Middlesex+(215-251)

Definitions: Patriarch Athenagoras: was born Aristocles Spyrou. He was the 268th Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople from 1948 to 1972. He was the son of the village doctor and his mother died when he was only 13 years old. He graduated from the Patriarchal Theological School in Halki, Turkey. He became a monk upon graduation and he was given the name Athenagoras. On November 1, 1948, when he was 61 years old, he was elected Patriarch of Constantinople. []

Sappho: was an Ancient Greek poet born on the island of Lesbos. Greeks included her in the list of nine lyric poets. She was born sometime between 630 and 612 B.C. and she died around 570 B.C.; however, not much is known about her life. The bulk of her poetry has been lost but her reputation has endured. []

7. The idea of circles is again introduced in these chapters. History keeps repeating itself over and over again. As the race riots break out in Detroit and the Stephanides family is hiding out in the attic, television reports remind Desdemona of the horror that she and Lefty faced in Smyrna. "Desdemona held her cardboard fan to her chest, shielding herself against the spectacle of life repeating itself. 'Oh my God! Is like Smyrna! Look at the mavros! Like the Turks they are burning everything!' It was hard to argue with the comparison. In Smyrna people had taken their furniture down to the waterfront; and on television now people were carrying furniture" (239-240). Desdemona had left a burning Smyrna and come to America where circumstances were better, but now it seems that she has circled around and returned to her life in Smyrna as the race riots begin in Detroit.

5. Although Lefty and Milton are somewhat similar in nature, they don't seem to get along very well. Both men work hard to protect their families and keep their families secure. However, as they age the two men drift apart. Milton is extremely independent and denies his father's help, making Lefty feel unneeded. And, as Milton's restaurant business begins to fail, he begins to grow impatient with his father. When Lefty tries to comfort his son "Milton found himself getting impatient or not paying attention. //Intimations of mortality brought on by aging family members,// that's what Milton felt, seeing his father...His father's stroke had convinced him that Lefty was no longer on top of his game" (234). He has lost respect for his aging father.