Characters
Jeffrey Archer’s short story, “Do Not Pass Go”, includes several characters but most of them are stereotypical and have only a few traits. Hamid’s wife is a typical mother and a loving wife. Hamid’s son is curious and inquisitive, while his daughter is only a toddler. The American flight captain is characterised by wit, courage, and sense of humour. His crew and the French crew are helpful and aid Hamid escape. Saad al-Takriti, the chief of Baghdad airport security, is tough and arrogant, pays attention to details, and disrespects UN regulations about international fl…
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Hamid Zebari
Hamid is the main character in the short story. The narration presents events that happen to him and his reaction to these events, and the story frequently uses his perspective.
Outer characterisation
Hamid’s outer characterisation informs us that he is an Iraqi man, the son of a carpet dealer. Hamid was the Minister of Agriculture in his country for two years. Dismissed by Saddam Hussein, Hamid becomes a political refugee and flees to the United States. In the US he opens a carpet business, like his father. Hamid is married and has two children with his wife, who is expecting a third child.
Hamid’s physical portrait is also conveyed. Initially, he looks typically Iraqi—dark skinned and moustached—but he needs to change his appearance when he disguises himself as a flight crew member:
…Hamid removed the bushy moustache that he had been so proud of, to leave an upper lip that looked as pale as a blob of vanilla ice cream. The senior flight attendant applied some of her make-up to his skin, until the white patch blended in with the rest of his face. (p. 27, ll. 25-29)
Inner characterisation
Hamid’s inner characterisation is conveyed through his thoughts, his actions, and his overall attitude towards what is happening to him.
When the story begins, Hamid comes across as grateful for being in America and enthusiastic about living the American dream: “But since he had begun a new life in the States, Hamid was beginning to think anything might be possible.” (p. 19, ll. 10-12)…
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The American Captain
The American Captain is a secondary character in the short story, who appears only in the second half of the narrative, but who is important for the development of the plot. His outer characterisation only tells us that he is an American plane captain.
Inner characterisation
His inner characterisation is conveyed in relation to Hamid and the situation the protagonist is in. When Hamid first comes to him, telling him that he fears for his life if they land in Baghdad, he takes him seriously and acts in a reassuring way:
…the captain shook h…
