Frankenstein in Baghdad: Chapter 7 Summary & Analysis

One morning, Faraj is angry to discover that members of an association concerned with the preservation of Baghdad’s historical houses are marking some of his properties with blue paint. This includes Elishva’s house, although she refuses to open the door to them. Even though the employees reassure Faraj that this is a customary operation, Faraj addresses them angrily, convinced that these people are trying to steal his properties.

Later, Faraj discovers that these government employees have already visited Elishva to propose a deal to her: she could stay in her house without paying rent but would give her house away to the state after her death. Faraj is terrified that the old lady might accept this offer. However, he learns that she has refused to do so before her son, Daniel, who has temporarily left the house, comes home.

Although some people initially believe that Elishva has gone mad, others argue that they have indeed seen the figure of a young man enter her house at night. Umm Salim declares that she knows the truth about Elishva. Her husband, Abu Salim, who spends his days sitting by the window, has seen a visitor enter Elishva’s house. He believes him to be a criminal who hides in the old lady’s house.

One woman, whom Faraj once mercilessly evicted from her home, believes that Faraj must be responsible for this sinister turn of events. She trusts that he is the cause of all bad events taking place in the neighborhood. This woman also recounts a moment of tenderness that she witnessed between the mysterious young man—whom she believes to be a murderer—and Elishva. When the man saw Elishva speak Syriac to the picture of Saint George—and it certainly sounded as though two voices were interacting—he was moved by the dialogue. Elishva then turned toward him, called him “my boy” and fell into his arms, crying.

Although many people do not believe this version of the story, they still appreciate its emotional import. As a show of solidarity, they curse Faraj the realtor and, buoyed by this collective support, the woman who initially accused Faraj of wrongdoing feels her hatred dissipate.

In the meantime, it has been a week since Elishva has gone to church. She prefers to visit other religious institutions to complete her “Islamic” vows. During the week, she leaves henna paste or sprinkles water on the Saint Qardagh Church, the Anglican Church, the Syriac Orthodox church, the Jewish synagogue and the Orfali Mosque. Finally, she visits her usual Church of Saint Odisho, lighting incense to fulfill her vows. Elishva stays for Mass, eats with her fellow church-goers, says goodbye to everyone (including the policemen in charge of guarding the church), and waits for her daughters to call. Father Josiah told her they had asked for her during the week.

Finally, the phone rings and Matilda tells Elishva that Hilda has been suffering psychologically and had to go to the hospital. Instead of showing concern, Elishva replies that Daniel has returned. Matilda ignores this information. Impatient, she tells Elishva that Hilda, whose son looks just like Daniel, is angry at her, and that they both want her to come to Melbourne.

Angry at her daughters’ complaints, Elishva tells them not to worry about her or be sad. She warns Matilda not to call her again until she can speak to her calmly. Elishva hands the phone to Father Josiah. Matilda tells him that they will have to come to Baghdad to take her away by force. After the phone call ends, Elishva firmly tells Father Josiah that she no longer wants to answer her daughters’ calls. If he doesn’t respect this wish, Elishva threatens, she will attend the Saint Qardagh Church instead.

In the meantime, Saidi frequently takes Mahmoud on outings and allows him to answer his phone when he is not in the building. Once, Mahmoud answers a call from a member of the parliament who accuses the magazine of publishing news that goes against their interest.

On another occasion, Mahmoud answers a call from the number 666, which he recalls as the symbol of a biblical “beast from the sea” in an American movie. When he picks up, he hears the voice of Nawal al-Wazir, who believes that she is speaking to Saidi. Her angry voice causes Mahmoud to hang up, and he concludes that the woman must indeed be romantically involved with his editor.

Later, Saidi enters the office and tells Mahmoud that what Brigadier Majid said was true, although he does not explain further. The two of them then leave on a couple of outings. At the end of the night, they reach a secret nightclub, where they are searched for weapons at the entrance. In the chaotic atmosphere of the nightclub, filled with loud music and voices, the two men drink Bloody Marys and whiskey.

Mahmoud reflects on his relationship with Saidi. Although Farid tells him he is too deferential toward the editor, Mahmoud believes that Saidi is the one who needs him. However, he is not sure why Saidi trusts him so much, and he wonders about Saidi’s true intentions. In the end, he decides to ask Saidi about what he meant concerning Brigadier Majid’s statements. Saidi smiles and says that the Brigadier was correct in telling him not to buy a printing press. The insecurity in the city, combined with the imminence of new elections, has caused too much uncertainty to launch new investments.

Emboldened by the alcohol, Mahmoud wants to ask more questions, but the loud music keeps him from making his voice heard. While observing his editor, Mahmoud realizes that he admires Saidi and hopes to become like him. However, Saidi then turns toward Mahmoud. He confesses that he wished he were in the young journalist’s position, but that it is now too late. Astounded, Mahmoud feels as though a dream has been fulfilled. He is too shy to tell his boss that, in fact, he, too, wishes he were Saidi: the only purpose in his own life is to become like him.

In the meantime, Hadi learns that the old man with whom he was negotiating has sold his entire house, including the furniture, to someone else. Hadi has spent the past few days completely drunk, in order to forget about the Whatsitsname’s visit. After his talk with the old man, he sits down on the sidewalk and believes that he could be killed right then and there by a car bomb. He does not understand how he has succeeded in staying alive for so long, despite the fact that at least one car bomb per day explodes in the city. He believes that his destiny is to end up as a casualty on the news.

When Hadi returns to his Bataween neighborhood, he discovers that Abu Anmar wants to talk to him. Abu Anmar, in fact, wants to sell him the furniture in his hotel. Although Hadi realizes that the only furniture that is still in good shape belongs to the four currently occupied rooms, he still accepts to sell the damaged furniture.

Mahmoud then enters the hotel lobby, still drunk from his night with Saidi in the nightclub. He greets the two men and sits down to chat with Hadi. In order to forget about his physical discomfort, caused by his drunkenness, he asks Hadi about the Whatsitsname. Hadi, however, no longer wants to tell a story that has come true. He feels like a passive agent involved in serious events he cannot control. He is unsure whether his creation is “a prophet, a savior, or an evil leader.”

Although Mahmoud expects a light, entertaining story from Hadi, the junk dealer turns serious. He agrees to recount what has happened since his last iteration of the story, but only on the condition that Mahmoud reveal to him a secret in exchange for his, and that he buy him dinner and a bottle of ouzo, the local alcohol.