In Azar Nafisi's memoir, the characters illustrate the important role of integrity in their lives. For them, achieving victory is not tied to happiness but rather to a profound sense of self-acceptance. This inward journey leads them to a place of wholeness, where their decisions and actions resonate with their personal values.

The fulfillment these characters seek comes not from external achievements or recognition but from cultivating self-respect. This theme emphasizes that true victory lies in the alignment of one's life with their internal moral compass, fostering resilience and inner peace rather than temporary joy.