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Amir wins the kite-fighting contest
Amir wins the kite contest, and looks at Baba, who "was standing on the edge, pumping both of his fists"(66). Amir's victory led to his relationship with Baba being more friendly. It is significant because Amir finally impressed Baba in order to receive his much wanted attention. -
Hassan is raped by Assef
As Amir watches, Hassan is cornered by Assef, who then "dropped his own underwear. He positioned himself behind Hassan"(75). Hassan is violated and Amir watches passively. After this event, Amir and Hassan's relationship is strained and eventually they completely drift apart. -
Assef shows his power at Amir's thirteenth birthday party
Amir sees Assef approach him and notices he led his parents "towards us, like he brought them here. Like he was the parent,a dn they his children"(95). This remark by Amir demonstrates the influence Assef has over his parents and his subtle control over them. It is important because it shows the power Assef holds; even as a child he can assert his will over adults. -
Soviet Union invades Afghanistan
"The first Soviet troops parachuted in Kabul on Dec. 27, 1979, to assist Babrak Karmal, who had become president in a coup within the Afghan Communist leadership"(2) -
Amir and Baba escape from Kabul because of the Russian invasion
While escaping from Kabul, Amir fantasizes about life with "no grim-faced Russian soldiers patrolling the sidewalks, no tanks rolling up and down the streets of my city, their turrets swiveling like accusing fingers"(113). This quote shows how restricting and sad life used to be in Afghanistan. It tells the reader why Amor and Baba choose to leave. -
Amir and Baba arrive in America
After the incident with the Nguyens, Amir remarks how "for me, America was a place to bury my memories. For Baba, a place to mourn his"(129). This shows how Baba and Amir are adapting to life in America. Baba loses power due to the sudden change of his socioeconomic status. -
Amir graduates high school
While Baba and Amir meet during the graduation, Baba says "I am moftakhir, Amir"(131). The graduation shows how far Amir has come and how much Baba respects and loves his son. It shows how Amir and Baba's relation had gotten better when they moved to America. -
Soviet Air Force is defeated
"The Soviet Air Force was also rendered largely useless by advanced Stinger antiaircraft missles supplied by the United States to the rebels"(2). -
Rahim Khan is reunited with Hassan
Rahim Khan finds Amir in Hazarajat and describes him as "so tall now... the Bamiyan sun had toughened his skin, and turned it several shades darker than I remembered"(205). This shows how Hassan is seen as a grown man in Rahim Khan's eyes. Hassan's transition to adulthood gives him a gain in power among society. -
Amir marries Soraya
After the wedding reception, Amir "discovered the tenderness of a woman"(171). Amir's marriage is another step into adulthood for him. It gives him more power in society as well as a stronger relationship witht he Taheri family. -
Baba passes away
One night, Baba said "there is no pain tonight"(173). However, in the morning it is revealed "Baba never woke up"(173). This is a big event in Amir's life that shifts power over to him. Baba's death meant that Amir was no longer defined by Baba's actions, but he can define his own identity. -
Amir writes his first book
In 1988, Amir "finished his first novel, a father-son story set in Kabul"(182). This shows Amir's growth in his writing career and adulthood. It is signifigant because Amir is finally defining his life through his actions rather than through Baba's actions. -
Soviet troops leave Afghanistan
"Eventually, after peace talks moderated by the united nations, the last Soviet troops left Afghanistan in February 1989"(2) -
Power is dived between warlords
"Power was anarchically divided among cometing warlords and individual fiefdoms"(2). -
Mulllah Omar increases the numbers of his followers
"By the end of 1994 Mullah Omar had nearly 12,000 followers and was rolling up the warlords to the north and east"(2). -
Osama bin Laden arrives in Afghanistan
"The Taliban also provided a haven for Mr. bin Laden, who arrived by chartered jet at Jalalabad Airport in May 1996"(3) -
Amir goes back to Pakistan
Amir recieves a call, and tells Soraya "Rahim Khan is very sick"(191). After recieving this information, Amir chooses to go back to Pakistan to find Rahim Khan and help him. Rahim Khan is the last of Amir's friends from his childhood and when he dies, Amir loses all his connections with Afghanistan. -
Amir stays at Wahid's house and discovers their issues with money
Amir overhears Wahid talking about financial issues and Amir "understood now why the boys hadn't shown any interest in the watch... They'd been staring at [Amir's] food"(241). Although Wahid is struggling to feed his own family, he manages to treat Amir as a proper guest. This gives Amir a taste of what it was like to be a normal Afghan living under the Taliban. -
Amir discovers the taliban leader is Assef
While discussing Sohrab with Amir, the Taliban leader says, "Whatever happened to old Babalu, anyway?"(281). This comment tells Amir that the Taliban leader was someone he knew, and that person was Assef. This changed the power dynamic in the room, with Assef then being able to dictate the tempo of the conversation. -
Sohrab tries to commit suicide
As Amir waits in the hospital, he thought about Sohrab's "left arm dangling over the tub, the blood soaked razor sitting on the toilet tank... and his eyes, still half open but lightless"(348). Sohrab's suicide attempt was the result of Amir telling him he would have to stay at an orphanage again. After this event, Amir and Sohrab's relationship falls apart and Sohrab becomes cold and distant. -
Sohrab arrives in America
After Sohrab recovered, he and Amir "arrived home... on a warm day is August 2001"(357). Sohrab is finally safe in America with Amir and Soraya. However, his relationship with them is still cold and distant because of the events that happened in Afghanistan. -
Twin Towers are bombed
"After the attack on the World Trade Center in New York on Sept. 11, 2201, President George W. Bush gave an ultimatum to hand over Mr. bin Laden"(3). -
Karzai elected president
"he hoped to secure peace for Afghanistan and win the country much-needed international aid"(3). -
Obama announces his plan to deploy 30,000 more troops in Afghanistan
"In a speech delivered Dec. 1, 2009, at West Point, Mr. Obama announced his plan to deploy 30,000 additional troops"(4). -
General McChrystal removed from power
"Mr. Obama removed Gen McChrystal after contemtuous quotes from the general and his staff about senior administration officials'(4).