Persepolis

After reading Persepolis I find, like I tend to find after reading almost all books, that I do not know what I think of the novel. The novel all at ones seems to address issues of education, freedom, the creation of history, gender roles, fanaticism and a search for ones self. However, a question that seems to be pervading throughout the novel is "who is the enemy?" Is the enemy the communists, the news media, the Shah, the Reformists, Iraq, the westernized world, men, neighbors, or yourself? Perhaps the better question is who is not the enemy? Inside Iran, Marji finds that her neighbors and her friends may be enemies to her as well as the government. Later in the second novel she finds as a foreigner just as many of her friends and enemies prove to be her enemies. Her mother's friend Zozo who sends her to the Nuns and then the Nuns who also turn her out. Marji as a child struggles to understand how she can be told to praise the Shah in school on one day and shun him on the next. Her attempts to ground herself in history and her family show her quest for identity and understanding of the events in her country. Marji cannot know why to dislike the religious fundamentalists or why to dislike her neighbors who pretend to be complete supporters of one regimen after another if she does not herself have a position for or against such behaviors. Thus in many ways the novel is one about the nature of hypocrisy and the way people act under times of hardship and pressure.

For me the most telling scenes is when Marji distracts the Guardians of the Revolution from her makeup by saying that a random innocent man harassed her. Marji does not even contemplate the the effects her lie may have on the man or the hypocritical nature of her behavior. In fact it takes her grandmother to point out that what Marji has done is wrong. This scenario strikes me as compelling because it demonstrates the power of fear and self-preservation. Marji is wearing make-up to impress Rezo but it also is a sign of rebellion against the religious fundamentalists. In this sense, one cheers Marji for her rebellion and perhaps dislikes, rolls their eyes, or condemns her attempt to please Rezo. When confronted with having to defend her decision to wear make-up Marji in a panic resorts to preserving herself over the possibility of being punished by the Guardians of the Revolution. She moves away from the history of her grandfather and uncle and thus sacrifices an innocent man to protect herself. This action for me negates the meaning of the rebellious act, not because she does not want to be punished but because she is willing to blame someone else for her own actions. The reader confronts the nature of hypocrisy in this scene seeing one move away from a position of standing for freedom at all costs and self-preservation. Further, the question is of what constitutes rebellious behavior and what is simply reckless and irresponsible is posed.

I do not think that as the reader we are asked to judge those people who behave hypocritically. When Marji implicated that innocent man to save herself, I was frustrated with her behavior but I attempted not to judge. At the base of the situation you had a woman trying to feel normal in an oppressive society. I am more inclined to blame the situation than the person. Further, I feel that to judge her behavior, as her grandmother did, must be accompanied by an experience that legitimizes such a judgment. Most people will opt to sacrifice another person to preserve themselves. Unless tested in such a scenario, one cannot know how they will behave. Hence, whereas Marji's grandmother has experienced placing her life in danger to help protect her husband and other innocent lives she can judge Marji; however, I as the reader, having no similar experience can hope that I would not behave in the same manner but cannot really know until such an event occurs. As a result, I can find fault in her actions without judging her. This raises the point that those people who are true martyrs, who sacrifice themselves to save many, are more rare and that most common everyday people, so to speak, will not make such a sacrifice. I do not think this point is one of cynicism but rather one of pragmatism.