Reading Lolita In Tehran Post 2 (A & B)

Hello again!

So far, my perspective of this book has changed only because I noticed I began losing interest in the story. As I was reading Part 2 Gatsby, I was wondering what happened to the secret literary meetings Azi was hosting at her house? I guess I would have just wanted to see more of the meetings throughout the book. But, the techniques Azi used to steal my attention in her book was clever.

First off, I noticed an interesting point Azi applied into the book. She states, “I had become a wayward and unruly child and could not be controlled,” (88). The reason I found this interesting is because she puts this later on into the novel. This quote reflects her character ever since the beginning when she introduced herself and the others around her. She wears her hair down, without the shall and her style of dress does not demonstrate the way the Islamic Republic would want her to dress. I also think that Azi is a courageous woman because especially at the time she is living in Iran, things would be extremely dangerous for her—not obeying the proposal and all. This also relates to her statement addressed to her class in Tehran University, “I told them I was going to a protest meeting, to oppose the government’s attempts to impose the veil on women and its curtailment of women’s rights...I was determined not to miss any more,” (111). It’s pretty obvious that she is in favor of women’s rights and independence, but, it seems to me that she is living at the wrong place, and definitely the wrong time to possess these sort of ideas. She lives in Iran. This most likely took place in the seventies or early eighties. Azi is her own person and she is risking her life for a cause she finds particularly significant for her. I mentioned that she is living at the wrong place because Iran is an Islamic country and anything that has anything to do with Western influence is shunned and extremely opposed, especially during a time of revolts. I think Azi purposely puts this statement here so we could create our own image of her and having this put in was most likely just a confirmation.
BUT what made me question this is the scene of the riot where Azi officially participated in. She states, “Then there were the intellectuals like myself, who did know a thing or two about demonstrations...two of them took photographs of the crowd, jumping menacingly from side to side. We covered our faces and shouted back,” (115). Why did Azi and her friend cover their faces? Were they trying to protect themselves from the photographer taking pictures of the public (probably ends up in newspaper) or were they covering their faces because they could not be seen. I’m not to clear on that...

I would like to bring up a question about the Gatsby section—hopefully it can be answered. What do you all think about the Gatsby section of Nafisi’s book? I did not quite understand how this related to her life or political life in Iran—though I do have a hunch. I’ll take a chance at it:

I think it has been established that the theme of The Great Gatsby is the American dream and what it consists of. Gatsby’s dream was to have Daisy’s love again, to be with her forever, just as they used to before he was sent off to war, which he almost succeeded in. Also, before the war, he had goals in becoming wealthy, which he succeeded in already, illegally, might I add. All Gatsby was missing was Daisy, but her unfaithful husband Tom Buchanan was in the way. Gatsby faced many obstacles to obtain this “American dream” which led to his fall, his death. So I am guessing that the Iranian regime is establishing this dream, too, except anti-American, in hopes of Islam dominating over Western culture and democracy. Is Nafisi trying to conclude that this hope of Iran, or Muslims (Islam), trying to gain this dream is hopeless and will lead to their fall? What do you think?