Orhan Character Analysis in My Name is Red

Orhan is the younger of Shekure’s two sons, and is six years old at the time the novel is set. Orhan is loving and loyal to his mother and he often fights with his older brother, Shevket. Unlike Shevket, Orhan warms to Black and jumps at the opportunity to help get his family away from Hasan’s house. At the end of the novel, Shekure reveals that she told her stories to Orhan and she warns the reader that Orhan may embellish and even lie in order to create an entertaining narrative. Orhan’s name is thus also a playful reference to the actual author of the book, Orhan Pamuk.

Orhan Character Timeline in My Name is Red

The timeline below shows where the character Orhan appears in My Name is Red. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

...the previous one finished, although with a shift to the perspective of Enishte’s six-year-old grandson Orhan. Enishte asks Orhan to kiss the hand of his uncle, Black, who greets him warmly.... (full context)

Orhan goes into the room of Hayriye, the enslaved woman owned by Enishte, and finds Shekure... (full context)

When Black sees Orhan’s face, he realizes that he has been remembering Shekure’s face wrongly. He thinks that if... (full context)

...she did at the window. He concludes the letter by telling her that he met Orhan, and that one day he hopes to become the boy’s father. (full context)

Shekure admits that every time Esther leaves her house, she feels “confused” and “wretched.” Orhan comes in, and Shekure puts away the letters and embraces him. She asks him if... (full context)

...embracing Black and about the size of his penis, but her thoughts are interrupted by Orhan and Shevket, who are squabbling. She writes a note to Black promising that she will... (full context)

...and desires that cannot be stated explicitly. Shekure sends Shevket to the kitchen and asks Orhan to deliver the piece of paper to Black. Orhan hesitates, but eventually agrees. Later, she... (full context)

...They discuss Black’s conversation with Shevket; Black admits that Shevket does not like him, but Orhan does. Shekure tells him about Hasan’s plan to go to the judge, and asks him... (full context)

As the final guests leave, Shekure asks Orhan and Shevket to kiss Black’s hand. She tells them to respect Black and asks Black... (full context)

...men, but Esther knows that this will be violent. Suddenly, Esther has the idea that Orhan should open the door; as soon as Orhan hears this, he scampers off as if... (full context)

...of bliss,” which she imagines in the form of a mother with her two children. Orhan tells Shekure that the picture of bliss is not possible to depict, and Shekure considers... (full context)