Characters

By giving away the story in the first chapter we are forced to focus on how the characters react to their situation. It enables us to see the characters in a more in-depth, less passive way. The characters are no longer there simply for the advancement of thhe plot, because we know how it ends.

Vice President Ruben Iglesias- Iglesias is a small man who sees himself as underappreciated. He is hosting the party that the terrorists take hostage and therefore his whole family and home are in danger.
Mr. Hosokawa- Hosokawa is a Japanese business man. He seems cold and unattached, his only passion being opera. Hosokawa feels responsible for endangering all of the hostages, because his birthday was the reason they came together.
Gen Watanabe- Gen is Hosokawa's translator, and friend in a disguised way. Hosokawa is definitely the boss and Gen definitely the worker, but they seem to care for each other more than most boss-worker relations. Gen even moves closer to Hosokawa when they are all lying on the floor, as a message to the terrorists that they are a package deal. Gen himself, even though he has long hair that to Hosokawa suggests a "lack of seriousness," is a very efficient worker. Hosokawa says that Gen does the things that no one else has yet realized need to be done.
Roxane Coss- Coss is the opera singer that brought Hosokawa to the host country, though she herself was reluctant to do the performance. Her voice is striking and even the terrorists treat her like something sacred. They hold her hand instead of her upper arm and give her extra time in the bathroom, they even take turns touching her beautiful hair. So far we don't know much about her personally, other than the fact that she's sure her voice has secured her survival.
The Terrorists- The terrorists are made up of generals and soldiers, the generals are older veterans whose war scars are obvious (missing arms and fingers) and the soldiers are young boys. The boys seem very innocent, especially in their treatment of Roxane Coss. General Benjamin has so far been the most memorable General, with a violent rash of shingles down his face.