THE VEIL

• We're introduced to young Marji, age ten. 

The year is 1980. She's not wearing acid-washed
jeans and rocking out to Michael Jackson,
though: she's in school, wearing a veil, just like
all the other girls.

• They don't want to wear it.

• In 1980, the new regime in Iran made it

mandatory for women to wear the veil. They also
segregated the schools between male and female.
• Marji tells us that she wanted to be a
prophet when she was a girl. 
"I was born with religion" 

• The school thinks it's weird that

prophesizing is Marji's career choice, so
they call her parents.

• Even though she tells her parents she

wants to be a doctor, she still really wants
to be a prophet.
 • VOCABULARY

• VEIL- a piece of very thin material, worn especially by women to protect or hide the
face.

• REVOLUTION- an attempt, by a large number of people, to change the government

of a country, especially by violent action.

• OBLIGATORY- that you must do because of the law, rules.

• EXECUTION- the act of killing somebody, especially as a legal punishment.

• CAPITALISM- an economic system in which a country’s businesses and industry

are controlled and run for profit by private owners rather than by the government
 • VOCABULARY
• DECADENCE- behaviour, attitudes, etc. that show a fall in standards, especially
moral ones, and an interest in pleasure and fun rather than more serious things.

• PROPHET- a person sent by God to teach the people and give them messages from
God.

• PREDECESSOR- a person who did a job before somebody else.

• ZARATHUSTRA- Zoroaster, also known as Zarathustra, is regarded as the spiritual

founder of Zoroastrianism.

• DISCIPLE- a person who believes in and follows the teachings of a religious or

political leader.

• WRATH- extreme anger.