Martyr! by Kaveh Akbar Summary, Characters and Themes

Martyr! is a 2024 literary fiction novel by Kaveh Akbar that delves into the complexities of identity, grief, and artistic expression. The story follows Cyrus Shams, a first-generation Iranian American poet grappling with the loss of his mother, Roya, who was killed in a tragic plane bombing by the United States government. 

As Cyrus battles with addiction and seeks meaning in his mother’s death, he embarks on a journey of self-discovery that intertwines with the enigmatic life of a terminally ill Iranian artist, Orkideh. Through powerful prose, Akbar explores the intersections of personal and cultural history, art, and the search for redemption.

Summary

Cyrus Shams, born in Tehran in 1987, loses his mother, Roya, in a devastating bombing of Iran Air Flight 655 when he is just an infant. Following this tragedy, Cyrus and his father, Ali, relocate to the United States, where Ali takes a job at a chicken factory in Indiana.

Growing up, Cyrus struggles with night terrors and learns to mask his Iranian identity in a country often hostile to his heritage. He is a bright student, but the loss of his mother and his father’s alcoholism cast long shadows over his childhood.

Cyrus’s life takes a darker turn after he enters college at Keady University. His father dies soon after he begins his studies, leaving Cyrus completely alone. 

Succumbing to his own addictions to alcohol and drugs, Cyrus spirals downward, hitting rock bottom in 2015. In a moment of desperation, he prays for a sign, which he believes he receives when a lightbulb flickers above him. 

Two years later, Cyrus is in recovery, attending Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) meetings with his sponsor, Gabe, while trying to rebuild his life through poetry and a job as a medical actor.

During one particularly difficult AA meeting, Cyrus lashes out at Gabe after discussing his struggles with his identity and his desire for martyrdom. Disillusioned, he withdraws from Gabe and his other friends. 

However, a conversation with Zee, his lover and closest friend, reignites his passion for poetry. Cyrus becomes captivated by the story of Orkideh, a terminally ill Iranian artist staging her final days as an exhibition called “DEATH SPEAK” at the Brooklyn Museum. 

Cyrus sees Orkideh as a potential subject for his poetry book on martyrdom and decides to visit her in New York, with Zee accompanying him.

In New York, Cyrus and Orkideh connect over their shared Iranian roots, but Orkideh is critical of Cyrus’s obsession with martyrdom. When she mysteriously references the death of Cyrus’s mother in a plane bombing, Cyrus is bewildered. 

As he digs deeper, Cyrus discovers a painting by Orkideh that eerily mirrors a story his uncle Arash once told him. 

When he confronts Orkideh, he learns she has died during the night. Cyrus is then contacted by Sang, Orkideh’s gallerist and ex-wife, who reveals that Orkideh is actually his mother, Roya. 

The woman who died in the bombing was Leila, a close friend of Roya who had used her identity to escape a dangerous situation.

The revelation forces Cyrus to reevaluate his understanding of his past and his place in the world. In the final chapters, told from Orkideh’s perspective, her journey of reinvention in the U.S. under Leila’s identity is revealed, culminating in her becoming a celebrated artist. 

The novel concludes with Cyrus reconciling with Zee, as they navigate the emotional turmoil of these revelations together, taking a step forward into an uncertain future.

Characters

Cyrus Shams

Cyrus Shams is the protagonist of Martyr!, a complex and deeply conflicted character. As a first-generation Iranian American, Cyrus’s identity is shaped by his family’s history and the cultural dislocation that comes from growing up in the United States with an immigrant background.

His life is marked by profound loss, starting with the death of his mother, Roya, in the bombing of Iran Air Flight 655. This event casts a long shadow over his life, influencing his relationships, his artistic pursuits, and his struggles with addiction.

Cyrus’s journey is one of searching for meaning in a world that often seems senseless. He battles alcoholism and drug addiction, mirroring the struggles of his father, Ali.

The trauma of his mother’s death, coupled with the pressures of assimilation and the isolation he feels as an Iranian American, lead him down a dark path. His recovery process is tentative and fraught with setbacks, particularly in his strained relationships with others, including his AA sponsor, Gabe, and his lover, Zee.

Cyrus’s obsession with martyrdom, both in a literal and figurative sense, drives much of the novel’s narrative. He seeks to make sense of his mother’s death through his poetry, hoping to find a way to immortalize her sacrifice.

However, his fixation on martyrdom is also a reflection of his own suicidal ideation and his complicated relationship with his heritage. This obsession reaches its peak when he meets Orkideh, a terminally ill Iranian artist, whose life and work challenge Cyrus to rethink his understanding of sacrifice and identity.

Roya Shams / Orkideh

Roya Shams, who later becomes Orkideh, is a character whose dual identity is central to the novel’s exploration of themes such as identity, loss, and reinvention. Initially presented as the tragic figure of Cyrus’s mother, Roya is believed to have died in the bombing of Iran Air Flight 655.

This perceived loss profoundly impacts Cyrus and Ali, shaping their lives in the United States. However, the novel later reveals that Roya survived and assumed a new identity as Orkideh, an artist who reinvents herself in America.

This twist not only reshapes Cyrus’s understanding of his past but also complicates his quest for meaning. As Orkideh, Roya becomes a celebrated artist, using her work to explore themes of death, identity, and the Iranian diaspora.

Her final exhibition, DEATH SPEAK, serves as both a literal and metaphorical stage for her to confront her mortality and her past. Orkideh’s relationship with Cyrus is complex.

Unbeknownst to him for most of the novel, she observes him from afar, understanding the struggles he faces as an Iranian American and as her son. Her critical stance on Cyrus’s obsession with martyrdom and her enigmatic comments about his mother’s death hint at the deeper connection between them.

Ultimately, Orkideh’s revelation as Cyrus’s mother forces him to confront the truth about his past and the constructed nature of his identity.

Ali Shams

Ali Shams, Cyrus’s father, is a figure of quiet tragedy in the novel. After the supposed death of his wife, Roya, Ali emigrates to the United States with his young son, trying to forge a new life in a foreign land while grappling with his grief.

Ali’s way of coping is through alcoholism, a trait that Cyrus later inherits. Ali’s attempts to assimilate into American culture, such as his love of basketball and his job at a chicken factory, reflect his desire to shield his son from the hostility they might face as Iranians in America.

Ali’s character is marked by his deep sorrow and his struggle to keep his family together in the face of overwhelming loss. His death, which occurs while Cyrus is in college, serves as another blow to Cyrus, pushing him further into addiction and despair.

Yet, despite his flaws, Ali’s love for his son is evident in his attempts to protect him and provide for him in a difficult and often unwelcoming environment.

Zee

Zee is Cyrus’s lover and best friend, a character who provides both emotional support and a counterpoint to Cyrus’s self-destructive tendencies. Zee is compassionate and patient, but also direct and honest, often challenging Cyrus to confront his darker impulses.

Their relationship is one of the few stable elements in Cyrus’s tumultuous life, but it is not without its conflicts. Zee’s role in the novel is crucial, as he represents both the potential for redemption and the limitations of that redemption when someone is unwilling to help themselves.

He encourages Cyrus to pursue his creative ambitions, such as the book of poetry about martyrdom, but also confronts him about the dangers of his obsession with death. Their argument in New York, where Zee accuses Cyrus of selfishness, highlights the strain that Cyrus’s internal struggles place on their relationship.

Despite the challenges they face, Zee’s love for Cyrus is unwavering. The novel’s conclusion, where they reconcile and begin to take a step forward together, suggests that Zee’s influence may be the grounding force Cyrus needs to move beyond his past and toward a more hopeful future.

Gabe

Gabe is Cyrus’s sponsor in Alcoholics Anonymous, a character who embodies the themes of mentorship and tough love. He plays a significant role in Cyrus’s recovery journey, offering guidance and support while also challenging Cyrus to confront his self-destructive behaviors.

Gabe’s confrontational style contrasts with the more nurturing approach of other characters like Zee, but it is this directness that pushes Cyrus to face uncomfortable truths about himself. Gabe’s relationship with Cyrus is complicated by the latter’s resistance to fully engage with the recovery process.

Cyrus’s anger and frustration often boil over in his interactions with Gabe, leading to moments of estrangement. However, Gabe’s persistence and dedication to helping Cyrus suggest a deep care for his well-being, even when Cyrus is unwilling to accept it.

Gabe’s influence is a reminder of the importance of community and support in the struggle against addiction.

Arash

Arash, Cyrus’s uncle, is a character who remains somewhat distant throughout the novel but plays a crucial role in the narrative’s unfolding. A veteran of the Iran-Iraq War, Arash is depicted as a figure of mythic proportions in Cyrus’s imagination, particularly through the story of him riding across battlefields dressed as an angel.

This story fascinates Cyrus and becomes a symbol of heroism and martyrdom that he later grapples with in his own life. Arash’s interactions with Cyrus are limited to phone calls, during which he offers cryptic advice and insights.

His response to Cyrus’s inquiries about Orkideh’s painting—insisting that it is a sacred image—adds to the novel’s themes of serendipity and the mystical connections between people and events. Arash’s character serves as a bridge between the past and present, connecting Cyrus to his Iranian heritage and the complexities of the war that shaped his family’s history.

Leila

Leila is a pivotal yet enigmatic character in the novel. Initially introduced as a friend of Ali’s who shares a close relationship with Roya, she is later revealed to be Roya’s lover.

The flashbacks to 1987 show Leila as a bold, unconventional woman who defies societal norms, particularly in her relationship with Roya. Their romantic involvement and the consequences it brings underscore the novel’s exploration of identity, love, and the constraints of cultural expectations.

Leila’s decision to assume Roya’s identity to escape Iran and her subsequent death in the bombing add layers of complexity to the story. Her fate serves as the catalyst for the novel’s central mystery and the revelations that follow.

Leila’s character challenges traditional notions of martyrdom and sacrifice, as her actions, while ultimately tragic, are driven by a desire for freedom and self-expression rather than any political or religious ideology.

Themes

The Inherited Trauma of Identity and the Displacement of Cultural Roots

Martyr! delves deeply into the complexities of inherited trauma and the displacement of cultural roots through the life of Cyrus Shams, a first-generation Iranian American. The novel explores how the violent historical events that shape a family’s past continue to reverberate through generations.

Cyrus’s identity is profoundly marked by his mother’s death in the Iran Air Flight 655 bombing—a trauma he did not personally experience but which fundamentally alters his life trajectory. His efforts to assimilate into American culture are driven by a survival instinct inherited from his father, Ali, who understands the precariousness of being visibly Iranian in a hostile environment.

This constant negotiation of identity—caught between the need to belong in America and the inescapable legacy of his Iranian heritage—creates a sense of dislocation in Cyrus. His obsession with martyrdom, both in his poetry and personal life, can be seen as an attempt to reconcile this fragmented identity by seeking meaning in his mother’s death and, by extension, his own existence.

The novel suggests that such a search for meaning is both a product of inherited trauma and a response to the cultural displacement that Cyrus experiences in the diaspora.

The Performance of Identity as a Survival Mechanism

The theme of identity performance runs throughout Martyr!, examining how characters craft and adapt their identities as a means of survival. This is particularly evident in the way Cyrus and his father, Ali, navigate their Iranian identities in a predominantly white, American environment.

Their deliberate minimization of their Iranian heritage—learning to love American basketball, excelling in school, and avoiding overt displays of cultural difference—highlights the performative aspect of their assimilation. This performance is not limited to cultural identity; it extends to Cyrus’s personal struggles with addiction and his work as a medical actor.

In both his personal and professional life, Cyrus’s identity is a carefully crafted facade, designed to protect him from external judgment and internal despair. The revelation that Orkideh is actually his mother, Roya, who assumed a new identity to escape her past, serves as a powerful commentary on the fluidity of identity and the lengths to which individuals will go to survive.

Orkideh’s art, her terminal exhibit DEATH SPEAK, and her eventual confession to Cyrus demonstrate how the performance of identity can be both a prison and a form of liberation. The novel offers a complex meditation on the roles we play to navigate the traumas of our past and the realities of our present.

The Dichotomy of Martyrdom and Artistic Expression as Paths to Immortality

Martyr! intricately weaves the concepts of martyrdom and artistic expression, presenting them as parallel and sometimes conflicting paths to immortality. Cyrus’s fixation on martyrdom stems from his desire to find meaning in his mother’s death and his struggle to justify his own survival in the face of such loss.

This obsession is not merely personal but also cultural, rooted in the historical and religious significance of martyrdom in Iranian history. Yet, the novel complicates this theme by juxtaposing it with the concept of artistic expression as another form of achieving immortality.

Orkideh, who embodies this dichotomy, ultimately chooses art over martyrdom, dedicating her final days to the creation of a legacy that will outlive her physical existence. Her criticism of Cyrus’s obsession with martyrdom as a cliché challenges the romanticization of self-sacrifice, suggesting that true immortality lies in the creation of something that transcends the self—whether it be art or the impact one has on others.

The novel thus interrogates the value of self-destruction in the pursuit of meaning. It offers a nuanced exploration of how individuals seek to assert their existence and leave a lasting impact on the world, whether through the ultimate sacrifice or through the enduring power of creation.

The Intersection of Grief, Addiction, and the Search for Redemption

In Martyr!, grief and addiction are portrayed as interwoven forces that shape Cyrus’s journey toward redemption. The novel explores how the unresolved grief over his mother’s death and the trauma passed down from his father manifest in Cyrus’s struggles with alcoholism and drug addiction.

These addictions are not merely vices but are symptomatic of deeper emotional and psychological wounds—wounds that Cyrus attempts to numb through substances. The cyclical nature of addiction mirrors the cyclical nature of grief, with both serving as coping mechanisms that ultimately lead to further pain and isolation.

Cyrus’s moment of spiritual epiphany, when the lightbulb flickers in response to his desperate plea for a sign, marks the beginning of his recovery journey. Yet it is clear that redemption is not a linear path.

His interactions with Orkideh, Gabe, and Zee reveal the complexity of healing, where moments of clarity are often followed by relapses into despair. The novel suggests that redemption is found not in the elimination of these struggles but in the acceptance of them as part of one’s identity.

In the end, Cyrus’s reconciliation with Zee and his newfound understanding of his mother’s true identity offer a glimmer of hope. This suggests that redemption is possible even in the face of overwhelming grief and addiction, but it requires a reimagining of the self and a willingness to confront the painful truths that lie at the heart of one’s suffering.

The Ambiguity of Truth and the Construction of Personal Narratives

Martyr! intricately explores the ambiguity of truth and how personal narratives are constructed, deconstructed, and reconstructed throughout one’s life. Cyrus’s understanding of his family’s past is built on a foundation of half-truths and misconceptions, which are gradually unraveled as the story progresses.

The revelation that Orkideh is his mother, not a distant artist but a central figure in his own narrative, forces Cyrus to reevaluate everything he believed to be true about his identity and his family history. This theme underscores the idea that truth is not an absolute but is instead subject to the interpretations and intentions of those who hold it.

Orkideh’s decision to take on a new identity, to construct a narrative that served her survival and artistic aspirations, illustrates the power and fluidity of personal narratives. The novel suggests that the stories we tell ourselves and others are not just reflections of our past but are active constructions that shape our present and future.

In the end, Cyrus’s journey is one of reconciling these conflicting narratives—those imposed upon him by his family, his culture, and his own desires—with the messy, ambiguous reality of his existence. The novel leaves readers with the understanding that truth is often elusive and that the search for it is as much about understanding the narratives we choose to believe as it is about uncovering objective facts.