The War Within

Persepolis raises the theme that although there is a war being fought in Iran, the real battle is the one that Marjane fights within herself.  Actually, the Iranian war and the contradiction that thrives within Marji’s family is the source of her overall confusion and conflicting ideals.  Early on in the novel, Marji explains that she feels like a very religious person (wanted to be a prophet), but her family was modern, rejecting the veil.  On page 6, Marji depicts herself as being split between the two sides of who she is.  She is also confused by the war within her country, the one that Iran is fighting among itself.  She witnesses her parents demonstrate and protest against their own people and political leaders, the country in which they live in!  But then she also sees her parents act extremely patriotic and defensive of their home when Iraq attacks.  There is another contradiction or irony that presents itself when Marji’s mother disguises herself (hides) after attempting to fight for what she believes in.  It must be quite confusing to see your mother fighting for certain beliefs and then seeing her hide and back down from what she was protesting for.  In addition, Marji is conflicted when her father tells her that people in Iran must stay within their social class, especially since her parents are communist and believe that all social classes should be equal.  Social classes upset Marji and she doesn’t understand why her maid is treated different from everyone else (her love with the neighbor is “impossible” and she doesn’t eat dinner at the same table as Marjis’ family).  Marji’s education is even contradicting, the first line in her textbook reads that the Shah was put into power by God, but later she is ordered by her teacher to rip the page out and punished for speculating as to why she is doing so.  Several different roots unite to feed and provide the nutrients for Marjane’s confusion.  The various dichotomies and contradictions of Marji's life make growing up and being an adolescent much more difficult and confusing than it already is.  Her struggle is a reflection of the struggles faced by her fellow Iranians, parents, and country.  Marji faces her own war in the midst of the Iranian War.