Lolita In Tehran

Lolita In Tehran
The fight for freedom is the fight that people of the past and the present are trying to win. A fight
where the result are endless options. In the texts "I have a dream" by Martin Luther King Jr,
"Persepolis 2" by Marjane Satrapi, and "Reading Lolita in Tehran" by Azar Nafisi the demand for
freedom is shown through the thoughts and worries of the people. Martin Luther King Jr believes
that people of colors haven't really been given freedom, even though they're no longer slaves. In his
speech Luther King made a very important point about what we define as "freedom". "But one
hundred years later, the Negro still is not free: one hundred years later, the life of the Negro is still
sadly crippled by the manacles of segregation and the chains of discrimination"(King 48). This
paragraph illustrates the point that freedom is not given, but something we have to fight for, a prime
example is the people of colors in America. He also said that there will be no peace until the people
of colors ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
In the text Nafisi talks about how Sanaz the main character had to changed her gestures to be
unnoticed, so people who are known as the Blood of God don't catch her small act of rebellion such
as wearing a bright orange shirt underneath her black robe."It is her best interest not to be seen, not
be heard or noticed"(Nafisi 82). This paints a picture that shows how women in Iran had their
freedom taken away from them, even though they're ancestors and they, themselves were born with
it. Nafisi also made a point about how people are brainwashed into believing that being tell what
they could wear and could not wear was what freedom looked like."...quotations from Khomeini and
a group called the Party of God: MEN WHO WEAR TIES ARE U.S LACKEYS. VEILING IS A
WOMAN'S PROTECTION"(Nafisi 82). This clearly demonstrates how women are brainwashed
into
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Nafisi
Harsh Patel
Section QK
Assignment #1
Rough Draft From merely the last two decades, women have begun to show out in society with their
vast achievements and accomplishments. In the early days of the Iranian revolution, a young woman
named Azar Nafisi started teaching at the University of Tehran. However, in 1981, Nafisi was
expelled from the University of Tehran for refusing to wear an Islamic veil. Seven years later,
however, she did indeed resume teaching but soon resigned in protest over the increasingly cruel
punishments of the Iranian government toward women. She dreamed of working with students that
carried a great passion for learning. In Reading Lolita in Tehran, Azar Nafisi and her seven students
join together every Thursday ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Mahsid and like many others didn't get the education they wanted. They didn't have the ability to
follow their dreams in a normal sense. People should not have to hold private classrooms in a home
just to learn about something they enjoyed. Freedom to express one's individuality should always be
given as a citizen. Countless people in other countries like the U.S. have endless amounts of
resources that can be used for various purposes. Countries like Iran limit these resources because of
their government. Students like that of Nafisi's all simply share the joys of learning. All seven
students weren 't required to do anything, but their passion to discuss various texts is what put them
apart from a normal classroom that of today. Nafisi held great pride in her classroom. "This class
was the color of my dreams" (254). She described each of her seven students very distinctively,
giving specific traits and qualities the students held. Withdrawing into one 's dream can be very
dangerous according to Nabokov. The country in which Nafisi lived in gave harsh punishments to
those individuals who didn 't abide by the laws. The way the women held private discussions was
very risky. They risked their entire lives just to be different in terms of art and literature and not have
to comply with the Iranian rules. They thoroughly conversed among the texts of not only Lolita, but
as well as One Thousand and One Nights and Invitation to a Beheading. These are works of

Lolita, By Azar Nafisi And The Novel Revolutionizing...
In the memoir Reading Lolita in Tehran by Azar Nafisi and the novel Revolutionizing Motherhood:
The Mothers of the Plaza de Mayo written by Guzman Bouvard, the repressive revolutions played a
pivotal role in the lives of women. Through the Iranian Revolution, restrictions in the public and
private sphere were evident by imposing censorship constrains. The Argentinian revolution, on the
other hand, allowed limited civil rights by actions of the military junta. Despite these conditions,
women managed to find empowerment through forming groups and rebelling against government in
both the public and private sector. To fully understand how women in the Iran Revolution found a
sense of empowerment, the restrictions must be fully addressed ... Show more content on
Helpwriting.net ...
Choosing illegal western books and joining book clubs permitted women to gather in the private
sphere (Nafisi, 39). As nothing secular, western, or challenging Islam was condemned, assembling
was a sign of rebellion. Although western literature was censored, women felt empowered by being
able to read what was prohibited. They were able to learn about the outside world and finally discuss
what was avoided in Iran. Reading these books that considered themes of marriage and western
ideas was therapeutic (Nafisi, 194). Another key example is when Azar teaches her students about
The Great Gatsby. This novel would give her students "a glimpse of that other world that was now
receding from us, in a clamor of denunciations" (Nafisi, 108). Adding a fictional book to the
curriculum would convey the reality of the world consisting of suppression. This was a form of
escape for women now within the public sphere. Women were now allowed to go to college and in
cases like Azar Nafisi, also teach (Class Discussion, April, 26, 2017). In a patriarchal system that
favored men, women could now gather in a place other than the private sphere. Similar to the
Iranian Revolution, the women in Argentina experienced hardships in the late 1970's and early
1980's. During the Dirty War, an unofficial war was proclaimed by the state on the Argentine
population. This was done through acts of kidnapping, incarcerating, and even killing those
opposing the

Analysis Of The Book ' The Mind 's Eye '
The memories created in the past form into experiences that can either hinder or aid an individual's
ability to deal with the situations he or she faces later in life. Oliver Sacks, author of The Mind's Eye
presumes that the experiences that have been perceived by the senses become the files stored in our
memory and promote the brain and mind to reshape themselves when necessary. Azar Nafisi, author
of Selections from Reading Lolita in Tehran reveals the impact of political oppression and how it
compels freedom seeking women to take part in actions such as secretly discussing fictional
literature, unveiling, and withdrawing from the controlled world. Martha Stout, author of When I
Woke Up Tuesday Morning, it was Friday, observes that when an individual is unable to let go of
past emotions, those emotions that have has great traumatic impact cause the person to repetitively
recollect past events and live in a state of dementia. Although all three authors take account for
different people with different traumatic experiences, each supports the idea that we, has humans,
perceive the world in a way that we experience and define the real world outside our minds.
Through past experiences, free will, imagination, and some form of therapy, the individuals
presented in all three texts were able to escape the realities they were a part of and create their own
worlds. Oliver Sacks demonstrates the ability for the brain to make new connections within its
synapses which is an

Oliver Sacks: Influential Identity
Influential Identity In a changing world, it is very hard for an individual to have their own identity,
choice, and free will. Oliver Sacks in "The Mind's Eye" examines the lives of several different
people and how they adapt to their blindness in their adult years. Blindness is the main topic in
Sacks essay, and he uses it to portray the life situations that humans cannot control no matter what
precautions they take part in. Sacks also focuses on the topic of the human brain having a
characteristic of plasticity. With this characteristic, the brain can make shifts in response to certain
senses that are deprived. People do not choose the life they live; therefore one's life is shaped using
their own experiences and imagination. Their experiences ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net
...
Oliver Sacks in "The Mind's Eye" and Azar Nafisi "Selections from Reading Lolita in Tehran." both
touch upon how people do not choose the life they live; therefore one's life is shaped using their
own experiences and imagination. The mind plays a major role in how individuals create their own
identity. As people grow both physically and mentally, their experiences and imaginations also
expand into letting them picture the world in their own perspective. From the blind to those who are
controlled by the Iranian government, personal characteristics are the attributes in which we can
personalize ourselves. The ever–changing world may create multiple challenges for those trying to
shape their identity, but all must remember that we are in control of what our minds take in and let

Loss Of Community In Waiting For A Jew By Jonathan Boyarin
In "Waiting for a Jew" Jonathan Boyarin shows the interior journey he goes through in order to find
his identity and purpose in the community where he lives. This essay describes the changes Boyarin
has undergone both as an individual and as a member of a marginalized society. Already in the first
lines of " Waiting for a Jew" he claims that his mission is to find his Jewish identity, "My story
begins in a community, with an illusion of wholeness". The essay starts talking about Boyarin's life
in Farmingdale, where he lives in a community with blacks, whites and Jews. Even though it is a
marginal community, he likes it because it is very easy to develop a transcultural identity there. As a
matter of fact, he blends with this multicultural ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
It tells the story of this woman at the time when she started teaching at the University of Teheran. It
offers a fascinating portrait as well as a deep exploration of the Islamic revolution in Iran while
showing how it affected a university professor and her students. In " Reading Lolita in Teheran"
Nafisi is looking for a way to escape reality and find out if art can be more powerful than a
dictatorship. Because of her deep passion for literature and reading, Nafisi chooses to teach a
sampling of world's greatest literature to seven of her most committed female students. Thus, every
Thursday morning they gather in order to read and discuss freely about the Western classics
forbidden by the Iranian regime. "Sitting around the large coffee table covered with bouquets of
flowers, we moved in and out of the novels we read", this is how Nafisi explains the atmosphere
during her classes. These women risk in the face of tyranny while immersing themselves in the
world of literature. Nafisi also states that the she has not chosen them according to their cultural
background, but due to their personality. Indeed, the women in this group meet to preserve their
individuality in a world that punishes it. The women in Nafisi's living room speak not only about the
books they read but also about themselves, their dreams and disappointments. As a matter of fact,
while the world where they live is oppressive, the world

The World Shapes Who We Are, And What We Believe Or Stand...
How we view the world shapes who we are, and what we believe or stand for in today's society. This
view, or subjective perception, indirectly influences other people's lives. We tend to pass it on in
hopes of having more people support our main idea, and for others to join hands for a cause we
believe in. Daniel Gilbert's "Immune to Reality", Azar Nafisi's "Reading Lolita in Tehran", and Beth
Loffreda's "Losing Matt Shepard" all embody the idea of constant battles in society, and where
people are not able to achieve something or the other because of the ways they have been brought up
and raised. The visual and print media are vital in today's advanced form of communication.
However, what happens if you are not getting the whole story when ... Show more content on
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Beth Loffreda's first–hand accounts with a conventional situation like this shows how things get
completed for individual benefit. The fact that the idea of him not getting burned was not true didn't
seem to bother any of the individuals of the media. They were so fixated on their notes and were
immune to the idea that they could possibly have different stories. The media essentially works
together with one another to come up with stories that tailor to other needs, instead of reporting the
real issues or problems that should be addressed. This idea goes hand–in–hand with Daniel Gilbert's
ideas. Gilbert discusses how people have a psychological immune system that prevents us from
feeling negative towards a situation. He states, "The psychological immune system is a defensive
system, and it obeys this same principle. When experiences make us feel sufficiently unhappy, the
psychological immune system cooks facts and shift blame in order to offer us a more positive view"
(Gilbert, 136). The psychological immune system shields our brains from the negative externalities
and helps us keep positive thoughts flowing. This system cooks or formulates facts to provide our
minds explanations of what

Reading Lolita in Tehran
Reading Lolita in Tehran
In the memoir, Reading Lolita in Tehran, it talks about all the extreme risks the women of Iran are
taking just to be able to do simple tasks, such as reading westernized literature (The Great Gatsby,
Pride and Prejudice). It documents the experiences of women in Iran during the Islamic Revolution.
A very thought provoking book might I add. The men are practically free to run around and do as
they please within reason. Following the revolution, everything changed...leading the opposition
Ayatollah Ruholla Khomeini returned to Iran establishing an Islamic Republic and he brought with
him the idea that old laws should be reestablished, the women once again had to wear a chador, or
long dark colored robe.
We always ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
You may ask how life has changed since the revolution... A lot has changed. There was a rapid
change in social order. They still often chant such things as "Death to America" (105). Khomeini
was widely popular at the time for making his country so independent from the West. People in
those countries will never have as much freedom as people in other countries such as the United
States but coming from such a strict past they probably believe this is what it's like to be free. Some
women still have to wear their chadors but not every woman has to. Western literature may now be
read.
In conclusion, Reading Lolita in Tehran helps you understand what life was really like at that time.
You can't grasp what really went on from reading a history book, but reading someone's memoir on
it helps you understand it and makes you realize how easy we have it. Women had so many
restrictions while men could do what they want. Times have changed and life has become easier but
things will never be what they want. All those women that protested made a significant difference
for their daughters and granddaughters. If it wasn't for them they would still be stuck hiding in their
houses reading books they aren't allowed to have and not getting an education they rightfully
deserve. In the end, I see things will gradually improving till they can wear, read, sing, and do
whatever they want just like everyone

EXPOS Final 5th Paper
Samantha Schwab
Professor Pritchett
EXPOS: Section QH
December 5, 2014 Social Connections: Fantasy vs. Reality
Throughout society's development, individuals have grown to make connections based off of past
experiences. Connections can have various meanings such as association with development, or a
relationship between groups of people. In Azar Nafisi's writing of, "Selection from Reading Lolita in
Tehran," she describes the creation of her reading group, and how it provides the type of education
she desired to provide as an educator but was restricted based on the Iranian regime. Similarly, in
Susan Faludi's "The Naked Citadel," Faludi examines the unique culture of a nonaffiliated military
school, which highlights the clash between ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
As a result, the connections made by individuals lead to conformity, which limits the creation of
connections with other cultures and ideas. Therefore the lack of connections creates isolation,
furthering the lack of connections to the outside world.
Accepting environments on the other hand, allow for the creation of imagination and personal
connections. Nafisi in her "Selections from Reading Lolita in Tehran" speaks about the creation of
her reading group, and provides the type of education she desired to provide as an educator but was
restricted to provide based on the Iranian regime. The Iranian society oppresses against women,
forcing them to conform to societal norms. On the other hand, Nafisi introduces her students to a
fantasy like environment during their literature class. This allows for the connection amongst the
girls and Nafisi to be personal. The idea of connection can be done while making a comparison
between the women in Iran and characters within a novel Nafisi discussed with her students. Nafisi
states:
We formed a special bond with Nabokov despite the difficulty of his prose. This went deeper than
out identification with his themes. His novels are shaped around invisible trapdoors, sudden gaps
that constantly pull the carpet from under the reader's feet. They are filled with mistrust of what we
call everyday reality, an acute sense of that reality's fickleness and frailty (293).
Through reading,

Symbols And Motifs Of F. Scott Fitzgerald 's ' The Great...
Part I: Symbols/ Motifs
F. Scott Fitzgerald uses color as a way to describe in more detail. Some of the main colors are green,
grey, white, silver and gold.The color green is one of the most prominent and detailed symbols in
the book. Gatsby sees the green light at the end of Daisy's dock as the distance between him and
Daisy, along with what he hopes and aspires for in the future. In the literal sense, the color green
also represents his craving for money and vanity of the Roaring Twenties in New York City. Many
other events and characteristics in the book are also represented as "green". The color grey is used to
show how sometimes behind all the wealth, there is still an emptiness in many lives of those who
are extremely wealthy. Also it displays things that are not seen to Gatsby as important. For example,
"The grey windows disappeared." (P. 91). White in the Great Gatsby shows wealth and the
perfectness of the life in the Roaring Twenties. As for silver and gold they are much alike because
they both display wealth, but gold also displays happiness, prosperity and richness, of course.
Part II: Dreams and Allusions
Jay Gatsby acquired his wealth through hard work. Also one of his best traits is that he has great
determination, meaning when he wants something he works hard to get it. For instance, his love for
Daisy Buchman, made him become money hungry to be in her world. Once he was exposed to her
world he changed into the person that he is perceived as in the duration

The Characteristics Of Literature : Cause And Change In...
Change is defined as giving a "different position, course, or direction to" any certainty (Merriam–
Webster.com, "Change"). Change occurs in the smallest and biggest of things, creating change
ranging from the unnoticeable to the substantial; however, change can also be broken into two
categories: the change that is simply happenstance and change that is urged. The change that is
happenstance is unpredictable, and happens "on its own" as an unintentional, or unknown, effect of
something else. The change that is urged, or pushed into motion, is the change in society that we
visualize, or envision as necessary, and then try our hardest to initiate. In short, a situation where
something or someone can be improved is a situation that has a change we can directly contribute to.
Although there is no shortage of methods to contribute to or initiate change, it can be surprising that
even something as asomatous as literature can cause or inspire change. The narratives of authors
Azar Nafisi and Ethan Watters are prime examples of literature affecting change. Azar Nafisi, author
of "Reading Lolita in Tehran," uses her literary piece to depict the struggles some people in the
world can go through and how they can stay strong and make the smallest change that means the
world to them. On the other hand, Ethan Watters, author of "The Mega–Marketing of Depression in
Japan," uses his literary piece to depict a change that an industry made in foreign territory when
faced with a seemingly

Summary Of Reading Lolita In Tehran
In the book "Reading Lolita in Tehran", the author portraits a story of oppression towards Iranian
woman and the kind of life they go through. As known, some Iranian men are commonly known for
their sexism and oppression towards the woman population in Iran. The story takes place during and
after the revolution in Iran. During this period the Iranian State was transitioning into an extremist
Islamic regimen.
During the story, a group of woman gets together to discuss different literacy texts, each of these
woman were going through different situations and all them struggling through the revolution. The
extremist Islamic Regimen is very unfair towards all women in Iran. They have an absence of
freedom for woman and have injustice towards their

'Reading Lolita In Tehran,' The Mega-Marketing Of...
In both, Azar Nafisi's, "Reading Lolita in Tehran," and Ethan Watters', "The Mega–Marketing of
Depression in Japan" there is an overlap on the themes of cultural narratives and personal choices.
In "Reading Lolita in Tehran," Azar Nafisi illustrates her class meeting with her girls, who are
driven to learn about the relation between fantasy and reality. The Islamic State – the high force – in
this selection, rules over the girls and Nafisi reveals the emotions and enhances her girls' reactions to
the freedom that is experienced in her living room. In "The Mega–Marketing of Depression in
Japan," Ethan Watters explains how the Japanese view depression, melancholy, and sadness as
beneficial to the individual, and how the Western conception of an illness has been deliberately
exported to various countries. Cultural narratives in the given society help shape the community and
allow an individual to get a better understanding of the general principals and societal norms.
Narratives such as literature aspects in Nafisi's selection and the interpretation of illnesses in
Watters' essay, provide an individual with an opportunity he or she needs to understand the available
choices he or she is provided with. Whether it be related to medicine, workplace or household, such
cultural narratives help construct one's everyday tasks, while allowing the individual to experience
and to live his or her dreams through fantasy. Individuals who are oppressed or restricted –
physically, emotionally,

Reading Lolita In The Tehran And The Underground Girls Of...
Both Reading Lolita in the Tehran by Azar Nafisi and The Underground Girls of Kabul by Jenny
Nordberg are works of nonfiction documenting the lives of women in the turbulent political
environments in the Middle East. Being a woman, particularly an educated one, during the 80's and
90's in Iran meant a drastic limitation of personal freedoms and expressions through self image and
art, a concept demonstrated through how Nafisi recalls her experience as a literature professor at the
University of Tehran and how her students perceived the books she taught. Nordberg similarly
expresses the sexual discrimination in the Middle East through her documentation of young girls as
they search for a way to achieve personal freedoms by cross–dressing as the liberated sex in a post–
Taliban Afghanistan. Through her interviews of Kabul's Bacha Posh population, Nordberg
establishes for the Western reader how the maltreated young girls Afghanistan constantly dream of
an elusive freedom granted to their brothers, fathers, and husbands, and how few establish the
otherwise unattainable by presuming the role of a boy for their adolescence. Nafisi's demonstration
of similar sexual oppression is related as a memoir of her students where she utilizes their
interpretations of 20th–century western literature to serve as a reflection of the lives of her student
through sexual oppression and conflicting political and religious factions. Nordberg's The
Underground Girls of Kabul employ the use of

The Power Of Context : Bernie Goetz And The Rise And Fall...
Fabricating an identity is a task that all humans encounter, which requires a significant amount of
time. Because it takes a while to establish, numerous factors, such as the environment and the group
dynamic an individual is surrounded by, can effect the creation of the identity. In Malcolm
Gladwell's "The Power of Context: Bernie Goetz and the Rise and Fall of New York City Crime," he
explains human behavior in his analysis when presenting a theory to explain the time period when
New York City was crime ridden. Gladwell argues that the physical environment of an individual
plays a significant role in an individual's behaviors and actions, which shape an individual's identity.
While Gladwell argues that an individual's identity is a product of his or her surroundings and
environment, Susan Faludi explains how choosing to take part in a group dynamic can significantly
alter one's identity in her "The Naked Citadel." Faludi describes how the cadets come to The Citadel
so they can escape the traditional roles of masculinity in the outside world, and arrive at a place
where they are sometimes given the opportunity to live a vulnerable lifestyle. However, when the
cadets arrive they are integrated into a group dynamic, which alters their own personal identities.
The effects of the environment and group dynamic on one's identity is portrayed in Azar Nafisi's
"Selections From Reading Lolita in Tehran." Nafisi describes the time frame when her students
secretly came to her

The Limits of Identification
The Limits of Identification
Identities are prescriptive representations of every society's members themselves and of their
relationship to each other. The "limits of identification", thus divide social prescription of identity
into two categories, prescriptive accounts of members themselves which is their personal identities,
and behavioral prescriptions for the proper enactment of these identities which is society's norms or
behavioral norms that require individual's to be identified and act in certain ways. In the three
passages, "Selections from reading Lolita in Tehran," by Azar Nafisi, "On Becoming an Arab," by
Leila Ahmed; "Selections from Losing Matt Sheppard," by Beth Loffreda, the "limits of
identification" are introduced based on gender, race, and sexuality as main factors used to classify
the characters in the readings and pose their identity which led to prejudice, discrimination, and
limit their lives based on general stereotypes. "Limits of identification," therefore are general ideas
used to distinguish individuals who are different in some ways from the rest of society, because they
belong to a certain gender, race, or act in certain ways that is different from the set of social norms.
According to Ahmed, Nafisi, and Matt's life experience, hence, the potential "limits of
identification", are their societies' norms and beliefs that are reinforced on them. These norms and
beliefs allow every society and every individual to marginalize these characters based

The Censors, By Luisa Valenzuela
"Freedom is never voluntarily given by the oppressor: it must be demanded by the oppressed."
Freedom is the power or right to act, speak or think as one wants. All people have freedom from
birth or even from the beginning of some type government power. On the contrary, people have been
demanding for freedom on account of the higher power or government taking it away from them for
their specific reasons. In Collection texts, "I have a Dream", by Martin Luther King Jr, Reading
Lolita in Tehran by Azar Nafisi, and "The Censors" by Luisa Valenzuela all demonstrate that
freedom must be demanded.
On August 28, 1963, thousands of American citizens marched on Washington D.C to demand
Congress to pass a Civil Rights bill. There, Martin Luther King ... Show more content on
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In Argentina around 1974 it became a political turmoil and oppression; a fascist dictatorship, a
system of government in which a leader suppresses opposition through violent means, now ruled
Argentina. The citizens had no control and the government used threats of censorship and physical
harm to ensure no overthrew the government. The short story "The Censors" by Luisa Valenzuela
demonstrates how Juan tried to reclaim back his freedom to speech, but ends up being executed for
censoring his own letter. Juan censored his own letter to his loved one, Mariana. But because he was
so engulfed and immersed in his job, he practically was brainwashed and forgot about his letter.
Valenzuela writes in her story, "He knows that all letters pass from hand to hand and go through all
sorts of tests in the huge censorships offices and that in the end , very few continue on their way.
Usually it takes months, even years if there any snags: all this time the freedom maybe even the life,
of both the sender and receiver is in jeopardy" (89) Juan and other Argentinean citizens do not feel
safe about writing a letter because of the threat the government placed about censoring letters. Even
though they know nothing is wrong with the letter, the fear of getting in trouble worries and stresses
them. Individually, Juan tries to somehow gain back that little freedom to send Mariana his letter.
This is Juan's way of demanding for freedom of speech and in doing so, he even applied to become
a censor. Juan applied so that he could pass his own letter on without any worries of getting in
trouble from misinterpretation. Being afraid of his freedom in jeopardy and even his life made him
act. Despite Juan getting the job, his act to regain back his freedom had some negative effects. The
author writes," Soon his work became so absorbing to him that his noble mission blurred in his
mind" (91) Juan's noble mission was

Reading Lolita In Tehran Essay
Many people rebel things that here in our lives is a normal thing to occur. It may have to deal with
what they believe in or their religion, they were born into thinking that the rebellious thing is bad
one thing that Iran and other Iranian like countries rebel is the freedom to all women. Life for all
women in these countries are forced under a specific rule that they must follow and if not they will
be killed or be locked up in jail or prison. Many women rebel against the rules but are put in jail.
These rules are followed by women but made from man that have no idea what it's like to be a
woman in those countries These authors use descriptive perspectives to add tension to the problem
that these women are going thru every day and portray the reality to live ... Show more content on
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The streets of Tehran and other Iranian cities are patrolled by the militia, who ride in white Toyota
patrols, four gun carrying men and women, sometimes followed by a minibus. They are called the
Blood of God. They patrol the streets to make sure that women like Sanaz wear their veils properly,
do not wear makeup, do not walk in public with men who are not their father, brother, and or
husbands. (paragraph 2 lines 5–12)" Women are being patrolled by the government just to make sure
that the women are not breaking the laws and that they are not walking with another male that is not
her family. The laws of Tehran are very strict and it shows how much the care. Although she still
must obey these rules it makes her feel more like a person that makes her own decisions. The
rebellion done to women is being more described and how life is for them and the problems they go
thru everyday life. In "Persepolis 2: The Story of a Return" and reads "The regime had understood
that one person leaving her house while asking herself: Are my trousers long enough? Is my veil in

Identity And Identity Essay
Every individual has a story of their own, and in a sense there is a resemblance to novels with all its
ups and downs, and truths and fictions. Even more, there is this notion of "do not judge a book by its
cover;" each page within a person's life weighs more on one's identity than the outer surface one
perceives does. Despite this, how much of each page is determined by the individual and how much
is determined by outside forces? In "Selections from Reading Lolita in Tehran: A Memoir in Books,"
Azar Nafisi describes the necessity of identity in a world where fiction and reality are intertwined.
While Oliver Sacks in the excerpt, "The Mind's Eye," points out the physiological changes in an
individual's mind when facing a challenge more or less changes the identity of a person. Continuing
on the development of identity, Jean Twenge in her text, "An Army of One: Me," highlights how
social standards can shape and limit an individual as what embodies "the Self" becomes more
defined. All three authors tackle the scope of identity, since the individual, "the Self," and the
"mind's eye" are the center of discussion. The matter of identity can be shaped by circumstances and
experiences when the individual's environment is volatile, and has changed dramatically, or the
individual's surrounding society is prevalent in the actions of its subjects. However, identity is
something that is already predetermined to each individual, and the factors listed above reveal the
true identity of each individual more rather than shape it. Environment is a major factor that
determines the circumstances and experiences an individual encounters, and when environment
drastically changes it shifts one's identity to something new in his or her attempt to adapt. Azar
Nafisi, who experienced the harsh oppression of the Islamic Republic of Iran, witnessed this along
with her seven other students. To combat this shift in their environment, they created a forbidden
reading club to preserve their identity by creating a fantasy within the harsh world. One of Nafisi's
friends, a painter, described how "reality [had] become so intolerable... so bleak, that all [she could]
paint now [were] the colors of [her] dreams" (Nafisi 284). This shows the

Reading Lolita In Tehran
"Reading Lolita In Tehran" The novel "Reading Lolita in Tehran" has related and influenced me in
various ways. After all we come from the same religion which is why we can relate so much,
emphatically the book is about a young women seeking herself with the help of little young girls.
Basically their book is about women's rights. A long history of the Ancient time where they had a
similar issue like this with the society being sexist. Therefor, in tehran they believed that these girls
can't do anything since they're not "capable" Which is why they can't have book by their choice.
This novel reflects on an independent woman being bold and courageous enough to go the extremes
of doing something that is not allowed in the country she is living in. I can relate to quite a few
things and I feel like I have a slight better advantage of an understanding compared to other people
due to the same religion we share. Nafisi writes about before, during, and after the Islamic
Revolution in Iran. After reading the memoir " Reading Lolita in Tehran", I began to think heavily
about the future. Nafisi writes about how her life changed when the Islamic ... Show more content
on Helpwriting.net ...
Nafisi was an english teacher, and she was arrested for teaching " The Great Gatsby" to her class.
Nafisi was aware that the government did not want iran to have anything with american culture.
Despite this Nafisi still taught " the Great Gatsby" and was arrested afterwards. This taught me to
take risks sometimes. Not risk getting arrested, but take risks and do things I normally would not do.
There is more to life than meets the eye, and you will never know the true value of it if you don't
take any risk. This is one important thing this memoir has taught me, and I intend on putting it to

Reading Lolita Into Tehran Essay
Azar Nafisi uses the power of western literature to illustrate to her seven women students the
importance of connecting books to fictional imagination. She wanted to challenge her students to
discuss "the relation between fiction and reality." (Pg 6) Women in Tehran, when the Iranian
revolution began, had little or no freedoms out of their houses. Nafisi took an enormous risk by
inviting these seven women into her house to discuss literature. If caught she and or her students
could face jail time because the books were banned in fear of conspiracy against the new
revolutionary Iran. In the memoir, Reading Lolita in Tehran, the extreme risks these women take are
due to the reoccurring theme of oppression throughout the story. As each day ... Show more content
on Helpwriting.net ...
Women took power over men and had the ability to create their own destiny. Nafisi explains Gatsby
was constantly reinventing himself, being dishonest about his life and background, but in order to
achieve his dream, Daisy, he could not escape his own imagination and/or truth. Once reaching his
dream, his life would have no meaning. Gatsby, like most Iranian women, needed to learn that the
past was dead, the present is what we have today, and the future is what we can create in our own
dreams and imagination. With the loss of dream in their current situation the students were able
posses their dreams through books. In order to create your dream you must engulf yourself in a
novel. "A novel is not an allegory. It is the sensual experience of another world. If you don't enter
that world," Nafisi explained, "hold your breath with the characters and become involved in their
destiny, you won't be able to empathize, and empathy is at the heart of the novel. This is how you
read a novel: you inhale the experience." (pg 111) Nafisi taught those seven women how to gasp
freedoms in which literature brings to life. Through Nafisi's classroom, each of the girls was able to
escape the horrible reality of what was occurring around them. Being a teacher, Nafisi had the power
to enlighten and inspire her students to leave reality and escape into a fictional world. In this
imaginative world, inside Nafisi's house, had

Role Of Corruption In Reading Lolita In Tehran
Corruption, as we know, exists on all levels of society. We see it everyday when people and
businesses lie in order to reap the benefits. Even the slightest bit of corruption is inevitable to some
degree. The practitioners develop sly tactics to manipulate people, so the act does not appear to be
corrupt, and so they are able to get away with it. At times, an act will appear to be purely out of
good intent, but may actually be immoral. Often the semblances of purity and innocence that a
group upholds are actually corrupting that present generation and generations to come. In her novel,
"Reading Lolita in Tehran," Azar Nafisi discusses several instance of this facade of purity and
innocence. Ayatollah Khomeini comes into power over the country ... Show more content on
Helpwriting.net ...
Many big businesses and corporations have essentially "brainwashed" the consumers of a
generation. Claiming to only have good intentions, these businesses manipulate and wrongfully earn
the trust of their consumers. Back when information was not as viral and as easily accessible as it is
now, consumers were unknowingly putting themselves in danger. For example, when cigarettes
were first introduced, the producers were well aware of the danger their product posed. But because
warnings and ingredients were not required to be posted on the merchandise, the producers chose
not to. They advertised their product to no end claiming it to be the "popular" and "cool" thing to do.
So consumers bought into the charade and raved about the product and soon the trend was
widespread. Cigarette companies knowingly put thousands of people in a life threatening situation
and innocently pocketed millions of

To Kill A Mockingbird Essays: The Struggle For Freedom
"At all times, day by day, we have to continue fighting for freedom of religion, freedom of speech,
and freedom of want– for these are things that must be gained in peace as well as in war." – Eleanor
Roosevelt. Just because laws say we have freedom, doesn't mean people are treated equally. The
laws that speak of equality take away freedoms of others. Ever since the first time civilization had a
ruler or gave power to an individual, there has been a struggle for freedom. Utterly showing that
freedom in all forms, must be worked for in some way, the well known texts, To Kill A Mockingbird
by Harper Lee, "I Have A Dream Speech" by Martin Luther King, and Reading Lolita in Tehran by
Azar Nafisi, press one cannot just stand by, waiting for what ... Show more content on
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These people forget all the struggles that were faced to get the country this way; we still face in
today's society, some struggles for the freedom of equality. An example of this would be the equality
for Gays. Gay people will sue people who refuse service to them, and those people get in trouble for
discriminating. What about their rights? The rights to refuse service to anyone. This shows that there
are different views on what freedom truly is. Until freedom becomes one unified understanding or
goal, it will never be achieved. This is important because the fight for one feeling equal will always
be a raging battle due to the fact people are not the same. They are unique, have different beliefs,
views, customs, wants, and thoughts. More evidence that proves that they are wrong is when the
colonies first wanted to be free of Britain: they fought for it. This is important because it shows
freedom isn't given, it's fought for. Even if freedom was earned as easily as asking for it, it still was
worked for in the form of asking. This is important because it shows freedom, rights, and equality
isn't just there, but has to be reached through hard work and dedication. "Your freedom is the most
expensive thing you have, even if you aren't the one who paid for it. Use it well."–

Analysis Of Lolita 's Tehran, And Fidelity
When entering this unit of postmodernism, my only thoughts were of a reluctant nature. I
pessimistically expected only disagreement and frustration from reading the works of Life of Pi,
Reading Lolita in Tehran, and Fidelity. However, my initial expectations were completely and
thankfully wrecked. Though the philosophies of both Martel and Nafisi contradict my own, there are
endless gems of insight to be plundered from their writings. These postmodern works emphasize
where we as humans find our identity and how religion plays into that identity. Contrary to my
presumptions, I learned so much from reading these novels woven with postmodernists thought and
can say with confidence that I am a better and more educated person for having read them.
Postmodernism is not a wholly cohesive ideology that can be covered in a single blanket statement.
It is more of an umbrella that contains many miscellaneous modern conceptions of things. (Uhhhh
citation, idrk) There is an over–arching theme, however, that rejects objective truth. This belief
would argue that truth can be constructed by each person individually. For Pi, this meant his house
could be a temple for gods from Hinduism, Christianity, and Islam (Martel 45–46). It did not matter
that those religions were not congruous, he just wanted "to love God" (Martel 69). His truth was that
"all religions are true" (Martel 69). Nafisi similarly creates her own truth in her living room which
"became [her] sanctuary, [her] self–contained

The Naked Citadel
Shelby Gruber
Bitz
Writ 101
2 November 2012
Shadow of Oppression
As human beings, the need for power is as strong as a need for love or belonging. In The Naked
Citadel by Susan Faludi the students grab this power from women or even other students. They are
stripped down to nothing and the only way they see to regain this power is through dominating the
opposite gender and even violently taking control of their own gender. Through Reading Lolita in
Tehran by Azar Nafisi the male government and male figures in their lives oppress the women, and
they ultimately find refuge in a literature class that break down these gender barriers. In both articles
the constant search for true identity of a broken down human being forces, whether good ... Show
more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Women didn't even have the right to stand up and speak for something they believe in without
getting severely punished. The very way these Iranian women dressed were a sign of the power that
was being held over them. The women are dressed "in according to the law of the land, dressed in
black robes and head scarves, covered except the ovals of their faces and their hands" (Nafisi 248).
The nation tries to specifically degrade women to prove male dominance in an extreme way. Even
though they were allowed an education, "the regime that ruled them had tried to make their personal
identities and histories irrelevant. They were never free of the regime's definition of them as Muslim
women"(Nafisi 265). It is a classic example of abuse of power and how men in society use this
power to dominate over the 'lesser' being.
The women that Nafisi teach however find a way to gain a little bit of this power back. Nafisi begins
this process by letting the women take off their robes and allowing them to wear causal everyday
clothing, she explains, "gradually each one gained an outline and a shape becoming her own
inimitable self" (450). By stripping the women of what dominates them, she opens a world of
individuality and power over oneself, allowing the women to come in touch with new aspects of
their own lives. They find this power in the books that they read and discuss as well. Nafisi picked
books that would specifically relate to the current situation of the women in

Rebellion In Reading Lolita In Tehran, And Persepolis
In the stories "Cairo: my city, my revolution", "Reading Lolita in Tehran", and "Persepolis 2" a
common theme is rebellion. Each author had their own view on rebellion and its meaning. Here are
the different interpretations of rebellion according to each author... Beginning with "Cairo: my city,
my revolution." Rebellion to this author means standing up for her city. Uniting with her people and
fighting for their rights. This is the only story where the characters openly defy their government.
The author shows rebellion by sharing her experience at the mass protests in Cairo. Her version of
rebellion was violent and forceful. They needed to get their point across. From lines 38–43 the
author says "We were doing what we Egyptians do best, and what the regime ruling us had tried so
hard to destroy: we had together, as individuals, millions of us, in a great cooperative effort. And
this time our ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
We stood on the island in the middle of the road and that was the moment I become part of the
revolution." This shows the authors view on the rebellion and how she believes what she's doing is
the best for her country. Lines 61–68 state "From time to time there would be a burst of flame. The
great hotels: the Semiramis Intercontinental, Shepherd's, the Ramses Hilton, had all darkened their
lower floors and locked their doors. On the upper–floor balconies stick figures were watching us. At
the other end of the Midan, from the roof of the American University, the snipers were watching us
too. Silently. Everywhere there was a continuous thud of guns and from time to time a loud
intermitted rattling sound." Here the author is painting a picture of the protest. It was loud and scary
and dangerous. This protest

Different Historical And Cultural Barriers Affect The Way...
Different historical and cultural barriers affect the way literature and other forms of art are depicted.
Maggie Nelson, Azar Nafisi, and Tim O'Brien explore the effect of political and ideological contexts
on various forms of art and the way they are created or viewed. In "Great to Watch," Nelson
criticizes the media for not considering the barrier that exists between those who are educated in
understanding art and and those who are not because she finds that the people who are not well
informed become "desensitized" to what they see. Throughout her story, "Reading Lolita in Tehran,"
Nafisi explains the difficulty of being able to enjoy literature during an oppressive time period
where a barrier between women and the Islamic regime exists. In the context of war, O'Brien
explores the barrier between soldiers and civilians in "How to Tell a True War Story." All of these
authors find that different contexts create barriers that influence the ability of creators of various
forms of art to tell their story and the way their audiences perceive them. They notice that political
and ideological contexts cause creators and producers to focus their works on highlighting the
barriers that exist in our world. Because people have different values and experiences, Nelson,
Nafisi, and O'Brien find that the interpretations of works vary. Nelson is able to propose a solution
for the barriers she discusses–between the art connoisseurs and the uninformed– while Nafisi and
O'Brien become

Reading Lolita 's Tehr An Argumentative Essay
Reading Lolita In Tehran: An Argumentative Essay Novels intrigue anyone, whether it brings in the
intellectuals or the ones who prefer to fantasize. Azar Nafisi, the author of Reading Lolita In Tehran,
hooks the audience, page after page, filled with fascinating details of her and her loved ones life
experiences of the perplexities that make up the society all together. Throughout the book, each
chapter presents a new message as it introduces a new novel with each one. Nafisi introduces novels
in order to create a different, separate life within the reader, creating memories and experiences
unique to the combination of the books and the reader. This changes what the reader believes, no
matter whether the differences are positive or negative, life changing or miniscule, it will still
always change what the reader believes. The idea of being "forbidden" has always invoked human
curiosity. It makes one wonder, "what makes it so forbidden? what so secret that I shouldn 't know
about?" It creates a strange feeling with the audience and it sometimes gut wrenching. When it
comes to books being forbidden, it comes to the fact of what is this information that so hidden?
Nafisi brings something to light, how these "forbidden" books have changed her, in her own little
world and she wishes to share. She brings this to her "book club" hoping that in this little group, that
they could be touched and changed like her too. The books that they read are so sneaky, changing
the reader 's

Lolita 's Tehr A Memoir
Reading Lolita In Tehran: A Memoir In Books is a novel that chronicles the life of Azar Nafisi, a
Professor of English, during her years in the Islamic Republic of Iran. As described in its ' title, the
novel is a "Memoir in Books" that chronicles Azar Nafisi's experiences while teaching during the
Iranian Revolution in the Islamic Republic of Iran, and her life there until leaving for America in
1997. Much of the book focuses on Nafisi as a professor at the University of Tehran, and, (after her
expulsion from there), the Allameh Tabatabai University. Nafisi begins with a description of a dream
she fulfilled in her final years of life in the Islamic Republic of Iran: to hold a private literature
workshop with a select group of dedicated students. Over the course of this first section, Nafisi
introduces us to the seven students in the group and recreates their discussions about two primary
texts: Nabokov's Invitation to a Beheading and Lolita. In doing so, she makes both implicit and
explicit connections between these novels and the lives of these women living in the Islamic
Republic of Iran, and by extension, explores the links between literature and reality generally. The
young women would meet once a week in secret at Nafisi's own apartment. The women responded
to their readings by discussing world politics, religion, and human rights in the context of their own
country's current state. During their meetings they discussed various books, all the while relating
them to

Analysis Of ' The Gatsby Chapters Of Reading Lolita Essay
The main human universal evident in the text of the Gatsby Chapters of Reading Lolita In Tehran is
that of the power of dreams and their relationship to reality. Webster defines dreams as "a series of
thoughts, images, and sensations occurring in a person 's mind during sleep." However, there is a
much broader definition of dreams applicable to this novel. In Nafisi's world, dreams represent more
than just a picture show of thoughts we have while we sleep. In Iran, it was the dreams of one man
that brought an entire government to its knees. Nafisi discusses the differences in Iran and the
United States, saying, "We in ancient countries have our past––we obsess over the past. They, the
Americans, have a dream: they feel nostalgia about the promise of the future."
Nafisi chooses two famous novels to feature in her class. Both novels covered extensively in Nafisi's
classroom share a common theme: dreams. Throughout this section, the audience is introduced to
the primary theme that recurs repeatedly, that of dreams and their relationship with reality. The
protagonist Humbert Humbert of the novel Lolita and Jay Gatsby of Great Gatsby both fantasize of
possessing another human, even succeeding to a certain point. Both characters are able to attain their
prey in body, but never in spirit. Both Lolita and Daisy succumb to their hunters physically, but
never mentally or of their own free will. There is a strong comparison to be made between the men
of these two novels and the

The Importance Of Individuality In Society
Karen Ho, Robert Thurman, and Azar Nafisi all write different passages that are similar in that they
touch upon topics of individuality, the self, and how one acts in certain societies. In Ho's passage
titled "Biographies of Hegemony", she describes the society of Wall Street and how one must
conform himself in order to fit in with the elite society. In the passage"Wisdom" written by
Thurman, he writes about "the self" and how one must not result into only being one personality
trait. But instead, change as the world and life changes. Lastly, in "Selections from Reading Lolita in
Tehran" Nafisi writes about the city of Tehran and how the women handle the inequality. It is
evident in all three passages that the individuals portrayed feel a certain way towards individuality.
Whether they choose their place in their own society or if their place is predetermined or them is a
question that each passage addresses differently. Ultimately, the society that one is in chooses their
place based on how one displays their identity.
One can express their identity that is seen by others by pursuing the career of their choice. Nafisi
expressed that in her job, "[the university officials] had harassed and limited me in a number of
ways... it took two more years before they finally accepted my resignation" (Nafisi 284). Here, it is
clear that Nafisi chose to no longer be a teacher, therefore choosing to change her own identity of
how she is seen to others. In addition, Nafisi wrote that her friends expressed their concern and had
asked what her plans were after resigning. Nafisi responded by saying, "well I could write another
book, I would tell them. But in truth I had no definite plans," (Nafisi 284). Although the society of
Tehran made it clear that they did not support her career change by prolonging her resignation and
Nafisi's friends expressed their concern with her new plans, Thurman instead would encourage
Nafisi to find something new. Instead of doubting her, Thurman would support her by saying, "If
you don't know exactly who you are all the time, you're not sick, you're actually in luck, because
you're more realistic, more free and more awake... You've opened up your wisdom, and realizing
that 'knowing who you are' is

Reading Lolita 's Tehr A Memoir
Part I: Reading Lolita in Tehran: A Memoir In Books
"Reading Lolita In Tehran: A Memoir In Books" chronicles the life of Azar Nafisi, (a Professor of
English), during her years in the Islamic Republic of Iran. The novel documents Nafisi's experiences
while teaching during the Iranian Revolution in the Islamic Republic of Iran, and her life there until
abandoning her home for America in 1997. Much of the book focuses on Nafisi as a professor at the
University of Tehran, and, (after her expulsion from there), the Allameh Tabatabai University. Nafisi
begins telling her story by sharing with the reader a specific dream that finally came true for her in
her last years of teaching in Iran: to hold a private literature workshop with a select group of
dedicated female students. Over the course of the first section, Nafisi introduces us to the seven
pupils in the group, recreating their discussions about two predominant texts: Nabokov's "Invitation
to a Beheading" and "Lolita." In doing so, she makes candid connections between the novels read in
class and the lives of the women reading them, and by extension, explores the links between
literature and reality in general. The women's covert discussions occurred weekly in Nafisi's
apartment. The women responded to their readings by discussing world politics, religion, and human
rights in the context of their own country's current state. During their meetings they discussed
various books, all the while relating them to their own

The Ecstasy Of Influence : A Plagiarism
Conflict occurs when there are opposing views with those of higher authority, the oppressor, and
those beneath them, the oppressed. In "Project Classroom Makeover," Cathy Davidson explores the
struggle between the current state of the American education system and the necessity of an
improved one. Correspondingly, in "The Ecstasy of Influence: A Plagiarism," Johnathan Lethem
highlights the problems individuals encounter dealing with the premises of governmental limits on
intellectual property. Comparably, in "Selections from Reading Lolita in Tehran," Azar Nafisi
examines the strife between the Iranian citizens and the authoritarian Iranian regime. Overall, people
create conflict with the authority of their larger social group because ... Show more content on
Helpwriting.net ...
Davidson speculates that during "the ritual dressing down in [the superintendent's] office...it wasn't
Mrs. Davidson who left feeling chastised" (Davidson 68). Through this quote, since the
superintendent feels chastised, it shows that he feels punished for not being able to approve of Mrs.
Davidson's teaching style because he knows he is doing a disservice to the students in enforcing the
standardized way of teaching. But, the superintendent intentionally needs to misrepresent the idea of
Mrs. Davidson because he needs to uphold his end through enforcing what the school requires of
him. Thus, when the authority misrepresents ideas of the overall social group, even intentionally, it
leads to conflict.
Similarly, on a larger scale, the misrepresentation of beliefs leads to the same type of conflict
between the leaders of the social group and the people the leaders represent. In Iran, Nafisi describes
the government as having control over daily activities and limiting the overall freedom of its
citizens. To depict this oppressive behavior, Nafisi questions, "how well could one teach when the
main concern of university officials was not the quality of one's work but the color of one's lips, the
subversive potential of a single strand of hair?" (Nafisi, 284). In this instance, the university officials
discriminate against the students based on their

What Is A Hidden Transcript?
There's Those Who Have Power and Those Who Don't No matter how a person looks at it, there will
always will be a power struggle between the ones who have it and the ones that don't. James C.
Scott describes in his memoir "Behind the Official Story", political sciences in society and hidden
transcripts in the public. In describing his idea of hidden transcripts he states, "I shall use the term
public transcript as a shorthand way of describing the open interaction between subordinates and
those who dominate." (Scott 522). He says the hidden transcript is a lie and disguise for those who
don't have control and power. He argues that both parties are misleading and conspiring against each
other. Nafisi talks about power relations in her memoir ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
When she moved into the apartment she was finally able to wear colorful clothes and be herself.
Without the power authority telling her how to act in public and what to wear. Scott in this case
would describe this as a hidden public transcript. Nafisi describes in her memoir that there are two
hidden transcripts of power. One is where she may dress in home how she wants and wear colorful
clothes. To be able to be herself, read forbidden literature and dress how she wants without the
power authority to tell her how. Two, in the public she must wear black robes and scarves around
her head and body. Obey the public's eye of power that has a hold over Nafisi. Nafisi states
"Although they came from different backgrounds, the regime that ruled them had tried, to make
their personal identities and histories irrelevant. They were never free of the regime's definition of
them as Muslim women." (Nafisi 437). Here Nafisi is describing one of the hidden transcripts,
where Muslim woman are degraded down to nothing more than subordinates to their superiors.
Where Scott had described this pacific statement in his book and at the beginning of this paper. This
is what

Reading Lolita In Tehran
Curiosity is the basis of learning. Many countries don't allow curiosity because with curiosity come
awareness, and they don't want their citizens to question the government's ways. In Reading Lolita
in Tehran, the quote "Curiosity is insubordination in its purest form" that Nabokov said means that
curiosity is awful, and relates to nafisi's memoir because the women don't have a lot of freedom and
no one can speak their mind. The quote justifies the Islamic communitie's limitation on curiosity and
free speech; since curiosity is bad then no one will want to learn new things and no one will
question the government. First of all, the quote discouraged curiosity because it could lead to
knowledge. For example, the Islamic government

Feminism And The Iranian Cultural Revolution
According to Julia Alvarez in a magazine article Writing Matters, "... it's by what people have
written ... that we understand who we are." Through literature, people understand themselves and
the world around them, and they can better prepare to face the world. Specifically through memoirs,
or an author's written life story, one can have a first hand look at the world around them and as a
result can better understand the people discussed and their struggles. An American can benefit by
reading literature from and about different cultures as it can lead to an understanding of others and
an acceptance of different groups of people. Azar Nafisi's memoir Reading Lolita in Tehran
describes how she lived through the Iranian Cultural Revolution ... Show more content on
Helpwriting.net ...
Throughout the novel, Humbert accuses Lolita of encouraging their sexual relationship thus
"implicating his victim," and causing the reader to blame Humbert less for his perverted actions.
Similarly, the Iranian government blames other countries, religions, and women for the violence in
Iran and the strict, discriminatory laws which allows the Iranian people to divert the blame to others
and away from government actions. Nafisi's reader understands this aspect of Iranian life due to the
connection Nafisi makes between Humbert's narration and the Iranian government's public
communications. Later in the book, during one of Nafisi's lectures at the University of Tehran, she
discusses the overarching theme of The Great Gatsby, which she describes as the loss of a dream. As
a poor child, Gatsby loved Daisy, a wealthy girl, and they could not be together. To fulfill his dream
of being with Daisy, Gatsby illegally earns money to impress the married Daisy which leads to their
sexual affair. In the end, he is murdered for taking the blame for a crime Daisy had committed.
Nafisi asks the reader, "[w]as this not similar to [Iran's] revolution, which had come in the name of
[Iran's] collective past and had wrecked [Iranian] lives in the name of a dream?" (144) Nafisi
parallels Gatsby's longing for his past lover and the resulting death to the

'Reading Lolita In Tehran'
As a person, freedom should not have to be demanded. Freedom was given to people as a right, so it
should not be taken away as a privilege. Besides freedom just being a right, it also limits the
violence in a nation. Lastly, freedom creates human security . All in all, freedom should be given.
Freedom gives people a sense of stability. In the text, "Reading Lolita in Tehran," it talks about how
Iran forced woman to adhere to an islamic dress code. However, this dress code made women worry
about going out and being ridiculed and punished due to the fact that the way they were dressed was
unacceptable. Freedom is a common factor in human security. When people know that they have the
right to do something, it makes them feel safe. Freedom

Narrative Telling Act As Entertaining Persuasive
Garrett Chu
Professor Mary Zanfini
Expository Writing 101
28 November 2014
Paper 5 Narratives and story–telling act as entertaining, yet persuasive methods of conveying
experiences that possess traits related to most people 's lives. A common trait shared among people
during sessions of story–telling or narratives is trauma. Within stories, conflicts such as trauma
attract listeners because intrinsically, people find comfort for themselves in empathizing or
sympathizing. Along with vivid imagery, that sense of comfort provided in the story allows for
listeners to become more engaged, thus assisting the elucidation of a personal experience. People
become so immersed in the story that they actually dissociate themselves from reality, emphasizing
the strength of the story 's control over the reader. With the introduction of characters involved in
conflict through story–telling, Martha Stout makes better sense of their personal experiences. Within
Martha Stout 's "When I Woke Up Tuesday Morning, It Was Friday," she recounts her patients '
personal traumatic experiences in the form of story to provide her readers a sharper understanding of
what these experiences entail. Similarly, Azar Nafisi recounts her experiences in vivid detail through
a narrative. In Nafisi 's "Selections from Reading Lolita in Tehran: A Memoir in Books," her rough
experiences in Tehran become fully pronounced as she describes her conflict with clashing cultures
through a series of firsthand

Biographies Of Educational Hegemony By Karen Ho
Educational Hegemony
With the development of the society, education becomes a significant role in human's lives, and
people appeal to get the equal rights of education. There are too many people looking forward to
justice and liberation in this world. At this time, education is a way to satisfy people's spiritual and
material demands. Gradually, eople realize the importance of education, and they believe in the
changes that education brings to them. This is why people get into hegemony, which presents from
the ideology and cultural aspect of the society. However, when their rights are regulated by norms,
people will question whether the hegemony will help them live better. In Karen Ho's article
"Biographies of Hegemony", she ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Individual's life choice narrows by the social cognition. The educational hegemony plants root in
people's mind that Wall Street is the best place to work. However, Wall Street people must dedicate
their lives on a financial circle. Ho states the situation, "This early and intense branding of Wall
Street careers as the symbol of arrival, the equating of investment banking with 'career' in general,
serves to narrow students' notions of success and gives the impression that for graduates, there's
nothing else out there besides investment banking and consulting" (Ho 171). People who study in
top universities are told to work in investment banking and consulting as a success. People regard
their schools as a symbol to measure their abilities. This recognition can see as a stereotype, which
the graduates from famous schools must do several job in several fields, such as business, political
or economic. The ideological hegemony indeed gives people options to choose, but also limits the
options and closes people's mind to discover what they really want. The purpose of education is to
help people learn critical thinking. Once the hegemony appears, the ability of critical thinking is
deprived in some degree. Nevertheless, Nafisi as a female teacher realizes that the current school
environment always lets her feel helpless and she says, "Teaching in the Islamic Republic, like any
other

Lolita In Tehran

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Lolita In Tehran