Kaveh Akbar's latest novel "Martyr!" follows the life of Cyrus Shams, a Persian-American journalist battling sobriety after a turbulent childhood marked by parental loss and substance abuse. In this episode of NPR's Book of the Day, Akbar delves into Cyrus's exploration of identity, immortality, and the complex sociopolitical narratives surrounding martyrdom.
Through Cyrus's journey, Akbar examines the role of art and poetry in preserving one's existence, drawing from Iranian literature and cultural perspectives. The novel navigates the profound implications of self-sacrifice, both in personal and historical contexts, as Cyrus confronts his own suicidal inclinations and the co-opted ideals of martyrdom during the Iran-Iraq War.
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Journalist Cyrus Shams has faced immense tragedies and struggles. He lost his mother in the Iran Air Flight 655 disaster during the Iran-Iraq War. After moving to Indiana, his father died of overwork, leaving Cyrus devastated and turning to substance abuse.
Now 30 and sober, Cyrus works as a "medical actor," reenacting bad news scenarios. His friend Zee worries this job could affect Cyrus's fragile mental state. Poet Kaveh Akbar describes the arduous path of recovery aligning with Cyrus's efforts to maintain sobriety.
Cyrus explores how art and poetry can provide immortality. Drawing from Iranian poets like Ferdowsi, he sees art as a way to leave a lasting impact. He contemplates Li Yangli's thoughts on identity intertwining with language, believing poetry could preserve his existence.
Cyrus doesn't view martyrdom strictly in religious terms, but as noble self-sacrifice. In Akbar's view, his suicidal inclinations could represent martyrdom - ending his life meaningfully for justice, art, or other greater causes.
In his novel, Akbar examines how the Iranian government co-opted martyrdom ideals as propaganda during the Iran-Iraq War. Cyrus' uncle aimed to give dying soldiers dignity as an "angel of death" figure. Drawing from his Persian-American heritage, Akbar navigates narratives around martyrdom's complex sociopolitical implications.
1-Page Summary
Cyrus Shams has weathered a tumultuous life filled with great loss and personal battles, grappling with the vagaries of fate and seeking solace in the throes of addiction. His narrative stands as a testament to the weight of grief and the relentless pursuit of solace.
Cyrus has endured profound tragedies that have shaped his life significantly.
His life took a tragic turn early on when he lost his mother, Roya, to a geopolitical catastrophe—she was a passenger on Iran Air Flight 655, which was mistakenly shot down by the U.S. Navy during the Iran-Iraq War in 1988. In the wake of this loss, Cyrus and his father, Ali, migrated to Indiana. There, his father took a job at a poultry farm, where he overworked himself to the point of a fatal stroke, leaving Cyrus to navigate the world alone.
Overcome with grief, Cyrus found refuge in the seductive grasp of alcohol and drugs. His descent into addiction served as a harrowing coping mechanism for the profound trauma and loss he experienced.
Now, at 30 years old, Cyrus resides in Indiana, where his life is marked by restlessness and the echoes of a sober existence.
Cyrus's path has led him to an unusual occupation that involves playing the role of a patient as a "medical actor," facing bad news repeatedly—a ...
Cyrus Shams' personal journey and struggles
Cyrus is deeply engaged in exploring how the creation of poetry and art are not just expressions of the soul but pathways toward achieving a form of immortality. His reflections encompass the impact of legacy and the poignant choice of martyrdom to infuse life and death with profound significance.
Cyrus finds inspiration in the art and legacy of Iranian poets such as Ferdowsi. He is fascinated by the idea that art and language can provide a form of corporeal immortality, allowing one's stories and wisdom to ripple through time to future generations. Ferdowsi, a revered figure within Persian culture, exemplifies this lasting impact that aligns with Cyrus’s aspirations to eternalize his own presence through the written word.
Additionally, Cyrus contemplates the thoughts of poet Li Yangli on identity and syntax, which suggest that one's way of speaking reflects their geographies, genealogies, and histories. This understanding of how art and language shape identity supports Cyrus's belief that they could contribute to a notion of immortality. He is captivated by the power of poetry to honor his life, and through this honor, possibly preserve it.
Cyrus is also intrigued by the concept of martyrdom, interpreting it not strictl ...
The role of art, poetry, and the pursuit of immortality
Kaveh Akbar delves into the profound and intricate subject of martyrdom, a concept deeply rooted in cultural and religious traditions, particularly within the context of the Iran-Iraq War. His novel provides a lens into the way the Iranian government manipulated these beliefs for its own purposes.
In his book, Akbar touches on the idea that the Iranian government co-opted cultural and religious ideals of martyrdom, employing it as a tool for propaganda during the protracted conflict with Iraq—a theme which he suggests could be the subject of in-depth academic research.
One vivid character in his novel is Cyrus' uncle, whose wartime duty is to inspire dying soldiers by embodying something celestial and holy. This "angel of death" figure is meant to comfort the soldiers, persuading them to embrace their end with dignity and imbuing their final moments with a sense of higher purpose.
The cultural and historical context around martyrdom
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