The Septembers Of Shiraz

During their weekly hour of outside time, Isaac and other prisoners talk. The others fall back on anti-Semitic tropes, accusing Isaac of having no beliefs and only caring about money—standard anti-Jewish slurs. Isaac defends his philosophy that life is to be enjoyed and quotes poetry by the Sufi poet Hafez. The other prisoners join in and there is a moment of lightness. In his cell, Isaac reflects on the Shah’s downfall. He remembers seeing the impressive Daria-i-Noor, or “Sea of Light,” diamond on the Shah’s headdress and reflecting on its timelessness and durability. The Shah had sought to embody these qualities with his lavish and ostentatious celebrations of the Persian Empire, including meals symbolizing the Iranian monarchy. Self-proclaimed heir to the great Persian kings, the Shah was in fact just a commoner. He died in exile, tarnished with the reputation of a tyrant, having tried to make himself and his country “something they were not” (104).

Farnaz visits Isaac’s aged parents. Their home is a somber and gloomy place: His mother spends her days playing solitaire to predict the future, hoping for a sign that the Shah will return, while Isaac’s father sits silently, in bad health and longing for a prohibited alcoholic drink.