Author(s): Muhammad Nasir, Sanaya Taslima

Abstract: This article, entitled Plot Twists in My Life as a Traitor, a memoir by Zarah Ghahramani, explores the narrative shifts that dramatically shape the author’s personal and political journey. A significant turning point occurs when Zarah, once a loyal student supportive of the Iranian regime, is suddenly arrested and imprisoned without clear charges. This profound betrayal by the system she once trusted compels her to confront the brutal realities of political oppression and undergo a transformation in her beliefs and identity. The purpose of this study is to identify the types of plot twists in the memoir and analyze how they are constructed and presented. The research employs a descriptive qualitative method with a content analysis approach, supported by a structured interpretive framework. The findings indicate that My Life as a Traitor incorporates several impactful plot twists—Personal Revelation Twists, Political/Institutional Betrayal Twists, False Hope or Reversal Twists, Character-Based Twists, and Cultural/Irony-Based Twists. These elements not only propel the narrative but also enhance the reader’s insight into the psychological and ideological conflicts experienced under authoritarian regimes. By framing real-life trauma through literary techniques, Ghahramani’s memoir blurs the boundaries between fiction and nonfiction. This narrative strategy highlights the power of personal storytelling to expose systemic injustice and cultural contradictions, encouraging readers and scholars to view memoirs as both testimonies and carefully crafted literary works that reveal deeper truths about identity, resistance, and power.

Keywords: Plot twist, Traitor, Life trauma

Article Info: Received: 19 Jul 2025; Received in revised form: 16 Aug 2025; Accepted: 20 Aug 2025; Available online: 23 Aug 2025

DOI: 10.22161/ijels.104.77