Chapters 19 through 21 Summary and Analysis

Chapter 19: Iranians Need Not Apply

Kazem had worked for the National Iranian Oil Company from the time he was seventeen years old. He had worked himself up from intern to project manager. With thirty plus years with the company, he felt he had no worries about his future. However, after the Iranian Revolution, his world changed. Since he was an expert in building new refineries, his expertise was no longer valuable. He asked for and was granted early retirement. He felt certain he could easily get a job in America. He did get an engineering job at an American company within a weeks. But soon after he began his new job, the American hostages were taken and Kazem was laid off.

For 444 nights, the family watched TV hoping for a break in the hostage situation. With each day, hatred...