The Lion Women of Tehran

Chapter 1 acts as a prologue, establishing a narrative arc and conflict of fundamental difference in Ellie and Homa that raises the stakes for their estrangement later in the novel. Their deep bond is key to understanding their reactions when they are reunited, and it introduces the themes of the Bonds of Friendship and Loyalty and Jealousy, Guilt, and Redemption, which intersect in this primary relationship to create inner and outer tension. The opening frames much of the book as a flashback, creating mystery and suspense around Ellie and Homa’s friendship. Part 1 also addresses the beginning of their friendship, but a sense of loss pervades their sweetest moments, adding to the tension surrounding the anticipated break. Their childhood closeness and declaration of love raises the question of what caused adult Ellie and Homa to become estranged. This foreshadowing through a sorrowful, longing tone highlights the deeper theme of jealousy, guilt, and redemption that will play a major role in the emotional journeys of both women.

Ellie, as a child, is naïve and fragile. She feels isolated after her father’s death and the loss of her home, but she also shows resilience in her willingness to adapt to the new neighborhood, her excitement about school, and her hope for a friend. Ellie’s early vulnerabilities and hopes make her a relatable character, and her admiration for Homa’s energy and boldness suggests a growing sense of both admiration and inferiority. Homa is portrayed as the exact opposite of what Ellie longed for—a quiet, studious girl like Ellie—highlighting the predestined nature of their friendship. Homa is Ellie’s contrast and foil in many ways, and these contrasts will prove both motivating and daunting for Ellie, who is far less idealistic, ambitious, or aware of the world and its workings. This early contrast is a key foundation for their relationship, as both girls balance and enrich each other in ways they might not recognize as children.

Even as a child, Homa exhibits a spirit of courage that symbolizes the shir zan, the lioness. Ellie, who is cautious and wary of getting hurt, doesn’t demonstrate the same fearlessness. The race that ends in a tie suggests both girls are capable of the same determination, but Ellie focuses on what will directly benefit her, like advancing her academic rank and earning her admiration from her community, and Homa shows an interest in improving the world around her. This interest—outward versus inward—will define their adult lives and serve as an important distinction between the women. Homa’s sense of justice and her boldness tie directly into the theme of The Protectiveness of Mothers, as her desire to fight for justice and protect those she loves, even as a child, foreshadows her adult roles and key characteristics.

This section is built on contrasts, including setting: Ellie, who once lived in the prosperous area of Tehran, is now in the downtown or “bottom” of the city. She soon learns her mother’s disdain for their neighbors is motivated by her fear of poverty. Ironically, Ellie’s mother looks down on Homa and her family as peasants because of her former wealthy life; Ellie, meanwhile, realizes that Homa possesses greater qualities than Ellie’s mother. Ellie’s mother is spiteful, fearful, and resentful. In contrast, Homa’s mother is nurturing, thoughtful, and kind, and she teaches Ellie life skills like preparing food. Ellie’s hunger for the affection and shelter of a family is conveyed in her enjoyment of the smells and products of Homa’s mother’s kitchen, while the sustenance she receives in her own home is represented by the plain, repetitive meal of rice. Ellie’s pull toward Homa’s family—and the contrast between her own mother and Homa’s mother—demonstrates the value of maternal protectiveness. This theme shapes Ellie’s view of family life and plays into her longing for stability and warmth, thus laying the foundation for Ellie’s internal conflict over jealousy and admiration.

The strength of friendship is established through the development of Ellie and Homa’s relationship, as is the theme of jealousy, guilt, and redemption. This complexity suggests that friendship and jealousy can be intertwined: One can both adore and envy a friend. Ellie feels supported and inspired by Homa, who embraces the world and does what brings her joy, such as the simple childhood games Homa plays with Ellie. However, Ellie recognizes her envy for what her friend has: a secure home, a loving family, and parents who approve of her. Ellie would much rather have Homa’s mother’s gifts of food than her own mother’s plotting to marry Uncle Massoud so she can again have prosperity and status. Ellie’s complicated emotions regarding Homa suggest that her feelings of guilt and envy are deeply intertwined and will evolve as their relationship grows more complex. So too will her feelings about the bird necklace Homa gives her—a symbol of their friendship but also, given the name of the bird it represents, of Homa herself.

The setting of 1950s Tehran is presented in vivid descriptions of tastes and smells, particularly of food, which is of special interest to young Ellie. The Grand Bazaar represents the variety and complexity of the city from which Ellie has been prevented from enjoying by her mother’s isolation. The sunny innocence of these early chapters provides a devastating contrast to the escalating tensions in the country depicted later in the book. The juxtaposition of youthful innocence against a backdrop of political upheaval reinforces the broader theme of jealousy, guilt, and redemption, as both girls will have to reckon with their past actions and choices within a changing world.