Frankenstein in Baghdad

by

Ahmed Saadawi

Assyrians are a Middle Eastern ethnic group. Elishva belongs to this group and, in particular, to the sub-group of Syriac Christians. The language she speaks with her family bears the same name as her ethnic group: “Assyrian” or “Syriac.” Assyrians were persecuted in post-2003 Iraq, and many of them were forced to flee the country.

Assyrians Quotes in Frankenstein in Baghdad

The Frankenstein in Baghdad quotes below are all either spoken by Assyrians or refer to Assyrians. For each quote, you can also see the other terms and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
Truth, Lies, and Storytelling Theme Icon
).
Chapter 5 Quotes

If the argument was interrupted, Elishva would argue with herself instead or grab hold of one of the women in the church to listen to her fiery sermon about how she refused to leave her home and move to a place she knew nothing about. Father Josiah encouraged her to stay, because he saw it as a religious obligation. It wasn’t good that everyone should leave the country. Things had been just as bad for the Assyrians in previous centuries, but they had stayed in Iraq and had survived. None of us should think only of ourselves. That’s what he said in his sermon sometimes.

Related Characters: Elishva, Matilda, Hilda, Daniel Tadros Moshe (Elishva’s Son), Father Josiah
Page Number: 64
Explanation and Analysis:
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Assyrians Term Timeline in Frankenstein in Baghdad

The timeline below shows where the term Assyrians appears in Frankenstein in Baghdad. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Chapter 5: The Body
Good vs. Evil Theme Icon
Power, Authority, and Social Divisions Theme Icon
Family, Friendship, and Home Theme Icon
Superstition and Religion Theme Icon
...obligation to stay in the city and support the community, in the same way the Assyrians had suffered in Iraq in the ancient past.  (full context)
Chapter 16: Daniel
Family, Friendship, and Home Theme Icon
Daniel greeted Elishva in Assyrian, and Elishva tenderly took him inside. When Nader entered the old lady’s home, he told... (full context)