Characters
Michael Gonen
Michael Gonen, the titular figure in the novel, was born in 1926. Initially a third-year geology student at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem in 1950, he evolves into a promising academic by the end of the narrative, completing his doctoral thesis a decade later. Described as a decent, diligent, yet unimaginative young man, Michael garners the hopes of his father and aunts for his academic success. His angular physique, long, lean dark face, gray eyes, short hair, and strong hands create a distinctive image. Michael's love for Hannah Greenbaum is almost instantaneous, leading to their marriage after a brief courtship. He resides with Hannah and their son Yair in a dated apartment in northwestern Jerusalem’s Mekor Baruch neighborhood. Although he is a devoted father and a dutiful husband, he struggles with communication and emotional comprehension. By the conclusion of the novel, signs of aging appear as his hair grays and chronic heartburn worsens, while Hannah expects their second child.
Hannah’s perception of Michael shifts over time. Initially, she views him as "my Michael"—a term intended to express affection but increasingly laden with irony as it highlights the growing distance between them. Despite providing materially for the family, Michael remains unable to satisfy Hannah's deeper emotional and psychological needs, exemplifying the irony of his surname, Gonen, meaning 'protector' in Hebrew.
Hannah Greenbaum Gonen
Hannah Greenbaum Gonen, the first-person narrator, was born in 1930. She is the protagonist of this "journal," which chronicles ten years of marriage to Michael. Her father, Yosef, passed away from cancer when she was thirteen, a loss that deeply affected her. Hannah falls for Michael during her first year of studying literature at Hebrew University, and they marry quickly thereafter. Her academic pursuits are cut short by pregnancy, leading to a challenging journey through motherhood marked by a difficult pregnancy and a taxing childbirth that leaves her physically and emotionally depleted.
Hannah is plagued by anxiety, depression, and recurring dreams that disrupt her daily life. She often experiences a chronic sore throat and a recurring loss of voice, and exhibits compulsive spending habits. Despite potential new beginnings with a promised apartment and a new child, she remains trapped by the monotony of daily life and nostalgic for her lost youthful passion. Her internal struggle is vividly depicted through Oz's use of "Magical Realism," where mundane events are intertwined with Hannah’s fantasy world, revealing her psychological turmoil.
Hannah grapples with a fragmented sense of self, increasingly detached from reality as she acknowledges melodramatic tendencies in her journal. Her reflections become a conduit for exploring an unfulfilled past and an uncertain present, highlighting her vulnerability and disconnection from the world around her. The city of Jerusalem, depicted as a spiritual fortress, mirrors Hannah's inner conflict as both are divided yet yearning for harmony.
Yair Zalman Gonen
Yair Zalman Gonen, born in March 1951, is the son of Michael and Hannah. Resembling his uncle Emanuel with his broad face, high cheekbones, and gray eyes, Yair is a bright child with a strong memory, yet he often appears cold and insolent to his mother. He frequently returns from play with bruises from altercations, revealing a potentially aggressive side. Despite this, Yair enjoys a harmonious relationship with his father, Michael, who refrains from using corporal punishment. A teacher's observation that Yair lacks sensitivity further complicates his character.
Yehezkel Gonen
Yehezkel Gonen, Michael's father, was born in Poland and chose to change his surname from Ganz to Gonen. A widower after his wife Tova's death, Yehezkel never remarried. He had great aspirations for Michael's academic future. The narrative records his passing...
(This entire section contains 1456 words.)
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in 1955, shortly after a visit from Michael, Hannah, and Yair. A retired municipal water department employee and an active member of the Labor Movement, Yehezkel engaged with his local community and managed a modest pension. During the family visit, he forms a strong bond with his grandson, Yair.
Yoram Kamnitzer
Yoram Kamnitzer, the teenage son of the Gonen's upstairs neighbors, occasionally supervises Yair when his parents go out. With a budding interest in poetry, he shares his work with Hannah and seems enamored with her. However, when he is seventeen and she twenty-seven, Hannah's attempt to elicit a verbal declaration of his admiration proves unsuccessful. His parents, scandalized by a poem likening his love to that of Potiphar’s wife for Joseph, send him to an Orthodox kibbutz school. Eventually, Yoram’s family moves to a Tel Aviv suburb, and he abandons poetry, likely pursuing a career as a Bible and Hebrew teacher, which Hannah views as a loss.
Emanuel Greenbaum
Emanuel Greenbaum, Hannah's robust brother, resides in Kibbutz Nof Harim in Upper Galilee with his wife, Rina, their son Yosi, and his mother, Malka. His home borders Lebanon, adding a layer of tension to his life. At Hannah’s wedding, Emanuel displays boisterously good-hearted behavior, though he feels uncomfortable amid academic circles. The Gonens spend Passover at the kibbutz in 1959, further highlighting family dynamics.
Dr. Jenia Ganz-Crispin
Dr. Jenia Ganz-Crispin, one of Michael's four aunts, is a pediatrician based in Tel Aviv known for her stern yet supportive nature. She assists Michael's family but chides Hannah for her early pregnancy, fearing it may hinder Michael's academic pursuits. Her life is marked by personal challenges, including a husband who left her and a second who suffered a nervous breakdown, requiring her care. Despite these adversities, she remains a pivotal figure in the family's life, orchestrating practical solutions, such as arranging a nursing home for Mrs. Glick.
Halil
Halil, alongside Aziz, is remembered by Hannah as a childhood Arab playmate representing a time when she felt empowered and influential. Collectively dubbed "Halziz," they populate her dreams and fantasies, symbolizing lost innocence and simpler times. Despite their playful connection, they also subtly represent the Arab threat to Israel, underscoring Hannah's childhood control contrasted with her adult feelings of helplessness.
Aziz
Aziz is another of Hannah's Arab childhood companions. He shares vivid memories with her, such as building a snowman of the British High Commissioner in 1941. Aziz and Halil serve as figurative emblems of Hannah's desire for control and her nostalgic longing for her past. In a fantasy, they execute a successful commando raid under her command, highlighting her yearning for agency amid present powerlessness.
Yardena
Yardena, a tall and striking geology classmate of Michael, is perceived by Hannah as a rival due to her bold demeanor and alluring appearance. Despite Yardena calling Michael a genius and seeking his help academically, Hannah is wary of her presence, suspecting Michael's possible attraction to her. Yardena’s proximity to Michael, particularly during the time he oversees her thesis work, stirs feelings of jealousy and insecurity within Hannah.
Hadassah
Hadassah, Hannah's best friend and a constant source of support, is married to Abba. She aids Hannah by lending her their maid, Simcha, after Yair's birth. Hadassah's eventual move to Switzerland leaves a void in Hannah's life, despite Hadassah's optimistic reassurances. This departure prompts Hannah to introspect about her own life and achievements, leading to feelings of inadequacy and longing.
Abba
Abba, married to Hadassah and Hannah’s best friend, is an aspiring civil servant within the Ministry of Trade and Industry. He and Hadassah provide vital support to Hannah during her postpartum period. Abba's career advancement takes him to Switzerland as an economic attaché, marking a bittersweet farewell for Hannah. The parting words leave her contemplating her own progress and place in life.
Avraham Kadishman
Avraham Kadishman, prominently known for owning a shoe store, becomes part of Hannah and Michael's life through Aunt Leah's introductions. A widower, he frequently visits their home to play chess with Michael, leaving his book collection to them upon his demise in 1957 from kidney disease.
Mr. Glick
Mr. Glick, a haberdashery owner and their neighbor, involves himself in Michael's hobby by offering his stamp collection in exchange for access to the Encyclopaedia Hebraica. His wife's institutionalization for hysteria and subsequent apathetic return home marks a tragic subplot. After his death in 1959, Mrs. Glick moves to a nursing home, showcasing the family's continued impact on the Gonens.
Dr. Urbach
Dr. Urbach, the Gonen family physician, is a compassionate figure who prescribes rest for Hannah post-birth and manages her persistent health issues, including her sore throat and speech loss. His death in 1959 introduces a new doctor, unable to diagnose her ailments, leaving Hannah without resolution to her ongoing struggles.
Aunt Leah Ganz
Aunt Leah Ganz, another of Michael's aunts, offers her Tel Aviv home for a brief vacation in 1958. The trip underscores tensions between Hannah and Michael, evident when Hannah damages Michael’s shirt and face on the beach. Michael’s evasive explanation of a confrontation with thugs highlights the strain in their relationship and the broader familial dynamics.
