Faisal Character Analysis in The Glass Hotel

Faisal, a Saudi prince in his forties, is one of Jonathan Alkaitis’s biggest investors. He lives in New York and doesn’t work. Before investing with Alkaitis, Faisal’s family viewed him as something of a disappointment, as he was more interested in literature and the arts than in starting a family. Investing in Alkaitis’s fund (and directing other family members to do the same) allowed Faisal to earn back his family’s respect. Faisal met his girlfriend Mirella when she was a struggling actress and model. Unlike Mirella, who wasn’t born into money, Faisal has always been rich and lived a life of ease. Faisal kills himself in the aftermath of the collapse of Alkaitis’s Ponzi scheme, and his ghost later visits Alkaitis in prison, which speaks to the guilt Alkaitis feels over defrauding someone to whom he grew close over the years.

Faisal Character Timeline in The Glass Hotel

The timeline below shows where the character Faisal appears in The Glass Hotel. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

...on hearing Vincent’s answer, reveals, with a smile, that her boyfriend, a Saudi prince named Faisal, invests with Jonathan. (full context)

Mirella and Faisal and Jonathan and Vincent go out for dinner sometimes after this initial meeting. Faisal is... (full context)

...exhibits at the Met. They talk, and Mirella admits that, despite the fact she and Faisal have lived all over the world, her life has been virtually the same everywhere, just... (full context)

...summer, about six months from the end of Vincent’s stay in “the kingdom of money.” Faisal has returned to Riyadh to spend time with his sick father, during which time Mirella... (full context)

Mirella explains how she and Faisal met: Mirella had been a struggling actress in Los Angeles when she ran into Faisal... (full context)

...last summer of money, Vincent and Mirella meet up in Soho, spending some time in Faisal and Mirella’s loft before shopping. It begins to rain, and they seek cover in an... (full context)

...adult, though he did enjoy the company of several of his investors, like Olivia and Faisal, though Faisal is now dead. The people with whom he associates these days are not... (full context)

...has tried to contact Mirella after Jonathan’s arrest and later on, when she learned of Faisal’s death, but Mirella wouldn’t take her calls. Vincent excuses herself to smoke, and when she... (full context)

...in ghosts. Hazelton isn’t sure. Alkaitis doesn’t tell him that he sees the ghost of Faisal standing in the corner. (full context)

...heart attack later that day. Bertolli continues to walk around the prison yard, talking with Faisal. (full context)

...see ghosts from his past parading around the prison yard: he sees Yvette Bertolli, Olivia, Faisal, and a middle-aged man he doesn’t know. He is aware of four suicides related to... (full context)

...greets him, explaining that she’s “just visiting.” He looks behind himself and sees Yvette and Faisal. When Alkaitis turns back around, Vincent is gone. (full context)

...she’s “just visiting,” but doesn’t say from where, as she’s distracted by the sight of Faisal and Yvette Bertolli walking past the window. Vincent’s consciousness flashes much further into the future;... (full context)