Novel_Character_Analysis__Deniro's_Game

Character Analysis Part One, Bassam Over the course of this graphic novel, Bassam often expresses his opinion through rants of insulting descriptions towards others, especially that of the wealthy. He is quoted with lines such as “husbands who imported cigarettes, containers and car parts, who coughed in Swiss banks at wooden mahogany desks occupied by nephews…” that remain within his own thoughts and refuse to escape to the hearing of those around him. With a chip on his shoulder and a dream of peace in Rome he is seen in part one as a happier, lighter man than that of part two to follow. My favorite line of the book to describe Bassam, and George, states “we were aimless, beggars, and thieves, horny Arabs with curly hair and open shirts and Marlboro packs rolled in our sleeves, dropouts, ruthless nihilistswith guns, bad breath and long American jeans.” The whole of the book tells of the relationship of Bassam and George and I therefore assume that the author opens the book for that very reason with “ten thousand bombs had landed, and I was waiting for George.” This is somewhat of a humorous line as Bassam, when killing metal capsules are falling from the sky, is anticipating the arrival of George to ride the motorbike. The relationship between the two reckless Arabs, in my speculation, can be related to two burglar partners because, in essence, that’s exactly what they are. In the Hollywood movies, there is almost always a smart responsible robber, when a break-in takes place, who oversees the operation and ‘cracks’ the code of the vault. In the novel, this is Bassam. Of the two, Bassam is the “calm man,” dreaming of peaceful streets in another country and keeping George appropriate when he is drunk. Dodging intoxicated punches from George and handling the money in the poker money scheme at the casino, it is Bassam who is the better man and oversees the ‘bank job’ and keeps smart while George keeps the victim terrified for their lives. I therefore summarize that of the two bumptious friends, George is the reckless and violent one accompanied by the quiet and caring Bassam. The radio man Fairuz is introduced in the first page of the first chapter as the book opens to the reader. Considering its placement in the book, it would be odd for the author not to support the subject with some amount of significance. The nuisance of a singer, in Bassam’s opinion, is listened to by Bassam’s mother and for that reason I discovered the link between the two. Similar to Fairuz, the mother is annoying and frustrating to Bassam, although, upon the death of his mother, it is shown he appreciates the company of both. It is for that reason I believe Bassam to have a great attachment towards his mother as she is the rare source of control and care in his life. The importance of family in one’s life can depict many of the values and traits of a person and, in this case, Bassam. A repeatedly discussed topic in class was Bassam’s sexual approaches towards women, specifically Aunt Nabila and Rana. Through part one I decided that the horny Arab is somewhat forceful with his movements and is generally aggressive by the holding of a wrist or the caressing of a neck before being pushed off. With Bassam, there is no patience towards his pursuits of sexual acts but rather an immediate rush towards his ‘orgasmic goal’. This can be described when it is said “We kissed and I slipped my hand under her skirt. She held it and resisted me.” This transition from lip to lip contact to an almost stealthy attempt to slip his hand down Rana’s skirt is odd. Sudden as his approaches may be, Bassam does know his limits in most situations. He does not use his strength to prevail the sexual wishes of Rana or Nabila but accepts them and controls his erected fantasies. Only one time is Bassam overcome by his sexual rush with Rana until he is stopped at gunpoint by her threatening finger. I summarize that Bassam has a sexually aggressive nature but tends to control himself and understand the boundaries of the women he pursuits. The final analysis I made of Bassam in part one was his relationship with Rana, peculiar as it was. I characterized Rana as a pretty, responsible, authority oriented young woman who has the ability to take control of Bassam, almost as a second mother. Bassam listens to her and obeys sexually, illustrating a sort of respect from him. As with most teenage relationships, the two are very active in a sexual manner, which pleases Bassam, of course, and causes a debate for the reader to evaluate Bassam’s true intentions with Rana. There is a conversation between the two where Rana talks of love and says “Do you love me'” and Bassam responds “yes of course.” The controversial part to this average conversation is the way it is described by the author as he depicts Bassam’s statement with the line “while puffing smoke that hushed his words.” This “hushed” response gives way to believe that Bassam is not truly serious towards his relationship with Rana especially when he is quoted saying to his mother “we are just friends.” I therefore believe Bassam is purely interested in Rana for the sex and does not think beyond this part of the relationship. A line that I found, in a way, humorous was a sex scene with Rana and Bassam when the author says “her thighs were wet as silk sheets dipped in holy oil.” There is oil, and then there is “holy” oil. From this character analysis Mr. Webb I summarize my beliefs and ideas of the young man Bassam through his relationships and numerous scenes. Part Two After analyzing part one I decided there was little remaining information for my opinion on Bassam and I have come to choose that the best approach would be for me to outline specific scenes as well as the change in Bassam’s relationships. From reading part two, numerous times, I have interpreted the segments throughout the text that have dramatically changed with Bassam. I have split these changes and ideas into separate paragraphs for your better understanding and my own clarity. In part two, Bassam’s dream of life in Rome is repeatedly mentioned as he tells Rana of the “praised Roma I am going to.” Bassam has this pressing ambition to leave Beirut and it is therefore curious that Bassam works at a shipyard. A place of work where people are constantly leaving his home that he dreads, it is somewhat of a coincidence that Bassam is the man loading the great tankers for departure. If you are to picture Rome, Mr. Webb, it is a place of green healthy untouched olive trees, spectacular views of beauty and city streets that cease to experience the dark bombings that Beirut endures daily—this is where Bassam wishes to leave to. He seeks no spectacular life of wealth and fame but only of “studying, walking the streets and coming back to meet you,” as he described to Rana their future in Rome. I summarize that there is a greater significance of Rome to Bassam in part two and that he seeks the simple life of peace near “the pigeons of Roma,” and the peace of the olive branch. The opening scene of part two is the funeral of his mother which depicts the almost sour reaction Bassam illustrates throughout the process of burial. No tears or love hugs are shed as Bassam described the resting place of his parents with this line: “My parents, who hated each other in life, now rest together in wooden boxes under the same Earth.” I viewed this as a ‘unique’ way to bury your second parent but very much a ‘Bassam approach’ towards the depressing event. He finishes what seems to be a deed by throwing a single handful of dust over the coffin and leaving home. I think his depressed manner further illustrates my analysis in part one by stating that his mother was of great importance to him and far more than just a single hand of dust. I conclude that Bassam did not wish to put on a display of mourning for his mother in front of a crowd but was deeply affected by the death and continued to visit the graves after the burial “listening to my parent’s murmurs.” Part two is also the downfall of the relationship between Bassam and Rana. Beginning from the first fight after the funeral in Bassam’s house the two abruptly begin to tear until the sighting of George and Rana leaving together finishes it all. Upon the event of Bassam catching his best friend cheating with his girlfriend there is no description of anger but only Bassam’s wish to be set free in the wind and speed of his bike. I wondered, during the scene when Bassam physically confronts Rana for cheating on him, if there was a steadier approach he could have taken that would have met my approval and Bassam’s himself. My thoughts in reference to Rana leaving Bassam comes only from her statement when she says: “My mother told me either Bassam comes and asks for your hand or let him stop prowling.” This line I think tells that Rana realized Bassam’s lack of seriousness and moved on to George, the man of murder—a strange transition. I therefore summarize that Bassam and Rana split up because Bassam gave little evidence of change from Beirut and proposal by which George gave inclination of both through his military status and powerful personality. Apart from Bassam, Mr. Webb, I want to quickly state I found Mr. Laurent and Nicole’s ‘marriage’ not only disturbing but disgusting. Besides the fact that I would never watch another man receive oral sex from a woman I cannot even picture the image of myself watching my wife, may I repeat my wife, pleasuring another man. I discovered the story of why Mr. Laurent married Nicole confusing with the metaphor of “the hill” but understood it enough to conclude that Mr. Laurent definitely acts more as a father to Nicole than as a husband. From this part two analysis, I have summarizemy beliefs and ideas of the young man Bassam and his relationships along with events and additional characters.