Frankenstein in Baghdad Characters

The protagonist of the novel, Mahmoud is a young and ambitious journalist for the al-Haqiqa magazine. He is a hard worker dedicated to protecting truth and justice, but also capable of taking part in unethical… read analysis of Mahmoud Riyadh al-Sawadi

The titular “Frankenstein in Bagdad,” the Whatsitsname is a supernatural monster made of different people’s body parts. He is known as “the One Who Has No Name” by Brigadier Majid and his astrologers, as… read analysis of The Whatsitsname

Hadi the junk dealer, a man in his 50s, lives in a semi-destroyed house in Bataween. Due to the stories he tells, which offer a fanciful mix of realistic details and imaginary occurrences, he is… read analysis of Hadi Hassani Aidros

Elishva is an old lady who lives in an elegant, historical house that many people, including Faraj the realtor, hope to buy. Although she lives alone with her cat, Nabu, she feels accompanied by two… read analysis of Elishva

The head of the mysterious Tracking and Pursuit Department is a former member of Saddam Hussein’s regime who has succeeded in integrating the transitional government, despite restrictions against former Baathists. Like his friend Saidi… read analysis of Brigadier Sorour Mohamed Majid

This realtor in Bataween has taken advantage of the violence in Baghdad to appropriate abandoned houses, which he rents to other people in the city. Faraj’s aggressive, domineering behavior, along with his engagement in illegal… read analysis of Faraj

The “author” or the “writer” is an unnamed character in charge of turning the story of the Whatsitsname into a novel. The author purchases Mahmoud’s digital recorder, which the journalist is selling in… read analysis of “The Author”/“The Writer”

Mahmoud’s colleague and fellow journalist Farid Shawwaf is less dedicated than Mahmoud to the al-Haqiqa magazine. However, Farid shares interesting thoughts concerning the violence in Iraq. He concludes that fear is the underlying factor… read analysis of Farid Shawwaf

The person whom the Whatsitsname considers to be his most important assistant is a former member of Saddam Hussein’s Baathist government who took part in war crimes. Now devoted to the Whatsitsname’s cause, the Magician… read analysis of The Magician

The Whatsitsname’s second assistant is a manipulative, tyrannical character who becomes the Magician’s rival. A specialist at making any kind of argument persuasive, the Sophist is defined by his lack of principles and… read analysis of The Sophist

The Whatsitsname’s third assistant is the current member of a counterterrorism unit. Disappointed by the government’s inability to bring justice to its citizens, he has decided to ally with the Whatsitsname. He provides insider… read analysis of The Enemy

The first leader of the Whatsitsname’s followers believes in the creature’s political rule. He trusts that the Whatsitsname is an ideal “Iraqi citizen”: a mix of the country’s cultural, religious, and ethnic affiliations, all… read analysis of The Young Madman

This middle-aged film director leads a secretive life and is interpreted in different ways by different characters. Although she claims to have a purely professional relationship with Saidi, some people believe that she is… read analysis of Nawal al-Wazir

The owner of the local coffee shop in Bataween is, according to Hadi, the junk dealer’s only friend. He lets Hadi tell vivid stories in his coffee shop but also looks out for his… read analysis of Aziz the Egyptian

The owner of the dilapidated Orouba Hotel in Bataween grows increasingly desperate as he enters a financial crisis. Ever since the U.S. invasion of Iraq and the fall of Saddam Hussein’s regime, Abu Anmar’s business… read analysis of Abu Anmar

Elishva’s elderly neighbor, Abu Salim’s wife, believes that Elishva has positive spiritual powers, capable of protecting the Bataween neighborhood when she is present. The explosion in Tayaran Square after Elishva went to church… read analysis of Umm Salim

This 21-year-old man, working as a hotel guard at the Sadeer Novotel Hotel is killed in a suicide bombing: a garbage truck driven by a terrorist explodes in front of the hotel where he is… read analysis of Hasib Mohamed Jaafar

This elderly neighbor of Elishva and Hadi’s is Umm Salim’s husband. He spends his days on his balcony, observing other people’s lives. This gives him a privileged position to identify suspicious events, such… read analysis of Abu Salim

Elishva’s second daughter lives in Melbourne, Australia, along with her sister, Hilda; their husbands, and Hilda’s son, Daniel. Both daughters call their mother Elishva at church every Sunday by calling Father Josiah’s… read analysis of Matilda

Elishva’s first daughter, the mother of Elishva’s grandson Daniel, lives in Melbourne, Australia, along with her sister, Matilda, and their husbands. Although little is known of her personality, she suffers from psychological… read analysis of Hilda

Elishva’s son, Daniel, was around 20 years old when he was killed in the Iraq-Iran War, although his body was never recovered. Little is known about this character, besides the fact that he… read analysis of Daniel Tadros Moshe (Elishva’s Son)

This young boy, around the age of 20, is Hilda son and, therefore, Elishva’s grandson. He takes part in a plan that Elishva’s daughters and Father Josiah devised to convince the old lady to… read analysis of Daniel (Elishva’s Grandson)

Elishva’s parish priest at the Assyrian Church of Saint Odisho, outside of the Bataween district, is a kind, generous man dedicated to helping others. During periods of intense destruction in the city, he allowed… read analysis of Father Josiah

This member of Brigadier Majid’s Tracking and Pursuit Department consults special cards in order to predict the future, and, in particular, to determine the whereabouts of the Whatsitsname, which he knows as “the… read analysis of The Senior Astrologer

This member of Brigadier Majid’s Tracking and Pursuit Department uses magic sand to determine the Whatsitsname’s position and to control the criminal’s mind. This leads the junior astrologer to conclude that he is… read analysis of The Junior Astrologer

Hadi’s friend and business partner is killed in a terrorist attack. This event marks a turning point in Hadi’s life, as it leads the junk dealer to alternate between bouts of cheerfulness with dark… read analysis of Nahem Abdaki

Nicknamed “the Mantis” because of his height, this criminal accuses Mahmoud of being responsible for the death of his brother, a notorious gang leader who was killed in Amara. Mahmoud had written an article celebrating… read analysis of The Mantis

This news photographer is Mahmoud’s friend and the occasional occupant of a room in Abu Anmar’s Orouba Hotel. He introduces Mahmoud—who had never been physically close to a woman before—to prostitutes, in order… read analysis of Hazem Abboud

After running into the Whatsitsname one evening, and finding his deformed face horrifying, these drunk beggars decide to kill him,. Two of the beggars kill each other by mistake and the Whatsitsname, convinced that these… read analysis of The Four Beggars

Although known as a respected gentleman in Mahmoud’s hometown of Amara, Mahmoud’s father revealed the full truth of his life, including uncomfortable sexual passages, in his diaries. This approach to truth-telling inspires Mahmoud, who… read analysis of Mahmoud’s Father

Mahmoud’s brother, who lives in Amara, encourages Mahmoud to stay in Baghdad while the Mantis is still alive, in order to stay safe. However, he ultimately accepts Mahmoud’s decision to return to his hometown… read analysis of Abdullah

Saidi’s personal driver views Mahmoud’s interactions with Nawal al-Wazir with suspicion. He argues that Nawal is a manipulative woman who fell in love with Saidi and wanted to marry him, but is now… read analysis of Sultan

This elderly barber and ex-Baathist is known as a cruel man responsible for sending many young Iraqi men to war in the 1980s, during the Iran-Iraq War. Even though he is no longer… read analysis of Abu Zaidoun

Mahmoud calls this prostitute with a superficial resemblance to Nawal al-Wazir to his hotel room one night. There, despite her clear reluctance, he forces her to answer to the name “Nawal.” When Zeina continues to… read analysis of Zeina

Little is known about Elishva’s husband, except that he broke their son Daniel’s guitar out of grief, after learning of his death. His insistence on having a formal funeral for their son, despite… read analysis of Tadros

The deacon at Elishva’s church behaves kindly toward the old lady, bringing her home from church after the terrorist attack in Tayaran Square and, later, encouraging her to come back to church after a… read analysis of Nader Shamouni

This man has discussed the possibility of selling his furniture to Hadi because he plans to sell his house and move to Russia to join his girlfriend. However, he changes his mind one day and… read analysis of The Old Man

This committee, composed of members of Iraqi security forces and of U.S. intelligence, launches an investigation against Brigadier Majid’s Tracking and Pursuit Department. It concludes its inquiry by denouncing the presence of astrologers in… read analysis of The Committee