These two characters are the symbolic representatives of opposing cultures. Shekure is mysterious and subtle and emotionally controlled whereas Black is brash and fiery. Both of these characters symbolize the conflict of eastern and western ideology Shekure is a mystery woman who is a deep and well developed character even in her flaws. Although Black is the main character, he is by far the least developed character. Every character provides testimony and slowly solves the mystery. Each character including the color red, the painting of a horse and Satan give testimony to the murder. The mystery is unraveled through the many characters of the novel. Black’s opportunity to win Shakure is only granted because one of the murder victims is Shekure’s father and Black is now a prime suspect. Shekure’s father never approved of Black, but Black now sees this time as his opportunity to win Shekure by solving the mystery. The story follows Black as he finds himself in the company of his childhood love, Shekure. The main character, Black, is a civil servant that returned from the provinces, only to find himself entwined in the murder mystery. But before the completion of the book Elegant Effendi and Enishte, two of the artists commissioned, are murdered. The book is to be styled in the manner of the Venetians or Europeans, but by Turkish artists. The Sultan has ordered the formation of a secret collaboration of miniaturists for the purpose of creating a book. These elements of fiction are camouflage for the exploration of tensions between eastern and western philosophy. The novel is a tale of political tension, artistic rivalry, religious persecution, and deception that is all wrapped inside of a murder mystery. Orhan Pamuk paints a realistic image of the Ottoman Empire in 1591, in his novel “ My name is Red.” Pamuk does a convincing job taking his readers back to a time of oil lamps, horses and sultans.

Author of my name is red