65 pages • 2 hours read
Mahbod SerajiRooftops of Tehran
Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2009A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Symbols & Motifs
Rooftops
Content Warning: The source text features depictions of political oppression and physical violence, including scenes of torture, mentions of sexual assault, and self-immolation.
Rooftops are a recurring motif in the novel, and they represent community and companionship. Pasha’s rooftop is a vantage point from where he can observe his neighborhood—especially the alley—and stay connected to events and people. The site of the rooftop and Pasha’s observations reflect the narrative voice as well since the story is told from Pasha’s perspective—the novel narrates the turbulences and tragedies in the neighborhood through Pasha’s eyes. Therefore, Pasha’s rooftop is a communal site that represents the emotional bonds that he has to the people and the places around him. Furthermore, culturally, the rooftop ties Pasha to his country’s history and environment, since it is customary for citizens in Tehran to spend their evenings out on their rooftops.
Pasha’s rooftop comes to symbolize a unique form of connection since he not only observes his community from his rooftop but also deepens his relationships with his friends there. Pasha spends a lot of time with his best friend, Ahmed, on his rooftop; the boys trade secrets and jokes, and as the novel progresses, they share their frustrations about the oppressive nature of the Shah’s regime. Pasha also falls deeper in love with Zari, his neighbor, on his rooftop. He observes her from there even before he works up the nerve to speak to her, and later, the two of them meet on the rooftop to converse in private and confess their love for each other. While Iran is mired in political troubles that trickle into Pasha’s life, his rooftop is an elevated space, away from these problems, where Pasha can connect with his friends and loved ones and dream of a better future.
The Rosebush
The rosebush is an important symbol in the novel which highlights the importance of Political Activism and Defiance in the Face of Oppression. The rosebush is connected to the red rose, which is the nickname given to a political activist and revolutionary named Golesorkhi. On the night of Golesorkhi’s televised trial, Pasha sees Doctor secretly putting up posters of red roses across the neighborhood in honor of Golesorkhi’s brave sacrifice. However, honoring Golesorkhi is an act of defiance, since the regime forbids the commemoration of political rebels.
After Doctor is arrested and killed by the SAVAK, Pasha secretly plants a rosebush in his honor. He places the rosebush in the place where a SAVAK agent beat up Doctor and Doctor’s blood was spilled. However, just like the public was forbidden to mourn Golesorkhi’s death, the SAVAK forbids Doctor’s friends and family from mourning his death. Therefore, Pasha’s planting of the rosebush is an act of defiance. Also, by choosing the rosebush to memorialize Doctor, Pasha links him to Golesorkhi, since both of them are associated with red roses. Toward the novel’s conclusion, the neighborhood gathers around Doctor’s grave and each person lays a single red rose atop Doctor’s grave. This is an act of mass rebellion against the oppressiveness of the regime.
In addition to being a symbol of defiance, the rosebush is also a symbol of resilience and hope. The rose is a traditional symbol of beauty and fragility, so the rosebush’s ability to thrive brings hope to the characters that they, too, can survive the repressive political climate of the Shah’s regime. Like the rosebush, the characters in the novel find ways to survive and even find moments of happiness amidst their troubles.
That
That is both a symbol and motif in the text. As a symbol, That represents courage, a sense of morality, and an inclination to help people; Doctor describes it as “a priceless quality that’s impossible to define, […] but you recognize it in the actions of great people” (29). As a motif, That is connected to the theme of political activism and defiance; the frequent references to characters possessing That indicates the importance of this quality for them to be defiant in the face of oppression and suffering. Toward the end of the novel, Pasha acknowledges that he is lucky to be surrounded by many people who have That, including his friends and many members of his family. Their shared experiences, empathy, and ideals—or, as Pasha calls it, That—is the foundation for their profound, meaningful relationships.
