Character Analysis
We only briefly get to see Vahan's family at home before the problems start for them. It's clear that they're a loving, supportive bunch though, and at first, Vahan puts them all on a pedestal. As part of a wealthy and well-respected family, Vahan doesn't realize that his family might not stay this way forever. He thinks that his brother Sisak is his "friend, playmate, guide, and protector, but now, listening to him sleep, I realized how vulnerable he was, how vulnerable we all were" (4.24). Yup—vulnerability is definitely the name of the game.
Sisak might only be three years older than Vahan, but he's bigger and better in Vahan's mind. In fact, all his family is—when Vahan thinks about his older brothers and parents, he imagines that they know how to do anything. Yet we can tell that even they are thrown for a loop by what happens to their family. Vahan's grandma is determined and stoic at first, but soon even she loses the light in her eyes, and his mom begs him to run away, telling him, "'I cannot watch them kill you'" (8.7). No matter how wonderful they might be, no one can stop what is happening.
It's clear to us that Vahan idealizes his family and wishes they were around, part of which comes from his sense that they've always known what to do. When it comes down to it though, he's got to make decisions for himself without them. It's tough to read about his family dying, but it's all part of his journey of growing up and learning to make choices for himself—that he dreams about them after he reaches Constantinople, though, makes it clear that there is a giant family-shaped hole in his heart… and reminds us just how exceptional Vahan's survival is.