The first page of the part I, “Lolita”, I was forced to keep reading. In all honesty, I only read it because it is part of the class requirement and I am glad I did it. Reading Lolita in Tehran is not like other books; it is far more personal and comprehensive. This book is in the top of my “recommendation” list because Nafisi does not write formally with perplexing words; she simply has a story that she wants to share, which everyone can relate. Everyone I know has either questioned why read fiction; why take interest in “bad” movies, books, etc; why go on? All these questions I have a hard time answering I felt were sassy because there is no definite answer. Those questions should be common sense and if they were asked, it is only to start an everlasting argument. It was not until those questions were answered by this book that I finally took them seriously.
As a simple answer, everyone should read fiction like the classics: Romeo and Juliet, Anna Karenina, Crime and Punishment, and etc. because they are hard to comprehend –in that, anyone will go far after reading Shakespeare, Tolstoy, and Dostoevsky. Thinking about that sentence, it does not even have an answer! With Nafisi’s reason I understand that fiction is important because it sets the reader apart from reality. It has the power of influence, encouragement, and enlightenment. It allows the deep thinkers to think deeper and look for far depth answers. Fiction speaks out for us at times we feel most helpless and mute. I have read many fictions but whenever I am asked as to why I read and why it is good, I never really knew. Truth be told, like others, I also ask why I am reading these fictions; what is it about these stories that I like. I never understood and merely reasoned to myself that I read because of the story, I am into drama and intrigue. As Nafisi went on to comparing Lolita, to her girls, my eyes were just hypnotized as if I was listening to her in the same room. The more she described their personal situations and why Lolita became a big part of their class, I also knew why I like Crime and Punishment, Lolita, and Anna Karenina. It is not simply because they are taboos to mine and their own cultures. I like these stories because they have very complex characters like in reality. People do not only have one side characters but they change their moods and their attitudes almost randomly. The authors of the books have deeper intentions than making drama. On that note, what is the “honesty of imagination”?
These books were often rumored and blamed for spreading malevolence. They are much more mature than Peter Pan and their characters are evil. It is hard to find the stories’ true value because people often focus on the murder, adultery, and immorality of a young girl. Reading Lolita in Tehran exposes these characters’ profound symbols. Nafisi elaborates on Gatsby’s dream and his corrupt ways of getting there. But like many average people, Gatsby is merely stressing his desire and his relentless attitude. Nafisi shows that these characters are worth time and focus because they are strong, victimized and related to the readers. This book should be recommended because it advocates an apparatus (fiction) so powerful that it is invisible to the naked eye but very much alive in the beholder’s heart. “Fairytales are more than true: not because they tell us dragons exist, but because they tell us that dragons can be beaten” (G.K. Chesterson). Nafisi believes that people of any situation, no matter how lowly his station in life, is worth a fight. Her book demonstrates the power of personal strength, through fictions.
Hello!
ReplyDeleteI agree on a lot of points you made in your blog. You noted, that sometimes; fiction does not really have a clear-cut purpose and a lot of people misinterpret it. The way a novel is perceived depends a lot on the person. Every person is different, so naturally, they’ll have different approaches to understand . Anyway, you mentioned that fiction’s function is usually to provide, “influence, encouragement, and enlightenment.” I think they key word, is enlightenment. Like you noted, fictions has the ability to take the audience on a fantasy trip, and really exercise the power of imagination. By letting your mind go into a world of fiction, you will naturally ask the questions, “what if?”. The “what if” questions are really important to understand controversial issues in the world.
“Fairytales are more than true: not because they tell us dragons exist, but because they tell us that dragons can be beaten” (G.K. Chesterson). That quote you used in your concluding statements, was a great way to end your blog. It is a powerful quote that exemplifies the importance of fiction. To overcome the difficulties presented in a fairytale is a way of renewing faith. Faith holds people together, and having faith can greatly increase your potential to grow as an individual.