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Legend is Born
Baba is born and Zahir Shah begin a 40 year reign of Afghanistan. Chapter 4 starts by saying " In 1933, Baba was born and Zahir Shah began his 40 year reign of Afghanistan." (24) While showing us the age of Baba, we also get some key info to the everchanging government of Afghanistan. The reign ends during the early years of Amir's childhood. -
Friends From Birth
Amir and Hassan are born, Amir introduces us to him by saying " I became what I am today in the winter of 1975, at the age of 12." (1) Amir uses forshadowing to show us about an event while introducing us to him and Hassan. Which starts the main plot of the book ( Their relationship ) -
Women's Rights
As part of Daoud’s reforms, women are allowed to attend university and enter the workforce. -
Tragedy
Hassan is raped by Assef in a dark alley and Amir does not save him. Amir says " I ran, I ran because I was a coward." (75) Amir betrays his best friend instead of trying to save him. Which brings him a lot of guilt directly after -
The Last Of Many
Hassan runs a kite for the last time. Amir thinks to himself " That was the last time I saw Hassan run a kite." (67) A symbolic game in the lives of both Hassan and Amir is stripped away from them. The raping of Hassan is being foreshadowed here, as we can tell something will change. -
Leaving Home
Amir and Baba leave Afghanistan, Amir reveals this when he says " Baba loved the idea of America. It was living in America that gave him an ulcer." (125) This shows that Amir and Baba has moved to America, but Baba was having a hard time adjusting. In an entirely new enviorment, Baba will need to get used to a power shift -
Afghans Flee
Some 2.8 million Afghans have fled from the war to Pakistan, and another 1.5 million have fled to Iran. Afghan guerrillas gain control of rural areas, and Soviet troops hold urban areas -
Graduation
Amir graduates from High School as he thinks to himself " That summer of 1983, I graduated high school. I was by far the oldest." (131) Because of the switch in countries, Amir was much older than the rest of his high school class. But that did not stop him from graduating and starting a long journey. -
Baba Learns a Lesson
Baba freaks when a store owner asks for his ID after writing a check, and then learns a valuable lesson about US customs. He freaks out and screams " Does he think I'm a thief? What kind of country is this?" (128) Baba clearly hasn't adjusted to US customs yet as Amir needed to explain that they were supposed to do that to anyone. A power shift has just begun, and Baba will shortly fit right in. -
Father-Son Time
Baba and Amir spend some quality time together during the summer driving around through their beautiful new home. Amir says " Baba sold his Buick and bought a dilapidated 71' Volkswagen bus." (137) Baba has finally begun to give attention to Amir in America. The purchase of the bus was so the 2 could hangout together, and it's clear Baba has realized that he does not have as much power as he did. -
Lost and... Lost
Rahim Khan goes to Hazarajat to try to find Hassan. Rahim Khan is explaining why he went to Amir when he says " The biggest reason I went, Allah forgive me, is because I was lonely." (203) Rahim Khan was sick and lonely, so he wanted to find Hassan, because he was his last chance at talking to someone close to him. -
Firearms Added
The Mujahadeen are receiving arms from the United States, Britain and China via Pakistan. -
The First Novel
Amir finishes his first novel he describes it as " a father son story set in Kabul." (182) It's clear that Amir still wished his childhood contained affection from Baba. So much so that his novel was based off of his story, but instead of a lack of affection, the father son duo were almost best friends. -
Bad News
Amir and Soraya learn that they can't have children. They argue about it when Amir says " Sometimes, it takes a while!... " A year isn't a while Amir!" (184) It is made clear that there is a problem, but while Amir is trying to stay positive while Soraya knows there is an issue. They learn soon learned that they had something called " unexplained fertility". -
Brand New Home
Amir and Soraya place a down payment on a 2 bedroom house in San Francisco. Amir says " We placed a down payment on a pretty two bedroom victorian house in San Francisco." (188) Soraya wanted to move because she felt like a change of scenery was needed after the news of infertility. Because Amir is a very guilty person overall, he figures the least he could do is help move their family. -
Celebration
The Taliban ended constant fighting in Kabul. Rahim Khan comforts Hassan by saying " The war is over! No more killing! No more funerals!" (213) Amir and Baba left for America because of how violent their homeland was. Now, that violence and terror has left the middle east. -
A National Pastime is Gone
The Taliban ban kite fighting after the war ends. Rahim Khan says " A few weeks later, they banned kite fighting." (213) Amir's favorite activity from when he was young was stripped away. Many memories flood him, and he realizes just how many things him and Hassan did together. -
Afghanistan Pop. Continues Decline
Continuing drought devastates farmers and makes many rural areas uninhabitable. More than 1 million Afghans flee to neighboring Pakistan, where they languish in squalid refugee camps. -
A Trip Back In Time
Amir tells soraya he needs to go back to Pakistan to visit a sick and dying Rahim Khan. Amir breaks the news " I have to go to Pakistan." (193) Soraya is very confused and is extremely worried. However she knows how important Rahim Khan is to Amir so she let's him go. -
The Taliban Continue
Ignoring international protests, the Taliban carry out their threat to destroy Buddhist statues in Bamiyan, Afghanistan, saying they are an affront to Islam. -
Brutal Attack On America
Hijackers commandeer four commercial airplanes and crash them into the World Trade Center Towers in New York, the Pentagon outside Washington, D.C., and a Pennsylvania field, killing thousands. Days later, U.S. officials say bin Laden, the Saudi exile believed to be hiding in Afghanistan, is the prime suspect in the attack -
Enemies Fight Back
Following unanswered demands that the Taliban turn over bin Laden, U.S. and British forces launch airstrikes against targets in Afghanistan. American warplanes start to bomb Taliban targets and bases reportedly belonging to the al-Qaida network. The Taliban proclaim they are ready for jihad -
A New Leader
Presidential elections are held. More than 10.5 million Afghans register to vote and choose among 18 presidential candidates, including interim leader Karzai. Karzai is elected with 55 percent of the vote. -
Afghan Terrorist Killed
U.S. forces overtake a compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan, and kill al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden on May 2 local time. -
Afghan Army Takes Over Security
The Afghan army takes over all military and security operations from NATO forces.
