Prisoner of Tehran

In Nemat’s memoir, the sky emerges as a powerful symbol, reflecting her internal world and the broader political and emotional dynamics she faces. The sky’s portrayal in Nemat’s narrative varies from a symbol of hope and freedom to one of oppression and desolation, mirroring her tumultuous journey.

Nemat’s observation of the sky begins with a reflection on her emigration from Iran to Canada, noting a difference in the color of the sky, which she describes as a “deeper shade of blue” in Canada (1). This initial comparison sets the stage for the sky as a motif representing change and the contrasting realities of her life before and after imprisonment. The sky in Iran, under the authoritarian regime, becomes a backdrop to her loss of freedom and the oppressive conditions she endures. Conversely, the Canadian sky symbolizes a new beginning and the possibility of a life beyond the constraints of her past.

Throughout the memoir, Nemat often looks to the sky as a source of solace and a reminder of the world beyond her immediate suffering. The sky represents the outer limit of human reach, a boundless expanse that no prison walls can contain. It is a symbol of the freedom Nemat yearns for, both in a physical sense, as she dreams of release from her unjust imprisonment, and in a metaphysical sense, as she seeks the freedom to live according to her own beliefs and values.