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A.J.
The narrator knows Hassan (whose full name is Salvador Hassan O’Leary) through is involvement with Islam Inc. Hassan, who speaks in a Texas accent and wears ten-gallon hats, has several aliases. Among these aliases are Placenta Juan and the Afterbirth Tycoon, both of which allude to the fact that Hassan made his riches in the slunk trade (“slunk” is the name of young calves who have not yet reached 6 months old and often trail amniotic fluid). At one point in the novel, Hassan hosts a wild orgy in his rumpus room that involves a group hanging. He also hires Dr. Benway to be the doctor on one of his ships. Hassan claims to be a Liquefactionist, but the narrator believes he is secretly a Sender (Liquefactionist and Sender refer to two of Interzone’s political parties). He works as an advisor to Islam Inc., but the narrator explains that his business dealings are really a cover for his political objectives. In this way, Hassan’s character illustrates how politics and capitalism are deeply intertwined, as those with the most money also often have the most power and influence.
Hassan Quotes in Naked Lunch
The Naked Lunch quotes below are all either spoken by Hassan or refer to Hassan. 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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15. Islam Incorporated and the Parties of Interzone Quotes
He prospered and proliferated, flooding the world with cut medicines and cheap counterfeit goods of every variety. Adulterated shark repellent, cut antibiotics, condemned parachutes, stale antivenin, inactive serums and vaccines, leaking lifeboats.
Related Characters:
Related Themes:
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Explanation and Analysis:
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Hassan Character Timeline in Naked Lunch
The timeline below shows where the character Hassan appears in Naked Lunch. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
4. Benway
...and “positively unethical” abortions in subway bathrooms. He later met Placenta Juan the Afterbirth Tycoon (Hassan). Juan became rich in the slunk trade (slunk refers to a calf that has not...
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7. Hospital
Willy The Agent (the narrator) is being treated for drug addiction in Hassan’s Hospital (the narrator has not yet explained who Hassan is nor where this hospital is...
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9. Hassan’s Rumpus Room
In Hassan’s rumpus room (ostensibly the same Hassan that runs the hospital in which Willy The Agent...
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...calls in “a thousand rutting Eskimos” who save him by having sex with the women. Hassan is appalled by the scene. He turns abruptly to A.J., who is now dressed as...
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15. Islam Incorporated and the Parties of Interzone
...brief appearances in two previous chapters, finances the company. The narrator also explains that Salvador Hassan O’Leary, whose nickname is the After Birth Tycoon (a moniker that references his work in...
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The narrator then explains that Salvador Hassan O’Leary (Hassan) is a self-proclaimed Liquefactionist, though the narrator suspects he is secretly a Sender...
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...want to weaken then Near East oil industry to strengthen their assets in Venezuela; and Hassan uses his business ventures to hide his Liquefactionist work.
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