The Human Killer

            The novel My Name is Red begins with the murder of the Elegant Effendi and the ensuing action revolves around finding his killer.  While his original belief is that his killer committed the murder because of their jealousy of his talent as a miniaturist, we find out later that it is because of the corruption the killer feels that the Elegant Effendi is involved in because of the book he is making for the Sultan. By the second half of the novel, we know that the killer is one of three people, who are all very skilled miniaturists who go by the monikers “Butterfly”, “Olive”, and “Stork”. Through the organization of the narratives of the three characters as well as the use of their personalities as major elements of the human psyche, the novel presents these three characters as one main entity.

            The narratives of the characters of “Butterfly”, “Olive”, and “Stork” are always shown in succession of each other.  This is not the case for any other grouping of characters which suggests that the three of them should be linked together.  Obviously they are quite similar, all work in the same elite profession and are well loved by Master Osman. But most importantly is that they are all suspects in the murder of the Elegant Effendi. It is because of this mystery that they are all compared so closely and made to seem so similar. The emphasis placed on the three of them as a group is larger than even the father/daughter relationship or the relationship between Shekure and Black.

            In addition to being closely linked, these three characters act as foils in that they serve as both individual characters, and the thing to which the others are compared. However, instead of merely reflecting the attributes of the others, the foil relationship points out how the three of them are not separate, but instead comprise one larger being. 

            In the section written by Master Osman, he explains the attributes of each character. He describes each as having different passions and talents. Olive is described as having an intense creative drive, so much so that it encompasses the rest of his life and all he does is his artwork. This can be linked to Freud’s conception of the Id, which is the subconscious drive of humans. “Butterfly” is described by Osman as needing constant validation from others, which can be seen as a correlation with Freud’s Ego (which is our conscious rationality). Finally, “Stork” is described as being merely “himself”. In his own narrative he explains that “When I draw a magnificent horse, I am who I am, nothing more” (279). Besides the obvious allusion to the bible, this can be seen as the Superego, or the bridge between the ego and the Id. Together, these three comprise what Sigmund Freud thought to be the levels of our consciousness—that which describes our selves. Since no one exists without all three, the focus on finding the “one” who did it is not important. Instead what is important is noticing that in each of us needs to be a balance.