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Baba Expresses That the Worst Sin Is Theft
When Amir accounts to Baba how Mullah Fatiullah taught him about sins according to Islam in school, Baba teaches that, "there is only one sin... And that is theft" (17). Ironically, Baba secretly committed the sin of theft when he pretended Hassan was not his son. As a consequence of Baba's lie, he stole Hassan and Amir's relationship and Hassan's identity. -
Baba Refers To Amir As Cowardly
As Amir eavesdrops on Baba and Rahim Khan's solemn conversation about the young boy, Baba harshly rationalizes that "A boy who won't stand up for himself becomes a man who can't stand up to anything" (22). In other words, Baba recognizes that Amir is a coward. Further, Baba's words demonstrate how he values standing up for oneself, other people, and what one believes is morally right. As a result, Baba feels he does not understand his son and leaves Amir craving for his love. -
Hassan Saves Amir and Himself From Assef
After threatening Amir and Hassan, Assef, a sociopathic boy, nearly punches Amir but halts when Hassan "[holds] the slingshot directly at Assef's face" (42). Despite Hassan's fear of Assef, his loyalty to Amir motivates him to act brave. In addition, Hassan is raised to act sacrificially when he foregoes much of his free time to serve Baba and Amir. Resulting, Hassan is more valiant than Amir, who exercises self-preservation and never actively sacrifices anything in his early childhood. -
Assef Rapes Hassan
At the conclusion of the annual kite-running tournament, Assef rapes Hassan while Amir flees and thinks, "Maybe Hassan was the price I had to pay... to win Baba" (77). First, Amir's decision to not defend Hassan reflects his cowardice and self-preservation. Further, it indicates how Amir yearns for Baba's love so intensely that he discards a loving, loyal friend. This is namely because Amir denies that he and Hassan are friends as a result of Hassan's poor socioeconomic status. -
Hassan Serves Assef at Amir's Birthday Celebration
During Amir's grand birthday celebration, he observes, "Hassan serving drinks to Assef and... Assef grinning, kneading Hassan in the chest with knuckle" (100). Significantly, Hassan is obligated to serve his rapist because of his low socioeconomic status. Furthermore, Assef expresses no regret about the rape since he believes that Hazaras, like Hassan, deserve pain. Overall, the rape demonstrates Hassan's lack of power in society and the dominant racism. -
Amir Throws Pomegranates at Hassan
The first time Amir nicely converses with Hassan subsequent to the rape is when he throws pomegranates at Hassan and wishes that "he'd give [him] the punishment he craved" (92). Basically, much of Amir's guilt stems from Hassan's unchanging loyalty since he feels he does not deserve it. Moreover, the power shifts to Hassan since Amir feels that Hassan holds a way of making Amir feel atonement. However, Hassan refuses to punish Amir and thus Amir avoids Hassan in order to bury his guilt. -
Hassan Lies For Amir
When Amir frames Hassan as a thief in the interest of making Hassan leave, Baba asks the young Hazara boy if he truly stole Amir's belongings and he thinly replies, "Yes" (105). Basically, Hassan sacrifices for Amir because if he tells the truth Amir will lose Baba's minimal love. With this in mind, Hassan's sacrifice demonstrates how his loyalty does not change; he still wishes the best for Amir. As a result, Amir's love for Hassan grows and his guilt worsens. -
Baba Begs Hassan and Ali To Stay
After Ali reveals that he and Hassan are leaving, "[Amir] saw Baba do something [he] had never seen him do before: He cried" (107). Above all, Baba's sorrow emphasizes the grief Amir is causing in his attempts to assuage his own guilt. Although Amir does not realize it, one reason Baba cries is because he is losing his illegitimate son Hassan. In causing Hassan and Ali to leave, Amir commits more sins by stealing Baba's relationship with the pair. -
Soviet Troops Invade Kabul
The article states that "The first Soviet troops parachuted into Kabul... ,to assist Babrak Karmal, who had become president..." (N.Y.T 2). Troops arrived in Kabul under the pretense of responding to a plead for help. The Soviet Army fought against rebels in Kabul for more than nine years, losing approximately 15,000 lives. -
Period: to
Kite Runner and the History of Afghanistan
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Baba Prevents A Rape On The Trip to America
On a bus ride to Jalalabad, a Russian soldier attempts to rape a passenger and Baba snaps, "I'll take a thousand of his bullets before I let this indecency take place" (116). Throughout the novel, Baba atones for his sin of having a child with Ali's wife by helping others. In defending the woman, he not only saves a woman and her family from the trauma of rape but he demonstrates self-sacrifice. In order to act bravely, one must be willing to sacrifice. -
Baba's Funeral
At Baba's large funeral, mourners recount to Amir ways Baba positively impacted their lives such as that "[he] helped [a mourner] build a house in Taimani" (174). Although all the Afghans lose their socioeconomic status when they move to America, the community chooses to remember it. This indicates that socioeconomic status is significant to the Afghans. Moreover, Baba spends much of his life doing good, likely in order to atone for his sin of having a child with Ali's wife, erasing his guilt. -
Soviet Troops Leave Afghanistan
After years of war from the Soviet Army in Kabul, "... the last Soviet troops left Afghanistan..." (N.Y.T. 2) when the United Nation broadcasted numerous peace talks. However, the destruction and turmoil did not leave with the Soviet Union; the country attracted Islamic extremists and was devastated from the war. -
Groups Fight for Power in Afghanistan
Once the Soviet Union left, "... Afghanistan descended into vicious internecine strife" (N.Y.T. 2). With no elections, warlords and fiefdoms fought for power. One dominant group, led by Mullah Omar, gained nearly 12,000 followers, including many war lords in the north and east. -
Taliban Take Control of Afghanistan
Aided by their Pakistani alliances, the Taliban "had taken control of Afghanistan" (N.Y.T 3) by 1996 and removed girls from schools, made girls wear conservative full-body robes, banned movies and music, and strongly enforced fundamentalist Islamic law. -
Rahim Khan Calls Amir
Years after Rahim Khan and Amir lose contact, ill Rahim Khan asks Amir to visit him and when Amir agrees he offhandedly states, "There is a way to be good again" (192). First, Rahim Khan's words reveal that he knows about Amir's sins in Afghanistan. Further, the fact that Rahim Khan instigates Amir's path to atonement by talking with him illustrates how atonement occurs with multiple people. -
Soviet Union Invades
The New York Times recalls how "The United States has been militarily involved in Afghanistan since... it led an invasion" (N.Y.T. 1). Subsequent to the fatal attacks by Al Qaeda, who was hiding with the Taliban, the United States invaded the Afghanistan. They succeeded in their goal to remove the Taliban from power and to remove Al Qaeda. -
United States Joins Forces With Afghanistan Rebel Groups
When the Taliban refused to hand over criminal Mr. bin Laden after the United States invasion in Afghanistan, "... the United States joined forces with rebel groups that had never accepted Taliban rule" (N.Y.T. 3). One of the most prominent allied rebel groups was the Northern Alliance. By the end of the year, the United States and rebel effort drove the Taliban out of major cities. -
Amir Laughs When he is Injured by Assef
When Amir confronts Assef, now a leader in the dangerous Taliban group, to save Hassan's son Sohrab and Assef severely injures Amir, Amir "felt healed. Healed at last. [He] laughed" (289). Similarly to when Amir throws pomegranates at Hassan to provoke him, Amir feels that he deserves punishment. Additionally, Amir finally begins to achieve atonement. Saving Sohrab is how Amir absolves his guilt and achieves atonement. -
Rahim Khan Tells Amir That He and Hassan Are Half-Brothers
When Rahim Khan confides to Amir that he and Hassan are half-brothers and Amir reacts angrily, Rahim Khan defends, "All that a man had back then was his honor, his name,..." (223). This indicates why Baba did not allow himself to openly love Amir; his guilt of not being able to openly treat Hassan as his son motivated him to avoid Amir. Moreover, Baba stole Hassan and Amir's relationship and Hassan's identity, committing the worst sin. -
Sohrab Attempts Suicide
In order for Amir to adopt Sohrab, Amir tells Sohrab that he must go back to an orphanage and Sohrab begs, "Please! Please, no!" (341) and attempts suicide. This demonstrates how badly Sohrab is traumatized from his experience at the orphanage and with Assef. Further, it signifies the end of Sohrab's happiness and close relationship with Amir. -
Leader Hamid Karzai Replaces Taliban
After the Taliban's defeat "Hamid Karzai... was named chairman and... He took office as interim president" (N.Y.T. 3). He planned to secure peace and get aid for Afghanistan, but his failure to make economic progress and his corrupt officials made his popularity decline. -
Sohrab Communicates With Amir
Subsequent to his suicide attempt, Sohrab is silent for a year and when he indicates that Amir can run a kite for him, Amir says, "For you, a thousand times over" (371). Although Sohrab only nods at Amir, it represents how Sohrab may improve over time. Furthermore, Amir's words mimic Hassan's from when they were children. Clearly, Amir says this in repentance for his sins and to indicate that he has learned to serve and sacrifice for others, like
Hassan did many years before. -
General Petraeus Took Charge of United States Central Command
General Petraeus "...had taken charge of United States Central Command..." (N.Y.T. 4). His newfound role made him responsible for military operations across the region of Iraq and Afghanistan. -
30,000 More United States Troops Deployed
President Obama fostered a plan "... to deploy 30,000 additional troops" (N.Y.T 4) to Afghanistan. He wishes to bring home American soldiers as soon as possible. -
War Effort in Afghanistan Done by 2014
Although Mr. Obama previously planned to bring back American troops in July of 2011, the increasingly dangerous Taliban group made him extend the troops' war. He "... emphasizes the idea that the United States will have forces in the country until at least 2014" (N.Y.T 4). The United States plans to aid Afghanistan until the country can deal with the problems independently.