying even after the threats, "The Taliban continued to wage a guerrilla warfare." (New York Times) -
Amir runs a kite
During the kite race Amir, "Ran, a grown man running with a swarm of screaming children." (371). Amir runs a kite that Sohrab cuts off in a kite race. This illustrates the healing Amir underwent throughout all of the years since he is able to kite race again. -
Obamas Plan
To contunie forces against the Taliban, "Mr. Obama announced his plan to deploy 30,000 additional troops." (New York Times)