In the first part of the book we see how women in Iran are restricted by the fundamentalist regime. The fundamentalist enact rules that not only oppress women but also oppress men. After Marji experiences the beginning of the war with Iraq and the new found power of the fundamentalists her parents make her leave to study in Austria. In the second part of Persepolis we witness the transformation of Marjane through her new freedoms gained from moving out of Iran. Her new friends see her as interesting because she has experience war and death. In Iran we saw Marji as a rebellious teenager and this rebellious nature continues throughout her life in Austria. She becomes a drug addict and participates in things that would be seen as indecent by traditional Iranians. Her new found freedoms end up hurting her but they also help her learn important life lessons she would never experience in Iran.
After She returns to Iran she becomes depressed because she feels she left her country behind. She didn't fully experience the atrocities of War and she can't fit in anymore with her old friends or family. Sometimes we see glimpses of her old self like when she reconnects with her old friend Kia and finds some common ground through joking with him. One of the problems she has that is that she is afraid to tell her friends and family about her adventures in Austria because she knows they wont be able to relate to her experiences. All of the things she did in Austria would shunned by Iranians even her non conservative parents. Marji goes as far as reconciling with psychiatrists but they really don't have a solution for her depression besides drugs. Fortunately when she overdoses on drugs she becomes enlightened and realizes that she needs to try harder to fit in. I feel that her journey to Austria was a case of Marji educating herself one of the morals of the story.
Zachary Lewkowicz
-post 8 June 21-
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