Iannis Character Analysis in Captain Corelli’s Mandolin

Iannis is Antonia and Alexi's only child. He's named after Dr. Iannis, his adoptive grandfather. Because Antonia and Alexi throw themselves into their business ventures and don't have much time to parent Iannis, Iannis grows up helping Pelagia in Drosoula's tavern. He can say several phrases in six languages by the time he's six and he keeps track of how many foreign women have kissed him. He dreams of reaching sexual maturity and of impressing women, and he does what he can to take care of his grandmother. When he's ten years old, he asks Spiridon to teach him bouzouki, but Spiridon starts him on the mandolin instead. Iannis quickly becomes obsessed and soon loves the mandolin more than he likes girls. When Corelli hears him play as a teenager, he believes that Iannis is extremely talented and is going to be a successful musician.

Iannis Character Timeline in Captain Corelli’s Mandolin

The timeline below shows where the character Iannis appears in Captain Corelli’s Mandolin. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

...mail from all over the world. They're written in Greek and she wonders if Dr. Iannis's soul is traveling or if they're from Corelli, but reasons they're both dead. She keeps... (full context)

Power, Reality, and Absurdity Theme Icon

...to become pregnant. She gives birth to a little boy. Pelagia begins to call him Iannis and speaks to him only in Italian. Alexi decides he needs something to pass on... (full context)

By the time Iannis is five, he can say "hello" and "isn't he adorable?" in six languages because he... (full context)

War: Horror, Beauty, and Humanity Theme Icon

Secretly, Iannis wants to become one of the many young Greek men who entertain foreign girls and... (full context)

Alexi refuses to send construction workers to the old house, so Iannis pesters Spiridon to help him. They arrive at the site and look at the rusted... (full context)

...it won't budge. He realizes he'll need a crowbar when Velisarios, now 78, catches them. Iannis tells Velisarios what they're doing and notices that the old man has a red rose... (full context)

Everything inside is in perfect condition. Spiridon and Iannis find a German gramophone, a big crocheted bedcover, Italian writing, a rifle, and a beautiful... (full context)

Alexi adds the rifle to his collection and Iannis is shocked when Pelagia weeps at the sight of the mandolin. She cries over every... (full context)

Eventually, Pelagia recovers and buys Iannis mandolin strings. Spiridon cleans the mandolin and begins teaching Iannis to play. Iannis is hooked... (full context)

At age 14 in October of 1993, Iannis goes up to the old house to play his mandolin in private. He's startled when... (full context)

Corelli asks if the mandolin had missing strings and tells Iannis that the strings are in his ribs. He says too that the buried skeleton is... (full context)

...is apologizing for past crimes. Pelagia ignores Corelli's personal apology and turns the conversation to Iannis and music. Corelli says he knows Spiridon because Spiridon is somewhat famous. (full context)

...over and over again. She listens to the entire occupation in musical form and tells Iannis that Corelli is going to rebuild the old house. (full context)