How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Panel)
Quote #4
"Children, tear out all the photos of the Shah from your books." (6.18)
The education system in Iran seems to work like this: you should believe what we tell you now, and not think about it, especially when what we're telling you now is the exact opposite of what we told you last week. It's almost like Marji is living in a real life 1984 or The Handmaid's Tale.
Quote #5
The political prisoners were liberated a few days later. There were 3000 of them. (7.1)
Ah, freedom—how glorious it must be to breathe fresh air after being imprisoned for years. The problem is that they're being released into Iran, which is almost a public kind of prison. The former prisoners still have to watch what they say and how they act, or else they might go back to jail again. There is no get out of jail free card in Iran.
Quote #6
"I was 18 years old when my Uncle Fereydoon and his friends proclaimed the independence of the Iranian province of Azerbaijan." (8.9)
Freedom always comes at a price. Uncle Fereydoon is killed and, although it takes many years, Uncle Anoosh, who tells Marji this story, is also killed after being branded a traitor to Iran. They don't really care for freedom there, in case you haven't realized that yet.