Passion and Change: How to Read Lolita in Tehran Deconstructs PowerIn authoritarian systems of government, the way leaders govern the people leaves very little power for citizens to bring about change . Even if there are pockets of dissent, it can be disconcerting to realize that dissent only implicates these dissenters in unrest first perpetrated by the leaders themselves: in chaos, people cannot come together, they cannot organize or seek change because all change requires cooperation. Only in education, reform and cultural awareness do people find a weapon that can be used as an agent of change. Azar Nafisi, in her multiple roles as educator, cultural agent and dissident, has taken a step forward in proving that dissidents can organize, educate and inspire and, in doing so, serve as an agent of change for those who live it and experience it. expertise in and out of the classroom. Culture is unique in its role within education. This creates different meaning for each of us: our experiences within family circles, national borders, and classroom walls shape meaning and ideas, regardless of the topic. Moreover, as Sonia Nieto (1999) writes, “it is invariably influenced by the environment in which it exists” (p. 133). Teaching English literature in Tehran, a dubious profession to say the least, could, in these turbulent times of revolution, be considered almost blasphemous. Iran, with all its traditions, especially literary and religious, naturally does not appreciate external influence, cultural diversity and dissent. What Dr. Nafisi was able to do with dissent, cultural diversity and Western influence through the words of the writers studied and discussed, was nothing short of astonishing. Which she led...... middle of document..... By losing these positions, intellectualism lost, students lost, and the country as a whole lost. The brilliance of his teaching method further aligns with Freire's thoughts, “the task of the teacher, who is also a learner, is both joyful and rigorous” (Freire, 2005, p. 5). Rigorous, indeed, especially considering the difficult situation in which she often found herself. Works Cited John-Steiner, Vera & Mahn, Holbrook (1996). Sociocultural approaches to learning and development. Educational psychologist, 31, (3/4) 191-206.Freire, Paulo (2005). Teachers as cultural workers: Letters to those who dare to teach. Boulder, CO: Westview Press. Nafisi, Azar (2003). Read Lolita in Tehran. New York, New York: Random House Nieto, Sonia (1999). The Light in Their Eyes: Creating Multicultural Learning Communities. New York, New York: Teachers College Press.