The Junior Astrologer Character Analysis in Frankenstein in Baghdad

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 now more powerful than his superior, the senior astrologer, whom he views with contempt. Unlike the senior astrologer, focused on seeing the mysterious criminal’s face, the junior astrologer wants to kill “the One Who Has No Name.” This leads him to control the mind of a suicide bomber and to place him in the neighborhood of Bataween. Ultimately, though, although the blast of the explosion causes serious damage to Elishva, Hadi, and Umm Salim’s houses, the Whatsitsname escapes unharmed. This brutal event leads Brigadier Majid to suspend the astrologers’ activities and to shut down the Department. In addition, the junior astrologer is later responsible for controlling the Whatsitsname’s mind in order to kill his rival, the senior astrologer. This suggests that, even among security forces focused on reducing violence in Baghdad, some employees use violence to achieve their goals. This highlights the occasionally blurry distinctions between security officials and criminals, both of whom can engage in brutal deeds.

The Junior Astrologer Character Timeline in Frankenstein in Baghdad

The timeline below shows where the character The Junior Astrologer appears in Frankenstein in Baghdad. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

Power, Authority, and Social Divisions Theme Icon

In the meantime, Brigadier Majid focuses on the Imams Bridge catastrophe. His junior astrologer tells him that the people on the bridge are ghosts temporarily inhabiting the people’s bodies,... (full context)

...fast that he never stays in the same place long enough to be caught. The junior astrologer , who is watching his superior’s actions, asks what the purpose of their work is,... (full context)

When the senior astrologer leaves the room, the junior astrologer sits at the table with some magical sand. He wants to see into the One... (full context)

Truth, Lies, and Storytelling Theme Icon

...astrologer also told Brigadier Majid that their team was responsible for this car bomb. The junior astrologer , he explained, moved the car bomber to this neighborhood in order to kill the... (full context)

...and the senior astrologer hurried back to their office. When the Brigadier realized that the junior astrologer was indeed responsible for moving the car bomber—who had planned to attack another area—to Bataween,... (full context)

...among his staff members are responsible for this disaster. The senior astrologer admits that the junior astrologer ’s adversarial behavior toward him jeopardized the entire operation. Taken aback by his staff’s lack... (full context)

...like an ordinary “religious man.” He changes into civilian clothes. When he runs into the junior astrologer , the two men share looks of anger but separate without a word. The senior... (full context)

The senior astrologer tells the Whatsitsname that the junior astrologer is responsible for all of these events, since he was the one who tried to... (full context)

...from the anonymous “second assistant.” The last document he received was a confession from the junior astrologer . The man admitted to controlling the mind of the Criminal Who Has No Name... (full context)