Elishva’s elderly neighbor, Abu Salim’s wife, believes that Elishva has positive spiritual powers, capable of protecting the Bataween neighborhood when she is present. The explosion in Tayaran Square after Elishva went to church and the car bombing in Bataween the morning after Elishva left for Melbourne convince Umm Salim of the validity of her interpretation. Even though Umm Salim believes that Elishva’s belief in the eventual return of her son, Daniel, might be a form of delirium, she behaves in a protective way toward the old lady, offering to protect her from Faraj the realtor’s efforts to appropriate her house. Overall, Umm Salim is one of the few supportive contacts Elishva maintains with the outside world.
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Umm Salim Character Timeline in Frankenstein in Baghdad
The timeline below shows where the character Umm Salim appears in Frankenstein in Baghdad. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Chapter 1: The Madwoman
...Elishva is simply an old lady who suffers from dementia and memory loss, her neighbor Umm Salim trusts that this woman has spiritual powers and is divinely protected. She believes that neighbors...
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Chapter 5: The Body
...to buy a lot of meat. Impressed by the change in the old woman’s appearance, Umm Salim asks Elishva about it, and she tells her that God has fulfilled her wishes, bringing...
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Chapter 6: Strange Events
...years of the Iran-Iraq War. By contrast, Elishva refuses to forgive the old man. When Umm Salim tells her the news, Elishva realizes that Umm Salim has forgotten her promise to sacrifice...
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Chapter 7: Ouzo and Bloody Mary
...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...
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Chapter 13: The Jewish Ruin
...reflects on the day’s events. After Faraj slapped the worker in front of her house, Umm Salim told the old lady that Faraj was capable of anything to put his hands on...
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Chapter 16: Daniel
...Elishva hugged the boy with surprising strength, Nader confirmed to her that this was Daniel. Umm Salim touched Daniel to check that the boy was not a ghost.
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The next day, Umm Salim and other neighbors wept in a performative manner to honor Elishva’s move. On her way...
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Chapter 17: The Explosion
...house caught fire, narrowly escaped being burned alive. Faraj was wounded in the face. Although Umm Salim ’s house was severely damaged, her entire family survived, including Abu Salim, who fell from...
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