Family Matters

It is made clear on multiple occasions that Marjane Satrapi, author of The Complete Persepolis, values religion. She speaks of wanting to become a prophet when she gets older (Satrapi 6) and how everything would be okay because God picked the king (Satrapi 19). However, it is also obvious that she values her family, as well—maybe even more than religion. Though, on page 19-20, Marjane chooses her faith over her father’s words after an internal debate with herself, she shows loyalty to God.

On page 13-17, Marjane’s faith is tested. She asks for God when something bad happens, as told by her father, and he doesn’t show up. That leaves her no choice but to side with her parents about the evil being caused and the war/demonstrations rising up.

It is truly proven that her family is important to her when her uncle shows up in the picture. Her uncle was the hero that Marjane had been looking for in a family member, just like her friend’s dad. They’d grown close and she didn’t need to talk to God anymore, it seemed, for she only wanted to talk to her new idol. She’s heard a multitude of political discussions (Satrapi 62) and murders have occurred during Uncle Anoosh’s stay (Satrapi 65). She was revealed and introduced to a whole new world that she had once known nothing about.

When her uncle died of execution, Marjane shunned God for good. He was not there when she needed him (Satrapi 70).

What other things are valued by Marjane? How do her values shape who she is?