Discussion Question 10

[Amy]

10. Is Behrani's wife, Nadereh, an admirable character? Does her feminine role in a very traditional marriage reduce her importance as an actor in this drama? Does she have qualities that are missing in Behrani, Kathy, and Lester?

[Amy]

Although her part in the story was smaller than the others, I feel that she was an amazing character. She saw things with more clarity and compassion. She wanted to do what was right, whatever that may have been. I think that she too was probably depressed. Though she was in a very traditional marriage, she let her feelings be know to her husband. I think that if she was in charge, none of this would have ever happened. She was the only person in the book to look at things through the eyes of the others.

[Amy]

I really did like Nadereh, but . . .maybe it's the fact that I have seen the movie that made me read more into the character. It is present in the text, but it's subtle, that she is very concerned with appearances and drives Behrani to his actions. She is obsessed by money and wants to be in the upper class so she can live the life she is accustomed to. There are several times where Behrani says he would be happy just living alone with nothing, and I believe this to be true about his character, but he wants to please Nadi and make her happy, so he does whatever it takes. He was working two crappy jobs while she wasn't working at all, but spending all the money they had saved. If she hadn't lived so above their means, he wouldn't have felt so desperate to make money. I like Nadi in many ways, and as a mother figure and caring, compassionate person, she was very appealing, but there was more to her story (in my opinion).

[Amy]

Wow, I hadn't looked at it that way. (Maybe because I hadn't seen the movie? I don't know?) I thought that she was unhappy because she had been uprooted from her home and didn't work because that was traditional. I can see where this might not be the whole story though.

[Amy]

This is why I do love the discussion--it's great to see how someone else saw things. I LOVE that about great books--they make you think and everyone "reads" it differently!

[Amy]

I know!!! I have been thinking about this ever since I read your post!!! I can't stop thinking about it! I definitely see where you're coming from. I had seen it more as him wanting to look more impressive. I thought of it more as his pride. Especially since he would change before and after work so that no one knew what he was doing. It really hadn't occurred to me that she played a big part in that! It almost makes me want to read it again!hahaha