Murder Comparisons

            Elegant Effendi and Enishte are both, of course, murdered. While some aspects of the events are similar, there are very different emotions between Elegant and Enishte, especially their perspectives and thoughts after their death. Elegant’s murder is literally the very beginning of the book, while Enishte lives and thrives until approximately halfway through the novel.

            Both Elegant and Enishte are murdered with blunt objects, a rock and an inkpot respectively. Each victim is also caught alone and left for dead. However, Elegant was lured away from civilization and put into a predicament of which he could not get out. Enishte’s murder is premeditated, but the killer could not be sure that he would see Enishte alone; the murderer took the lack of obstacles as a sign from Allah that he was doing the right thing.

            Enishte tried his absolute hardest to hold on, to stay alive, until he could see his daughter Shekure one more time. When he realized he had no choice but to give in to the brutal beating and the pain that followed, Enishte lamented that he thought he would “die of misery,” since he would not see Shekure (175). On the other hand, Elegant Effendi talks about the great relief he felt when he realized he would die. Physically, he was in great pain and torment, but mentally the primary emotion he speaks of is the relief of going to the other side as he died. The contrast between the Elegant and Enishte may speak to the level of religious connection; Elegant talks more of “gently,” passing over, while Enishte tries to stall the process. Once Enishte has completely passed over, he is more content and relaxed.

            At the end of the first chapter, Elegant Effendi wants nothing more than to find his murderer and hopes that when he is found, he will be tortured. However, Enishte recounts the events of his funeral, and how pleased he is. He explains that essentially, he is in a better place and is not concentrating on finding his murderer, because he is preoccupied with better, more fulfilling things where he is.