Kristine Hagopian (born 1906 in Izmir) was an Armenian woman who grew up living in constant terror and fear. At just ten years old, Kristine was first subjected to the mad and macabre events of the Armenian Genocide. She may appear to be elderly in the image, but based on the sorrowful expression on her face, she knows first hand the horrors of genocide and the destructive effects of not only a group of people, but of individuals themselves.
When Kristine was about ten years old, she and her family were first persecuted and deported to Der-Zor, far from her home; however, a family friend soon had them freed. Shortly after this event, Turkish soldiers broke into her house and brutally raped her father; Kristine and her mother were forced to watch the horror as her defenseless father was raped. Kristine's father killed himself soon after.
Kristine most likely feels bitter resentment towards Turkish people. For example, the image of her shows a sorrowful and bitter expression on her face. In this image, she could be having a flashback or remembering the image of seeing her father dead, hanging by a noose. Secondly, her story specifically highlights her feelings towards the Turks: "They are dirty the Turks.. very dirty...".
I would imagine this horrific experience has affected Kristine, mentally. I don't know how I personally would be able to live with myself if I ever went through the horror that she did; I think Kristine may be having suicidal thoughts or may have even attempted suicide like her father. However, maybe she's stronger than she looks; maybe she's able to move on and move past the horrors she endured.
Kristine leaves one question unanswered: Was any violence inflicted upon yourself?
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