Journal 1: PersepolisDuring Marjane’s adolescents, I would describe her as “bright”. The reason I chose the word “bright” is because Marjane was far more intelligent at such a young age that most of her peers. Before Marjane was thirteen she read and understood Marxism, she knew a great deal about Iran’s history, and her dream job was to be a prophet who ended all sadness and pain within the world. I think that growing up in a country that was being torn apart by war and living in a family filled with politically literate revolutionaries is what caused Marjane to be so intelligent and well rounded at a young age. But, I also believe that Marjane would have done well for herself either way due to her interest politics.
Even when Marjane ‘s parents tried to keep her away from protest she maintained an interest in them. Marjane was many other things as a child but it was her intelligence that I believe stood out the most. Journal 2: PersepolisPost-revolution Iran was euphoric to some but overall still a hostile place.Marjane’s family knows that although the revolution is over, a new regime will take over and cause despair all over again. Her father tells her that as long as there is oil in the Middle East there will never be real peace. During this time, Iran’s political prisoners are released from prison.
This is when Marjane meets her Uncle Anoosh who tells her about prison and how they would torture him. Due to Marjane ‘s immaturity she see’s being imprisoned and tortured as something to be proud of, she believes that being imprisoned proved that someone was a hero. She feels disappointed with her father because he had never been imprisoned. Although Marjane finds all of the new information interesting it begins to overwh. . to suicide attempts.
By the end of the book, she has gone through a divorce, which is almost unheard of in Iran and is not allowing her past of her failed relationship to get the best of her. Although Marjane’s depression and suicide attempt it nothing to be happy about, it seems that living through her suicide attempt caused her to realize how important her life was. Through all of her heartache, Marjane has found herself. She seems to be surer of her decisions and has more trust in herself than she did previously. Marjane was brave and intelligent her whole life but lacked confidence in herself, this showed once she moved to Europe began ignoring her conscious in an attempt to fit in with others. But, once Marjane became more self-assured her life took a turn in the right direction and Marjane’s confidence in herself did not begin to show until she was an adult.
