Chapter 23: Roya Shams — Summary and Analysis

⚠️ Spoiler Warning: This guide contains detailed spoilers for the entire novel. Proceed only if you've finished reading or are comfortable knowing the plot.

Summary

In August 1987, Roya Shams reflects on her lifelong dissatisfaction with being alive. She explains that she has always needed distance to appreciate anything—like understanding a cloud only from outside it—and that her rare moments of solitude, such as a quiet morning tea or doodling, feel precious only because they contrast with the endless domestic labor of cooking, cleaning, and shopping. She describes her marriage to Ali as relatively free compared to other wives she knows, but still exhausting because she is constantly perceived.

Every year, Ali and his friend Gilgamesh take a trip to the woods near the Caspian to smoke, drink, fish, and retell old stories. This year, Gilgamesh has recently married a woman named Leila, and he asks if she can stay with Roya while the men are away. Roya desperately wants to protect her few days of total autonomy, but Ali agrees without hesitation, and Roya feels she has no choice.

Once the men leave, Leila quickly sheds her initial shyness. She is outgoing, irreverent, and shares embarrassing details about Gilgamesh—like his habit of sucking on sumac and salt, or pouring cough syrup into his tea. Roya is taken aback by this intimacy from a stranger and feels insulted when Leila dismisses talk of husbands. Leila then suggests they go for a walk to a lake, despite it being late evening. Roya reluctantly agrees, though she resents losing her alone time. As they prepare to leave, Leila puts on large sunglasses, and they head out together.

Key Events

Roya reflects on her need for solitude and her dissatisfaction with life.
Ali and Gilgamesh prepare for their annual trip to the Caspian woods.
Gilgamesh brings his new wife Leila and asks if she can stay with Roya.
Roya reluctantly agrees, losing her precious alone time.
Leila reveals her bold personality, sharing embarrassing details about Gilgamesh.
Leila suggests a walk to a lake, and Roya agrees despite her reluctance.
The chapter ends with the two women leaving the house together.

Character Development

Roya Shams – This chapter deepens Roya's interiority. We learn about her ambivalent pregnancy with Cyrus, which she has not yet confirmed because she does not want to tell Ali and change their relationship. She values her autonomy and resents the constant perception of others, even in a relatively free marriage. Her initial irritation with Leila reveals her guardedness, but her decision to go along with the walk shows a grudging openness to connection.

Leila – Introduced as a new character, Leila is immediately vivid: stout, with short curly hair and an air of mischief. She is unapologetically herself, sharing intimate details about her husband without embarrassment. Her insistence on the walk and her playful defiance of Roya's reluctance suggest a free-spiritedness that contrasts with Roya's more reserved nature. The narrative hints that Roya will later come to appreciate Leila's self-wonder, but at this moment she sees only vanity.

Ali and Gilgamesh – Though absent for most of the chapter, they are characterized through Roya's observations. Ali is agreeable but oblivious to Roya's needs, while Gilgamesh is described as physically imposing but mentally dull, treating the arrangement like a transaction.

Themes, Symbols, or Motifs

Solitude and Autonomy: Roya's need for alone time is central. She sees her husband's absence as a rare opportunity for selfhood, which is threatened by Leila's presence.
The Burden of Being Perceived: Roya feels exhausted by constant observation, even in a marriage that allows her freedom. This theme ties to her desire for vacancy and her reluctance to confirm her pregnancy.
Ambivalent Pregnancy: Roya's pregnancy is a source of anxiety, not joy. She delays confirmation to avoid the inevitable change it will bring, symbolizing her fear of losing control over her life.
Female Friendship: The chapter explores the tentative, awkward beginnings of a friendship between two very different women. Leila's openness challenges Roya's guardedness.
Freedom from Male Presence: The men's departure creates a space for the women to interact without male oversight, though Roya initially resists this opportunity.
Self-lessness vs. Selfhood: Roya describes her baseline of self-lessness, where her stolen moments are only meaningful in contrast to her domestic duties. Leila, by contrast, seems to embody a more self-possessed way of being.
The Lake as Destination: The lake represents an unknown, perhaps transformative destination, suggesting a journey toward something new for Roya.

Why This Chapter Matters

This chapter introduces Leila, a character who will likely become significant in Roya's life, and it deepens our understanding of Roya's internal world. It establishes key themes of female friendship, autonomy, and the tension between selfhood and domestic obligation. Roya's ambivalent pregnancy adds a layer of personal conflict that will likely resonate throughout the novel. The chapter also sets up a contrast between Roya's cautious, introspective nature and Leila's bold, spontaneous energy, which may drive future interactions.

Study Questions and Answers

1. Why does Roya resent Leila's presence so strongly at the beginning of the chapter?

Roya values her annual solitude when Ali leaves for the woods. She sees this time as her only reprieve from the constant demands of domestic life and the exhaustion of being perceived. Leila's arrival disrupts this precious autonomy, and Roya feels she has no choice but to host her, which fuels her resentment.

2. What does Roya's reaction to her pregnancy reveal about her character?

Roya's refusal to take a pregnancy test shows her desire to delay any change in her life. She is not ready to confront the reality of motherhood, which she associates with losing her freedom and becoming the object of Ali's