Instruction
Please read them carefully. Begin to read first The Golden Cage, since his book deals primarily with the revolution and the more immediate aftermath. In this book Ebadi is a story teller, observing three lives from a distance. In Until We Are Free , Ebadi herself becomes the focus of the story. This book deals with her life after the Revolution, and her transformation from a judge into a human rights activist.
Your assignment is to write a comparative review of these two works.
As you read, you should consider the following points and should respond to each one of them clearly and in no particular order:
Ebadi uses the metaphor of the “Golden Cage” to encapsulate her story. What does this metaphor mean? How does it reflect what the author understands Iranian political life to be?
• Is Iran better off in any way for having experienced the overthrow of the Shah?
What do the books reveal about the true nature of the Shah’s regime?
• From the accounts in the books, would you say that the Revolution of 1979
might have been justified? Use examples from the books in your response.
• What are the sources of Iran’s reform movement? Explain.
• It has been said that Iran’s reform movement and civil society have the
potential to reshape the country if given a chance and if the West does not interfere. Judging from Until We Are Free, do you agree or disagree with that statement and why?