In 2007 I read two books at the same time. One of them, “Reading Lolita in Tehran”, by Azar Nafisi (this one was recommended to me by a teacher), tells of a teacher who lives in Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran, and shares personal experiences with students, through literature in her clandestinely, as the regime does not allow any type of thinking contrary to the established pattern.
The second book (this one I had wanted to read for a long time) is “The Name of the Rose”, by Umberto Eco, one of the most important theorists of mass communication.
The funniest thing is that as the reading progressed, I noticed a strong similarity between the books.
Sexual violence, religious conflicts and as one of the covers has written: “… the name of the Rose, a bloody and pathetic parable of the history of humanity”.
This all took me by surprise!
First, because I had no idea that both readings dealt with such heavy themes.
Both titles brought me a very different idea from the one expressed in the content.
In the book “Reading Lolita in Tehran”, something very unusual happens. The teacher and her students, who secretly read Nabokov's novel, “Lolita”, gradually deconstruct the predominant image in the work, bringing up troubling issues that are even similar to the reality in which they themselves live under the veils. Pedophilia generated by apparently “good” people and the lives of girls being destroyed. And, as if that were not enough, the aggressor, in addition to sexually abusing, distorts reality to the point of romanticizing what is actually rape.
Well, heavy subject.
In “O Nome da Rosa” the scenario (this one already fictional) portrays something very similar, but now everything is lived in a monastery.
We know that there are many abusive relationships and others that even involve children and / or adolescents.
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This is all nothing new. But nowadays, thank God, there are more help-seeking mechanisms or even third-party means through anonymous reports to help those in need.
This text is a form of appeal: don't shut up, don't turn a blind eye. Report it if you see something like this. Or, if you are a victim, seek help.
Fraternal greetings, may God enlighten our paths.
