58 pages • 1 hour read
Betty MahmoodyNot Without My Daughter
Nonfiction | Autobiography / Memoir | Adult | Published in 1987A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Essay Topics
What role does faith play in Betty’s plan to escape from Iran with her daughter?
Given that Betty’s experiences in Iran are informed by her relationship with her husband, Moody, and his family, do you consider her to be an objective narrator of Iran’s society at the time when the book was written? Support your response with examples from the text.
How do Moody’s relationships with his close family members interfere with his relationship with Betty and Mahtob?
Could Betty and Mahtob have adapted to life in Iran? What fundamental transformations would have had to take place in their lives for such an adaptation to be successful?
Why does Moody decide to stay in Iran and keep his family there? Provide at least three reasons, with examples from the text.
What are the signs that Betty notices in Mahtob’s behavior which signify that her daughter is starting to adapt to the customs and gender dynamics in Iran?
Examine the ways in which the narrative describes the transformation in Moody’s personality upon the family’s arrival in Iran. How does the author use retrospective glimpses of the earlier times in America as a contrast to his behavior? Use at least three examples from the text to support your analysis.
Describe the political landscape in Iran during the time in which the novel takes place (1984-1986). Refer to at least two political events informing the situation.
Should Betty have taken the risk to run away with Trish and Suzanne in Chapter 9? Why or why not?
How does the complex dynamic between personal well-being and ethical responsibility play out in the situations of domestic abuse in which Betty finds herself? Why do other family members fail to help her, even when they might empathize with her situation? What is the difference between these people and those who risk their lives to help Betty and Mahmood escape?
