Who is Marjane Now?
In Persepolis, Marjane has undoubtedly matured from the 10 year-old girl she used to be. Whereas in the past she would without-inquiry accept what she heard on television as the truth, she now is the bold woman who doesn't hesitate to stand up for what she believes is right. As a 12 year-old, she felt pressured to skip classes and follow two older girls to get hamburgers (111), but Marjane has transformed into someone that actually goes against the status quo. She is an excellent student, and unique in the sense that she was not one to hide that she was using her birth control pills not for any other purpose but to prevent pregnancy when she sleeps with her boyfriend (303). Marjane has simply gone through experiences in both Vienna and Iran that have equipped her with the bravery to live her life while remembering her grandmother's words to "be true to [herself]" (150). Transcending from her depression after returning to Iran, she now feels like everything is falling into place, saying so herself that she was now a "sophisticated woman, strong and invincible (274-275). Having grown up in a place where there was a thin line between life and facing prosecution/death, she has perhaps realized that life is too short and unpredictable to not do anything else but take her grandmother's advice.
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ReplyDeleteVery well written summary - it reads like a short essay! I also think you are completely on point with her grandmother's advice. I think we can all learn something from Marji's experience, and we can all follow her grandmother's advice.
ReplyDeleteI agree with what you've written and also think she has matured tremendously from her childhood in Iran. She begins to go against the status-quo as you've said, and makes sure her voice and opinions are heard even if they goes against the cultural norms of Iran and her fellow peers views. Marjane has developed into a strong, independent, and intelligent woman by the end of the novel.
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