Before I read Sarah’s great question, I had come up with a similar question, one that focuses on Marji’s perspective. Pages 148 and 149 of Persepolis (the top inner panels on each page) depict two different adolescent longings, one for independence, the other for connectedness. Marjane experiences these in an intense way because she will be moving away from her parents and her home at a very young age. Given what we have learned about Marjane and looking at the two images, imagine the thoughts going on in her mind at this critical juncture in her life. What might they be?Publish Post
I think what really stuck out to me was when her mother told her that she was going to go to Austria and that they would be right behind her and Marjane said something like i'm 14 you trust me?? Part of me wanted to believe that she really didn't want her parents to trust her so that she wouldn't have to leave them but part of her probably was happy that she got that trust from them. I feel also that part of her knew that she might not see her parents again especially when she was at the airport and looked back at her mother and father. At that very moment I had a feeling in me that her parents were going to be going to Austria and that might have been the last time that they saw her. If it was me in Marjane's shoes there would have been no way that I could have left my family. I couldn't imagine having to make that choice for my children.
ReplyDeleteMarjane always enjoyed acting like an adult, particularly participating in adult conversations to show off her knowledge. Like an adult, she wants to have independence as well. So when her parents told her she would be going to Austria all by herself, she was thrilled to have independence in having her parents treat her like an adult trusting her to travel alone to a foreign country. Yet, her sudden doubts of not having her parents with her reveal that she still wants parental support and guidance. So it was a mix of feeling joy for independence and being frightened with having less parental support.
ReplyDeleteI think Marjane was happy initially about the independence to be away from the rules of her parents, freedom to make her own choices, and also be in a country where she could be free to express herself, unlike these times in revolutionary Iran. She would have the freedom to wear whatever she likes and buy things without restrictions.
ReplyDeleteIn the opposite panel, she is realizing that she would miss their support and company. She is begining to think about the fact that their communication would be limited and she would be forced to find a new support system. There would be difficult times ahead during a time in any adolescent's life when guidance is very important. Definitely a scary situation for a 14-year old!