Azar Nafisi, the narrator of Reading Lolita in Tehran: A Memoir in Books (2003), is a self-centered, self- righteousness character who, according to her claim, has very little contact with other Iranian people in general. (p. 11, 74, 186, 169) Being “very American” (p. 175), in several incidents she finds herself in a great distance of what others acknowledge as custom, ordinary or natural. (p. 32, 98, ..) Bear that in mind, she also admits that “events in [her] mind have become confused” (p. 89)
As revealed in Azar Nafisi's book Reading Lolita in Tehran, Iran's radical religious and political views are the driving force behind the domination and maltreatment of the country's people. Throughout the book there are many examples of this oppressive treatment which is enforced because of strict religious convictions. Nafisi compares the oppression happening during a tense period of revolution with various works of fiction that mirrors what is becoming life in Iran. The tyrannical treatment
subject, containing similar and different aspects such as their overall messages, styles and textual structures. These literary works include, “I Have a Dream," by Martin Luther King Jr., "Cairo: My City, Our Revolution," by Ahdaf Soueif, and, “Reading Lolita in Tehran," by Azar Nafisi. Oppressed individuals created ways to bring awareness to their hardships in order to fully express their beliefs. These texts all share a specific message which is to propel a social movement by peacefully protesting and
Heroes and victims—these common roles are found in “The Joy of Reading and Writing: Superman and Me,” by Sherman Alexie, and in Azar Nafisi's, “From Reading Lolita in Tehran.” Both Alexie and Nafisi were shaped by the societies into which they were born, turning to literature to escape from the confinements of their existence. Sherman Alexie is an Indian who works with students openly in the Catholic school system to help the students of the reservation find their own way into the world, while Azar
enlightenment and the feeling of liberation seem unattainable most of the time. However, once you discover a gateway, such as literature or meditation, it becomes easier to reach your goals of becoming open-minded. Azar Nafisi’s “Selection from Reading Lolita in Tehran” describes the struggles she and her students face and how they use literature to escape from their atrocious life. Similarly, “Wisdom” by Robert Thurman explores the idea of reaching a nirvana-like state where people become aware of their
of a population that follows a particular set of morals and ideals. An individual’s own identity, as a result, is dependent on many varying factors of their lifestyle in these culturally regulated regions. In the stories, “Selections from Reading Lolita in Tehran,” by Azar Nafisi, and “The Naked Citadel,” by Susan Faludi, the authors depict the impact made on an individual’s identity by male-dominated communities prejudiced against women. The discriminations described in these stories contribute to
Declaration of Independence, meaning that all people deserve equal rights. A topic of debate is whether or not people should be given or demand these rights for themselves. In the selections, “I Have a Dream”, by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr, “ Reading Lolita in Tehran”, by Azar Nafisi, and “A Eulogy for Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.”, by Robert F. Kennedy, the topic of equal rights being given or demanded can be explored. Freedom is one of the most valuable elements of the human experience, but doesn’t require
American literature professor, Azar Nafisi lived in Iran and stayed during the Iranian Revolution from about the 1960's to the 1980's. Her memoir, Reading Lolita in Tehran, explains the hardships and struggles during the revolution with literature. Using American literature to explain how she was coping, works like The Great Gatsby, Pride and Prejudice, Lolita, and Washington Square came up in her novel. Through these American novels, she started a group with young women to let them express their opinions
Reading Lolita in Tehran gives us a clear understanding that women around the world, particularly Iran, during the Iranian Revolution of 1979, have suffered through difficult times. Nafisi vividly shows that women in Iran have suffered through abuse and have lacked civil liberties and civil rights. Nafisi’s main argument in this memoir is that Iranian law and government makes it hard for women in Iran to live their life peacefully. Nafisi wanted to show the importance of women suffrage, and that
Book review: Title: Reading Lolita in Tehran Author: Azar Nafisi "و لنا في الخيال حياة" - Through Imagination we live (an Arabic proverb). In Iran during the late 1990s is a setting of a private book club in Tehran, where Professor Azar Nafisi, author of the book, meets weekly with seven of her most prominent female students to discuss banned western literary work. Azar Nafisi writes her memoirs, shedding light on the transformation of the self through literature, the book discussions are no longer
life that inhabited the world. The earlier generations of Native Americans would use storytelling as part of their culture whether it was an activity to pass time or to bond with the family and their tribes. In Azar Nafisi’s “Selections of Reading Lolita in Tehran”, she uses various literary works to share different experiences with her students. Different books were discussed by Nafisi to give the students insight on the world outside of their own. Whereas Tim O’Brien’s “How to Tell a True War Story”
Passion and Change: How Reading Lolita in Tehran Deconstructs Power In authoritarian systems of government, the manner in which leaders rule over the people leave citizens very little power to bring change. Though pockets of dissent exist, it can be unnerving when one realizes that dissent only implicates those dissenters in troubles first perpetuated by the rulers themselves—in chaos, people cannot convene, they cannot organize or seek change because all change requires cooperation. Only in
however, a certain knowledge than cannot be certain and is unjustifiable from the scientific perspective. Karen Armstrong, Robert Thurman, and Azar Nafisi wrote about this type of knowledge in their essays: “Homo Religiosus,” “Wisdom,” and “Reading Lolita in Tehran,” respectively. Each of these authors has a different view of what knowledge is exactly, how it can be achieved, and what it means to have achieved it, but each author takes on the view that the concept of knowledge should be viewed from
extremely powerful. Stories are used as an escape, a connection, or a memory. In “How To Tell A True War Story”, by veteran and author Tim O’Brien, stories were used to help keep the author sane after fighting in a brutal war. In “Selections from Reading Lolita in Tehran”, written by Azar Nafisi an author and activist, Nafisi explains how escaping reality through works of fiction helped her keep her individuality and sanity during a time of great struggle in her homeland of Iran. Opposing these two authors
Many believe that our mind is the source of our freedom. We see this in Azar Nafisi’s “Selections of Lolita in Tehran,” Cathy Davidson’s “Project Classroom Makeover,” and Maggie Nelson’s “Great to Watch.” Nafisi creates a world of color to escape from the darkness of the society she lives in. Davidson tries to resist standard education. Nelson discusses avant-garde artists use cruelty as a way to rebel against banality. But people are surrounded by fences that limit their individuality. The mind
Rebellion is an action of resisting authority or control that has been established by a government. Three authors have given tension throughout the story they tell. Reading three stories’, “Cairo: my city, my revolution”, “Reading Lolita in Tehran”, and “Persepolis 2” the authors will be giving their perspectives of rebellion, how rebellion is being described, and the effects of rebellion on not only them but others. No one likes to be controlled in any way but for many people it is difficult because
(Scott 522). The hidden transcript is a lie and disguise for those who don’t have control and power. He argues about how both parties are misleading and conspiring against each other. Azar Nafisi also talks about power relations in her memoir “Reading Lolita in Tehran a memoir in books”. Azar is Muslim who host a book club with her friends as they talk about literature and are able to be themselves without the power of authority or presence of man in the room. The fact that there are hidden transcripts
they feel they risk getting a bad grade, fired, or in trouble. Only when subordinates are among themselves can they discuss how they really feel about their superior which would be an example of the hidden transcript. Azar Nafisi wrote, Reading Lolita in Tehran: a Memoir in Books, a book about her life as a teacher in Iran. Nafisi decided to teach an all- female class in her home. Nafisi quotes one of her students who explains why she had to lie to her father about taking the class, I lied What
Lolita, a novel written by Vladimir Nabokov is part of the extensive and well-known list of challenged or banned books. This novel was banned from schools and many colleges, the main reasons are due to its use ofsexual content and inappropriate use of language throughout the narration. In the present day, Lolita is viewed as Vladimir Nabokov's most well-known and disputable novel that suggests themes such as the innocence, damage of love, and manipulation with the usage of words. The purpose of the
Written in 1955, Vladimir’s Nabokov’s Lolita can be considered many things: a memoir, a love story, satire, an atrocity, but perhaps the most important thing to remember is the fact that Lolita is a fictional novel written to resemble a real-life memoir. From the beginning of the novel, the reader is introduced to a world where the line between fiction and reality is immediately blurred. For the remainder of Lolita, it is up to the interpretation of the audience to decide how much of the memoir is