Isaac is the 58-year-old protagonist of the novel and the character around whom the others revolve. Isaac’s appearance deteriorates during the course of the novel: He starts out already looking older than he should, with his “right eye infected” (44), and “a slight curvature in his father’s shoulders” (45), and his time in prison shockingly emaciates and scars his body.

We see Isaac in many roles: father, husband, son, brother, and boss. This fully rounded presentation creates a complex character, whose motives are not simple or easily defined. Qualities that are a positive in one space can negative affect others. For example, Isaac is a calm and organized person, who is not easily flustered. While this helps him in dangerous situations—even when guards with rifles arrest him, “He feels calm, almost numb” (2)—his coolness builds distance in his family relationships. Isaac has grown estranged from his wife Farnaz, and his memories reveal that he was never a particularly present father. The Revolution has increased this distance, as the downfall of the Shah brings with it the destruction of the Amins’ lifestyle, creating great insecurity. Isaac loses this detachment in prison, becoming angry, frightened, and hopeless as he is subjected to mental and physical torture.