In Azar Nafisi's memoir "Reading Lolita in Tehran", she reflects on the duality of identity through contrasting photographs. The first image represents her and her peers conforming to the expectations and dreams imposed on them by society, highlighted by their black robes and scarves. This appearance signifies a loss of individuality and the weight of external pressures defining who they are.
The second photograph captures their self-imagined identities, yet they still struggle to find a true sense of belonging in either portrayal. This sense of disconnection reveals a deeper exploration of personal versus societal identity, emphasizing how each portrayal, though distinct, remains incomplete without the other.