Earth Martyr (Symbol)
Orkideh's concept of the "earth martyr" refers to people who die to help other people in a flawed world and not for religious or metaphysical reasons. In other words, it is a human-focused sacrifice. This symbol is a counterpoint to traditional martyrdom, which is intertwined with spiritual transcendence or religious sacrifice. Instead, the earth martyr embodies a more grounded and existential drive. The concept inspires Cyrus to contribute meaningfully to the lives of others during his short time on earth. It also represents the burden of living in a world that demands moral sacrifice without the certainty of any higher reward. Cyrus’s fascination with this concept exposes his internal conflict about his desire for his life—and potential death—to have substantial meaning beyond the banalities of everyday existence.
Museum (Symbol)
Museums symbolize legacy and the way people attempt to preserve memory. Cyrus interacts with the artist Orkideh at the Brooklyn Museum. She treats her terminal illness as an installation. This setting emphasizes the way humans try to control and frame death by encapsulating it in narratives and exhibits, though Orkideh's primary intention is to normalize talking about death. The museum becomes an allegorical space where life, death, and art intersect. It challenges the characters to confront what is remembered, forgotten, or immortalized.
Death and Legacy (Motif)
A recurring motif in the novel is Cyrus's preoccupation with death and legacy. Cyrus is haunted by the death of his mother and the concept of martyrdom. Therefore, much of his inner dialogue centers on how death can give meaning to life. He fixates on the idea of dying in a way that matters—whether as a martyr or in some other significant manner. This motif also extends to how Cyrus views art as a form of legacy. This motif encapsulates the tension between wanting to leave a lasting legacy and the fear that life could end in anonymity. Cyrus's obsession with writing a book about secular martyrs and grappling with his place in history exemplifies this motif.
Displacement (Motif)
Another motif threaded throughout the novel is displacement, particularly the tension between cultural heritage and personal identity. Cyrus grapples with his dual identity because he feels alienated from both his American surroundings and his Iranian roots. This struggle is a constant undercurrent in the narrative, which is visible in the way Cyrus processes his father’s efforts to assimilate. His journey reflects the struggle of second-generation immigrants when balancing between assimilation, cultural preservation, and carving out the unique path of one's own life.
Persian Mirror Art (Symbol)
During one of Cyrus's conversations with Orkideh, she tells him about Persian Mirror Art, a centuries-old craft that symbolizes the multiplicity of identity, cultural forging, and divine light. Centuries ago, Safavid explorers from Isfahan traveled to different European countries and later brought back giant mirrors to Iran. When the mirrors broke during transit, architects used the fragments to create incredibly intricate mosaics, shrines, prayer niches. According to Orkideh, the spaces between the fragments elevated the glimpses of one's reflection to an almost holy level. This can also be analyzed culturally and politically, since Persians tried "to copy the European vanity" and ended up crafting something entirely distinct (Chapter 14).
