Prisoner of Tehran

Nonfiction | Autobiography / Memoir | Adult | Published in 2007

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Summary

Background

Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Chapters 1-4

Chapters 5-8

Chapters 9-12

Chapters 13-16

Chapter 17-Postscript

Key Figures

Themes

Symbols & Motifs

Important Quotes

Essay Topics

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Discussion Questions

Chapter 17-PostscriptChapter Summaries & Analyses

Chapter 17 Summary

The chapter begins with Ali sharing the joyful news of Akram’s pregnancy with Nemat, which he believes to be a result of Nemat’s prayer. Nemat’s conflicted emotions surface as she contrasts Akram’s joy with the suffering of Sheida, a fellow prisoner, highlighting the disparity between their worlds. Akram’s naive characterization of the Mojahedin as terrorists prompts Nemat to reflect on the moral ambiguities of labeling and justice within the oppressive regime.

Nemat’s pregnancy adds another challenge to her life, intertwining her future indelibly with Ali’s. Despite the initial shock and her ambivalence toward the pregnancy, Nemat’s narrative conveys the deep internal conflict she faces, balancing her longing for normalcy and happiness with the guilt and betrayal rooted in her circumstances. Ali’s decision to resign from his position at Evin Prison signifies a critical turning point in the narrative, reflecting his growing disillusionment with the regime and its brutal methods. This decision, prompted by a clash with a higher authority, marks a shift in Ali’s character from a participant in the regime’s violence to a man in search of redemption and a different path for his family.

Nemat’s internal struggle continues as she contemplates the implications of her freedom, the future with her child, and the possibility of reconciling with Ali’s actions. The chapter culminates in a dialogue between Nemat and Ali, revealing their divergent perspectives on violence, justice, and morality. Nemat’s steadfast refusal to condone violence, articulated in her assertion, “If winning involves killing, I’d rather lose” (245), encapsulates her ethical stance and deepens the moral chasm between her and Ali, even as they navigate their complex relationship and impending parenthood.

Two weeks after Ali’s resignation from Evin Prison, Nemat and Ali are ambushed by gunmen on a motorcycle, which results in Ali’s death and Nemat’s severe injury. Nemat’s subsequent hospitalization reveals her deep emotional turmoil, compounded by the loss of her unborn child, her husband, and the life they could have had together. The chapter captures Nemat’s complex feelings toward Ali, oscillating between hatred, forgiveness, and an understanding of the nuances of his character, culminating in a sense of loss and loneliness after his death.

Her recovery in the hospital and return to Evin Prison underscore the harshness of her reality, juxtaposed with the transient solace found in moments of connection with others, including Akram and Mr. Moosavi. Nemat grapples with the irony of Ali’s death, likening it to the unjust executions in Evin Prison, reflecting on the cruel cycles of violence and betrayal that permeated their lives.

Nemat’s narrative also delves into the political machinations following Ali’s death, with suspicions of an inside job and the impotence of justice in the face of corrupt power. Mr. Moosavi’s efforts to secure Nemat’s release are met with resistance from hard-liners in the regime, further complicating her path to freedom. Nemat is eventually released from Evin Prison, and she experiences an array of complex emotions as she has her bittersweet farewells with fellow inmates.

Chapter 18 Summary

Nemat transitions from prison to life in Zenia’s house, grappling with a surreal sense of freedom. Her room, adorned in pink with comforting furniture and childhood photos, contrasts sharply with her past in Evin Prison and amplifies her sense of dislocation. Nemat’s interaction with the tangible elements of her new surroundings and her contemplation of a wedding scarf symbolize her struggle to reconcile her traumatic past with her present reality. She experiences alienation from her former life, feeling like a visitor in her own home, underscored by her mother’s act of destroying her books and her grandmother’s writings to eliminate any traces of perceived subversion.

The chapter evolves to focus on Nemat’s determination to reclaim her autonomy and identity through her decision to marry Andre, despite the potentially fatal consequences due to religious and political constraints. Nemat’s vehement reaction to Hooshang Khan’s cautionary advice reveals her deep-seated anger and frustration with the systemic control over her life. Her struggle culminates in her contemplation of disclosing her past to Andre, indicating her desire for transparency and the inherent difficulty in verbalizing her traumatic experiences.

Nemat narrates her life transitioning from the confines of Evin Prison to a semblance of normalcy, albeit shadowed by her past and the ongoing Iran-Iraq War. Visiting her old cottage, she attempts to bury her first wedding ring under the Prayer Rock. However, the emotional distance between her and her parents grows, especially after learning of her father’s harsh stance on her forced conversion to Islam during imprisonment.

Nemat’s wedding to Andre represents a reclaiming of her life, a stark contrast to her forced marriage to Ali. Despite the joyous occasion, underlying fears persist about their future in a country marred by war and political unrest. Nemat’s story progresses to a brief sense of stability in Zahedan, where Andre secures a teaching position. The past continues to loom over them, however, with Evin’s shadow and the threat of being recalled to the prison ever-present. A surprise call disrupts their peace, but a meeting with Mohammad, an acquaintance from Evin Prison, reveals that Nemat’s past actions, while risky, have not led to immediate danger thanks to the support of influential friends.

The narrative details Nemat’s emotional and physical journey through her pregnancy and the eventual birth of her son, Michael, amidst the backdrop of the Iran-Iraq War’s end and Khomeini’s death. These events bring a mix of relief and introspection about the future of Iran and her place in it.

The chapter concludes with Nemat and Andre’s decision to leave Iran in search of a safer, more stable life for their family. Despite the financial and bureaucratic hurdles, they manage to secure their exit. Nemat’s reflections on her homeland, her losses, and her journey encapsulate a sense of finality and the beginning of a new chapter: “This land was where my loved ones were put to rest—and I had to leave it” (294).

Epilogue Summary

Nemat recounts the journey to their new life in Canada after interim periods in Madrid and Budapest. On August 28, 1991, Nemat, her son Michael, and her husband Andre wait at the Zurich airport to board a flight to Toronto. Nemat reflects on the promises of a new home in Canada, a place where she envisions safety, freedom, and the joy of seasonal activities like building snowmen and swimming in lakes.

Postscript Summary

Nemat reflects on the tragic death of Zahra Kazemi, a Canadian-Iranian photojournalist who died in Evin Prison on July 11, 2003. Kazemi was arrested while photographing student protests outside Evin and later fell into a coma. Following her death, Iranian President Khatami ordered an investigation, but despite international pressure, Iran buried her within the country and did not allow independent medical examination.

Although Iranian security agents were initially arrested, they were soon released, and the eventual trial acquitted the accused, suggesting a scapegoat was used. Dr. Shahram Azam later revealed the extent of Kazemi’s brutal injuries, including rape and severe physical trauma. Nemat, inspired by Kazemi’s story and the detailed injuries disclosed by Dr. Azam, decides to overcome her fear and speak out about the ongoing atrocities in Evin Prison, recognizing the power and responsibility of sharing her experiences to honor the victims and potentially prevent future injustices.

Chapter 17-Postscript Analysis

In this section, Nemat’s narrative technique, characterized by introspective reflection and detailed description, helps her explore the themes of coercion, survival, and the quest for freedom within an oppressive regime. Nemat’s tone throughout the section is introspective, balancing between hope and despair. This tone is particularly evident in Chapter 17 through her conflicted feelings about her pregnancy and the potential for a new life with Ali. A contemplative narrative voice conveys her internal struggle, which evokes empathy with her predicament and understanding of the deep emotional and moral complexities she faces.

Nemat’s choice of words helps convey her emotional and psychological state as well as The Impact of Political and Ideological Repression. Phrases like “officially free” (239) and “strange, desperate way of rebelling” (246) encapsulate the complexity of her situation, where freedom is tainted with the residue of past trauma and coercion. Her language is precise and evocative, capturing the stark reality of her situation. For instance, in Chapter 17, her description of the assassination attempt on Ali and its aftermath is both vivid and terse, mirroring the shock and rapid unfolding of events. This choice of language conveys the suddenness and brutality of the incident. In Chapter 18, the description of the missile attacks on Tehran is vivid and detailed, creating a sense of immediacy and urgency that conveys the uncertainty of those moments.

Additionally, Nemat’s use of contrasting imagery, such as the cold night and the warm memory of her baby in Chapter 17, serves to illustrate the deep internal conflicts she faces. Nemat’s attention to sensory details, such as the cold touch of rain and the physical sensations of pain and loss, ground her narrative in a tangible reality. These details not only provide a visceral context for her experiences but also convey the deeply emotional nature of the book’s content.

Moreover, the dialogue used in this section reveals character dynamics and exposes underlying tensions. Conversations, such as the one between Nemat and Andre about their future in Chapter 18, are not only intimate but also laden with the broader political and social implications of their decisions, highlighting the personal as political. Similarly, Nemat’s conversation with her father regarding financial assistance to leave Iran exposes underlying familial tensions and contributes to the broader narrative of survival and escape.

Symbolism is a powerful device in Nemat’s narrative, with objects and locations serving as tangible links to her past, such as her grandmother’s silver jewelry box, the white wedding scarf, the golden box of her grandmother’s writings, and the Prayer Rock. These symbols are imbued with layers of meaning, representing loss, memory, and the enduring hope of reclamation. Her journey from the streets of Tehran to the quiet of Zahedan, and eventually to the threshold of a new life outside Iran, mirrors her internal journey from despair to cautious optimism.

Furthermore, Nemat’s attention to contextual detail enriches the narrative, grounding her personal experiences in the broader socio-political landscape of Iran during and after the war. Her description of the changing cityscape, the evolving war front, and the shifting political climate provides a backdrop against which her personal story unfolds, highlighting the intersection of the personal and the political. In the Epilogue, the setting at the Zurich airport serves as a physical and symbolic threshold between Nemat’s past in Iran and her future in Canada. The anticipation of boarding the flight to Toronto encapsulates the culmination of her journey from a war-torn, oppressive environment to one where she envisions freedom and safety, underscoring The Resilience of the Human Spirit.

The writer’s use of detailed description plays a crucial role in bringing the narrative to life. For example, Nemat’s depiction of the Caspian Sea cottage in Chapter 17 and her reactions to it serve as a metaphor for her sense of displacement and longing for a lost past. This conveys the visual aspects of the settings and the emotional undercurrents of Nemat’s experiences. In the Postscript, specific details about Kazemi’s ordeal, such as the extent of her injuries and the subsequent inadequate legal response, help illustrate the harsh realities of torture and mistreatment that political prisoners in Iran can face. The inclusion of facts, like the involvement of Nobel Peace Prize winner Shirin Ebadi as one of the lawyers and the eventual acquittal of the accused, highlight the complexities and challenges of seeking justice in such a repressive regime. Nemat’s decision to no longer remain silent highlights the power of personal tragedy in motivating activism and advocacy, showing how individual stories can lead to a broader awareness and call to action.

Lastly, Nemat’s narrative has a notably objective tone, even when recounting deeply personal and painful experiences. This objectivity does not detract from the emotional weight of her story; rather, it lends credibility and invites appreciation for the gravity of her situation and The Challenges Faced by Women Under Authoritarian Regimes. In Chapter 17, her discussions with Ali about the morality of execution and the nature of justice are presented in a manner that encourages deep contemplation of these issues. Nemat doesn’t shy away from exposing her vulnerabilities and moral dilemmas and presents a candid perspective on her experiences. This objectivity, combined with her emotional honesty, creates a powerful narrative that invites consideration of the human cost of political upheaval and personal sacrifice.