Part 1: Chapter 20 Summary

Two of Nafisi's students, Manna and Nima (the male student who met Nafisi separately), fell in love because of their common passion for literature. One of their literature professors especially disliked them both because they wrote papers that were not in agreement with his views on literature.

This professor would express his views on a particular work and would submit his views to a class vote. Opposing views inevitably went down in defeat. This had the effect of stifling any dissent. Manna and Nima experienced this curious form of democracy when their papers differed from the orthodoxy.

Part 1: Chapter 20 Analysis

This is an interesting vignette on how "democracy" can be used to impose orthodoxy. It is perhaps a commentary on the overall state of the political system in Iran.