Throughout the entire autobiography The Complete
Persopolis, Marjane faces many differents conflicts. She finds a minor
conflict with her parents when they send her away, God when her uncle is executed,
her failed relationships, her landlords, etc. However, in my very own opinion,
I believe that she has the biggest conflict with herself. She had trouble
finding out who she was and even coming to the end of the story, she seemed to
only know that she did not want to stay in Iran.
On page 189, Marjane is shown going through numerous amounts
of changes due to puberty. Her head, her feet, her eyes, her chin, her mouth,
her nose, her butt, and her breasts all advanced (Satrapi 189). “As if my
natural deformity wasn’t enough, I tried a few new haircuts. A little snip of
the scissors on the left…and a week later, a little snip of the scissors on the
right.” During this period, it is clear that Marjane is trying to find some new
identity. She gels up her hair and with this new look, she even tells a man
that she is French instead of Iranian (Satrapi 195).
Marjane has a habit of losing herself. Not only did she lose
herself and forget who she was when she denied her nationality, but when she
began to do drugs. When she met her boyfriend, Markus, they always smoked
together. With that relationship and some connections, a drug-dealing job
stemmed. “What do you want me to say sir? That I’m the vegetable that I refused to become?...that I hate
myself? (Satrapi 226).” She even says, “I should say that I was smoking too
many joints. I was constantly tired and I always fell asleep.” This is when
Marjane’s huge obsession and depression begins. This follows to be one of her
largest self conflicts.
I also agree that throughout the entire story, aside from her changing enviornments, Marjane's biggest conflict is herself. In addition to her new look, she was hanging out with kids that she really didn't agree with. She even admits she had to tell herself that that being with punk and anarchist kids is where she belonged. Somking every day, going to local shows, not speaking against their opinions when she felt it was wrong, was just something she dealt with. She kind of had to force herself to be "cool". It wasn't the real marjane, and i feel it isnt until she returns home to Iran that she settles into somewhat of who marjane really is.
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