Week 4

     I am grateful to have had an opportunity reading this remarkable and edgy novel, written by the character herself to contribute the chronicle of her childhood.  From reading this novel, I have come to realize and absorbed that family close knit signified an important part in life in any culture.  Other than family close knit, dignity is also essential to overcome cruelty and hardship in life.  Marjane was very fortunate to come from a close knit loving family, having parents who adored and loved her dearly.  Their extensive love and caring
had motivated and inspired her when she was lonesome living abroad.  Marjane's parents sent her abroad in the midst of their war crisis so that she could be safe and have a better future.  During her time living abroad, Marjane had suffered, experiencing different stages of cruelty and hardship from the people and places that she associated with.  She could have fallen for bad influence, but knowing that she was loved and not to betray her parents and her origins, she immediately redeemed herself.  Marjane also realized that she was feeling more comfortable being her true self, rather than to have been a hypocrite to blend in.

     Persepolis vividly brought me back to my own childhood, relived the occurrence of war within our own country.  I experienced similar chaotic events that frequently occurred during the war in our country as Marjane's.  This whole ordeal had changed my life and the lives of my family members significantly.  We fled the country as a result and took refuge in America, leaving behind our beloved country, our home, and our significant ones.

     According to my understanding from reading Persepolis, Marjane was a natural born rebel.  When it was necessary to deal with the new authority within her homeland, she suggested that the entire nation must support it to succeed.  The new regime was so repressive that it not only changed the lives of her people, but it also changed their personalities.  Thus, most people there lived in sufferance and tolerance so that they can continue to live their daily lives.  However, young Marjane was so rebellious that she did not obey the new regime regulations at her home school.  Also as a natural born rebel, young Marjane sometimes dared to speak her mind when having conversations with her parents at home.  Unlike Marjane, I was not born a natural rebel.  However, I would take action with precautions if necessary when there is a call.

     There were often times that Marjane was feeling emotional and incomplete.  She was rudely insulted and being taken advantage by the people she associated with.  Despite all the difficulties that she had gone through, she did not quit, instead she uplifted herself.  Since she missed her home and family terribly, she asked her parents to let her go back home.  If I were in Marjane's position, I would do the same.