48 pages • 1-hour read
The Stationery Shop
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Background
Historical Context: 1953 Iranian Coup
Large portions of The Stationery Shop are set against the historical backdrop of the 1953 Iranian coup d’état. Before the coup, Iran democratically elected Mohammed Mossadegh as prime minister. Mossadegh came to power under the promise of nationalizing Iran’s oil interests, holding that the country should start benefiting from its own oil, “which had been exclusively controlled by the Anglo-Iranian Oil Company” (“Aug. 19, 1953: U.S. and Britain Topple Democratically Elected Government of Iran.” Zinn Education Project). Mossadegh’s efforts directly conflict with the US and the United Kingdom’s oil interests in Iran. To stop Mossadegh and continue controlling the oil industry in the Middle East, Britain proposed a coup to unseat Iran’s prime minister. Initially, the US (then led by President Harry Truman) resisted the idea. Soon after, however, Truman involved the CIA in a covert mission to overthrow Mossadegh by force. The coup occurred in August 1953:
The CIA and the British helped [Shah supporters] to undermine Mossadegh’s government through bribery, libel, and orchestrated riots. Agents posing as communists threatened religious leaders, while the US ambassador lied to the prime minister about alleged attacks on American nationals” (Zinn Education Project).
Hundreds of people died in the conflict, and the Tehran streets became settings of fear and violence. Mossadegh lost his position of power and was imprisoned thereafter. The Shah reassumed power, ending Iran’s only democratic government and instigating decades of dictatorial rule in the country.
In The Stationery Shop, the events leading up to the coup dictate the narrative atmosphere. Seventeen-year-old Roya Archer is tired of the political unrest and does her best to ignore it until she becomes involved with a young political activist, Bahman Aslan. Although she becomes a Mossadegh supporter herself, Roya often worries about Bahman’s affiliations with the communist cause, as she understands the possible repercussions. Ultimately, the 1953 coup contributes to ending her and Bahman’s love affair.
Social Context: Iranian Immigration
Iranian immigration to the US has experienced numerous waves throughout history. The main character of The Stationery Shop, Roya Archer, immigrates to the US in the mid-1950s. Iranian immigration during this period was largely driven by the allure of American culture. In particular, Persians were drawn to a life in the US because of the promise of a good education. American colleges offered exciting opportunities in the sciences and engineering, and showed marked interest in accepting foreign students. Roya travels to the US during this period, applying to and enrolling in college in California to study science.
Over the two decades following Roya’s fictional immigration, Iranian immigrants became the largest student population in the US. Most Iranian students planned to receive their education in the US and return home to support themselves or their families. Throughout the 1970s, Iran prioritized hiring educated workers. Persians believed they would be more marketable if they received degrees overseas in prestigious American programs. Likewise, Roya hopes to return home after receiving her degree in science, but her plans change when she realizes that the country and life she left behind no longer exist.
Ongoing political conflicts in Iran also influenced immigration to the US. For example, after the 1979 Revolution and the subsequent Iran-Iraq war, many Iranians fled, seeking exile in the US. Such conflicts altered Iran’s political and economic systems and drove many citizens out. Bahman alludes to these dynamics in his letters to Roya, detailing the intensifying unrest in their country and his family’s need to escape.
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