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Kaveh Akbar's novel 'Martyr!' is a journey of identity, addiction and poetry

By NPR (podcasts@npr.org)

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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Kaveh Akbar's novel 'Martyr!' is a journey of identity, addiction and poetry

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Kaveh Akbar's novel 'Martyr!' is a journey of identity, addiction and poetry

1-Page Summary

Cyrus Shams' Hardships and Addiction

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.

Sobriety and Immortality

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.

Martyrdom for Greater Causes

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.

Cultural and Historical Context

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

Additional Materials

Actionables

  • You can use journaling to explore your own relationship with the concept of immortality through art and language, similar to how Cyrus uses poetry. Start by writing a poem or a short narrative that encapsulates your identity, values, or experiences. Then, reflect on how this piece could communicate your essence to future generations, just as Iranian poets have done.
  • Engage with local theater groups or community centers to participate in role-playing exercises that simulate challenging life scenarios. This can help you develop empathy and a deeper understanding of human emotions, akin to Cyrus's work as a medical actor. Look for opportunities to volunteer as a participant in these exercises, focusing on scenarios that challenge you to convey and process difficult news or emotions.
  • Create a personal art project that represents your interpretation of martyrdom in a non-religious context. This could be a visual art piece, a short story, or a video that expresses what self-sacrifice means to you and how it relates to contemporary causes or personal beliefs. Share your creation on social media or with friends to initiate conversations about the diverse meanings of martyrdom in modern society.

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Kaveh Akbar's novel 'Martyr!' is a journey of identity, addiction and poetry

Cyrus Shams' personal journey and struggles

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.

Personal Tragedies and Subsequent Struggles

Cyrus has endured profound tragedies that have shaped his life significantly.

Loss and Moving to America

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.

Turn to Substance Abuse

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.

A Brooding Present and Search for Immortality

Now, at 30 years old, Cyrus resides in Indiana, where his life is marked by restlessness and the echoes of a sober existence.

A Unique Part-Time Job

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 ...

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Cyrus Shams' personal journey and struggles

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Actionables

  • You can explore therapeutic writing by starting a personal journal where you express your emotions and experiences related to loss and recovery. Writing can serve as a cathartic activity, allowing you to process grief and track your progress over time. For example, set aside a few minutes each day to write about your feelings, memories of loved ones, or your journey towards healing, much like creating a personal memoir.
  • Consider volunteering for role-playing exercises with local medical training programs to gain insight into the patient experience and develop empathy. This can be a way to understand the emotional impact of receiving difficult news and to support the training of compassionate healthcare professionals. Look for medical schools or training centers in your area that need volunteers and offer your time.
  • Engage in a creat ...

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Kaveh Akbar's novel 'Martyr!' is a journey of identity, addiction and poetry

The role of art, poetry, and the pursuit of immortality

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.

Poetry as a Legacy

Inspiration from Iranian Poets

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.

Influence on Identity and Immortality

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.

Martyrdom as Purpose

Cyrus is also intrigued by the concept of martyrdom, interpreting it not strictl ...

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The role of art, poetry, and the pursuit of immortality

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Counterarguments

  • Art and poetry may not guarantee immortality; their survival is subject to the whims of cultural change and historical events.
  • The concept of immortality through legacy assumes future generations will value and preserve past art, which is not always the case.
  • The impact of poets like Ferdowsi, while significant, may not be universally recognized or understood outside of specific cultural or literary circles.
  • Identity and immortality through language and art are complex and can be interpreted in numerous ways, not all of which may align with Cyrus's views.
  • The idea that poetry can honor and preserve life may be overly romanticized and not reflect the diverse purposes and outcomes of poetic expression.
  • Martyrdom as a concept is contentious and its valorization can be problematic, especially when it invo ...

Actionables

  • You can create a personal time capsule with letters, poems, and artwork that encapsulate your values and experiences, to be opened by future generations. Start by selecting a durable container and decide on a future date for it to be opened. Fill it with your creative works that express your identity, wisdom, and stories you want to pass on. This act serves as a tangible legacy that can be discovered and appreciated long after you're gone.
  • Start a digital journal where you regularly write reflective poetry or prose that grapples with the themes of life, legacy, and self-sacrifice. Use a secure online platform to ensure your writings are preserved. This practice allows you to articulate and refine your thoughts on how you want to be remembered, effectively using language as a tool for shaping your identity and leaving a digital footprint that could last indefinitely.
  • Engage in small acts of kindness or commun ...

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Kaveh Akbar's novel 'Martyr!' is a journey of identity, addiction and poetry

The cultural and historical context around martyrdom

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.

The novel explores how the Iranian government has harnessed cultural and religious ideas around martyrdom for its own propagandistic ends during the Iran-Iraq War.

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.

Cyrus' uncle, who was tasked with playing the "angel of death" during the war, aimed to give soldiers a sense of dignity and purpose in their final moments.

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 concept of martyrdom and its sociopolitical implications serves as a significant thematic backdrop in the novel, reflecting the complex and often problematic ways in w ...

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The cultural and historical context around martyrdom

Additional Materials

Counterarguments

  • While Akbar's novel may suggest that the Iranian government co-opted martyrdom for propaganda, it's important to consider that the concept of martyrdom can have genuine personal and spiritual significance for individuals, separate from any government's intentions.
  • The portrayal of Cyrus' uncle as the "angel of death" could be seen as a dramatization that may not fully capture the diverse experiences and roles of individuals who supported soldiers during the war.
  • The thematic focus on martyrdom in the novel might overshadow other important aspects of the Iran-Iraq War, such as international politics, economic factors, and the experiences of civilians.
  • Akbar's perspective as a Persian-American might offer valuable insights, but it is also important to consider the voices and narrativ ...

Actionables

  • Explore the power of storytelling by writing a short story or poem that incorporates themes of sacrifice and duty, drawing from your own cultural or familial background. This exercise can deepen your understanding of how personal and collective narratives shape our perceptions of valor and sacrifice, similar to how Akbar navigates narratives around martyrdom. For example, if your family has a military background, you might write about a character grappling with the legacy of that service.
  • Reflect on the influence of media by analyzing a news article or historical account that portrays a figure or event in a heroic light. Consider the language used and the emotions it evokes, then write a response piece from a different perspective to practice critical thinking and recognize potential biases. For instance, if a soldier is hailed as a hero in a war piece, try writing from the viewpoint of a civilian in the war zone.
  • Enga ...

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