These women, genteel and beautiful, are the rebels who say

These women, genteel and beautiful, are the rebels who say no to the choices made by silly mothers, incompetent fathers {there are seldom any wise fathers in Austen's novels} and the rigidly orthodox society. They risk ostracism and poverty to gain love and companionship, and to embrace that elusive goal at the heart of democracy: the right to choose.

(0 Reviews)

Facebook

Twitter

E-mail

Favorites

The women described in Nafisi's work challenge the constraints imposed by their families and societal norms. They defy the decisions made by their parents, particularly highlighting the lack of wise paternal figures in Austen's novels, which reflects their struggle against a society that rigidly upholds tradition. These women, portrayed as both genteel and beautiful, represent a rebellion against outdated expectations and the roles expected of them.

In their pursuit of love...

Categories

book quote

Book

Reading Lolita in Tehran:...

Author

Azar Nafisi

Votes
0

Page views
20

Update
January 27, 2025

Report
Report a Problem

Rate the Quote

Add Comment & Review

User Reviews

Based on 0 reviews

5 Star

4 Star

3 Star

2 Star

1 Star

No reviews added yet.

Add Comment & Review

Your Name: *

Comment Title: *

Your E-mail: * We'll never share your email with anyone else.

Your Comment: *

Your Rating: *

Comments will not be approved to be posted if they are SPAM, abusive, off-topic, use profanity, contain a personal attack, or promote hate of any kind.

Reading a novel is not an exercise in censure.

When the girls left that afternoon, they left behind the aura of their unsolved problems and dilemmas. I felt exhausted, I chose the only way I knew to cope with problems. I went to the refrigerator, scooped up the coffee ice cream. Poured some cold coffee over it, looked for walnuts, discovered we had none left, went after almonds, crushed them with my teeth and sprinkled them over my concoction.

Those who judge must take all aspects of an individual's personality into account. It is only through literature that one can put oneself in someone else's shoes and understand the other's different and contradictory sides and refrain from becoming too ruthless. Outside the sphere of literature only one aspect of individuals is revealed. But if you understand their different dimensions you cannot easily murder them…

Don't go chasing after the grand theme, the idea, I told my students, as if it is separate from the story itself. The idea or ideas behind the story must come to you through the experience of the novel and not as something tacked onto it.

The Islamic Revolution, as it turned out, did more damage to Islam by using it as an instrument of oppression than any alien ever could have done.

We were all victims of the arbitrary nature of a totalitarian regime that constantly intruded into the most private corners of our lives and imposed its relentless fictions on us. Was this rule the rule of Islam? What memories were we creating for our children? This constant assault, this persistent lack of kindness, was what frightened me most.

All the things you can talk about in anyone's work are the things that are least important.

All the things you can talk about in anyone's work are the things that are least important.

There was a star danced, and under that was I born.

There was a star danced, and under that was I born.

Race of Cain, ascend to heaven, And cast God down upon the earth!

Race of Cain, ascend to heaven, And cast God down upon the earth!

"Philip Sharpe was a soldier in God's army," says the minister. "Now he marches with the angels."

"Philip Sharpe was a soldier in God's army," says the minister. "Now he marches with the angels."

For me the curse is a crutch, but the con is everything.

For me the curse is a crutch, but the con is everything.

On the way out to the car, Philip turns to me. "How could you be so stupid?" I shrug, stung in spite of myself. "I thought I grew out of it." Philip pulls out his key fob and presses the remote to unlock his Mercedes. I slide into the passenger side, brushing coffee cups off the seat and onto the floor mat, where crumpled printouts from MapQuest soak up any spilled liquid. "I hope you mean sleepwalking," Philip says, "since you obviously didn't grow out of stupid."