Part 2: Chapters 5 - 8 Summary

As Nafisi was searching in a bookstore for a few copies of The Great Gatsby and other books needed for her class, the owner of the store warned her that soon works like this would be difficult to find. Nafisi did not believe him, but in a few months many books were banned. On the campus, debate raged on the form of the future constitution. Many people, including many clerics, favored a secular constitution. Soon, newspapers were banned, spawning violent demonstrations.

Despite the rising turmoil, Nafisi remained focused on her work. Asking her class why anyone should bother reading fiction, Nafisi stated that great fiction forces the reader to question traditions and expectations that seem fixed.

Gradually, Nafisi becomes aware of each student's political affiliations. There were Marxists, Muslim fundamentalists, monarchists and others. A few students remained nonpolitical.

Judicial...