How does the allusion to Patrick Henry affect the meaning of the
text?

beginner

government is strong when they have the ability to persuade those they govern to believe government has enough power to force them or should be forcing them to do government’s will.

when enough of the citizenry do not believe government can force them or should force them to do its bidding, government has lost or will lose its strength and power to coerce.

when enough of the citizenry do believe government can force or should force them to do its bidding, they become passive at the least or actively pro-government and repeat government’s own rhetoric to pass on what they have been persuaded by government’s propaganda.

a true majority isn’t always needed to govern or to stop government. many times all that is needed is a strong minority. if a determined 30% of the population rises up against government in a concerted effort to bring it down, this size minority usually will succeed as long as those actively opposing the minority are less in force than the minority. so if 41% of the population sits at home watching tv rooting for one side or the other, they don’t matter. it’s the active parties who make a difference.

the book's theme is the moral ambiguity of the iranian revolution, history of middle eastern relations and the process of growing up during war. it sheds light on the stereotypical views of middle eastern culture and religion.

the author explicitly portrays the issues of class disparities and racism continously throught the whole novel.

the relationship between parents and childrens, the abandonment of faith, modernity vs fundamentalism and class conflict are the 4 main panels that this novel englobes.

hope this , if you would like me to be more specific about a specific excerpt let me know : )