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“The Author”/“The Writer”
Mahmoud’s colleague and fellow journalist Farid Shawwaf is less dedicated than Mahmoud to the al-Haqiqa magazine. However, Farid shares interesting thoughts concerning the violence in Iraq. He concludes that fear is the underlying factor driving the violence in the country: as people fear terrorist groups such as al-Qaeda, more armed groups appear, thus creating new cycles of violence. Farid’s lucid analysis of the situation suggests that no single actor is responsible for the political chaos in the country. Rather, what the country needs are thoughtful leaders committed to building peace and cooperation among the population, instead of greater divisions and hatred.
Farid Shawwaf Quotes in Frankenstein in Baghdad
The Frankenstein in Baghdad quotes below are all either spoken by Farid Shawwaf or refer to Farid Shawwaf. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
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Chapter 8 Quotes
Honestly, I think everyone was responsible in one way or another. I’d go further and say that all the security incidents and the tragedies we’re seeing stem from one thing—fear. The people on the bridge died because they were frightened of dying. Every day we’re dying from the same fear of dying. The groups that have given shelter and support to al-Qaeda have done so because they are frightened of another group, and this other group has created and mobilized militias to protect itself from al-Qaeda. It has created a death machine working in the other direction because it’s afraid of the Other. And we’re going to see more and more death because of fear. The government and the occupation forces have to eliminate fear. They must put a stop to it if they really want this cycle of killing to end.
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Farid Shawwaf Character Timeline in Frankenstein in Baghdad
The timeline below shows where the character Farid Shawwaf appears in Frankenstein in Baghdad. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Chapter 4: The Journalist
...poorly and that he planned on firing three of them. He told Mahmoud to warn Farid Shawwaf to work harder. Then, he surprised Mahmoud by telling him that he was working...
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...a small tavern. He did not know how to tell them about his promotion. When Farid began to share his ideas for a book project, Mahmoud tried to convince him to...
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When the four of them left the bar, Farid was still talking excitedly about his book project. At the same moment, a garbage truck...
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On their way back, Mahmoud told Farid that his storytelling saved him, since it kept him from crossing the street to catch...
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Chapter 6: Strange Events
...this, because he believed that Saidi was allied with the forces in power. Mahmoud’s friend Farid says that Saidi “believes in the future” because Saidi knows the future will bring him...
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Chapter 7: Ouzo and Bloody Mary
Mahmoud reflects on his relationship with Saidi. Although Farid tells him he is too deferential toward the editor, Mahmoud believes that Saidi is the...
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Chapter 8: Secrets
...returns to his hotel. There, he sees the hotel guests watching television, where his friend Farid Shawwaf, elegantly dressed, is discussing the events of the day. A government representative appears on...
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Farid Shawwaf is later interviewed. He argues that the government is responsible for this disaster, because...
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Finally, Farid concludes that everyone is responsible, because everyone in the country is constantly terrified. It is...
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Chapter 14: Tracking and Pursuit
In his office, Brigadier Majid watches Farid Shawwaf discuss a man called “Criminal X,” whom the Brigadier knows as “the One Who...
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