Persepolis and The Glass Castle are stories that remind the reader how violence can disrupt the lives of children. Violence plays a strong role in the stories because it highlights the physical, psychological, and emotional trauma that the children faced. In order for children to develop properly, they need to be protected from violence. Children may be more sensitive to violence because they are still learning about the world around them. Persepolis and The Glass Castle demonstrate that violence is detrimental to the physical and emotional well-being of children. Depending on the context of society and culture, violence can manifest in different ways. In Persepolis, the readers experience violence through war, revolution, and oppression.
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Children can sustain physical and emotional trauma during these times, potentially scarring them for life. Although wars are started by political disputes, the civilians always end up losing the most. Satrapi tells us that the state enlisted children to fight in the Iran-Iraq war (102). Children were being forced to fight a war that was started by the state. Pearn states that "in civil war situations where there is a breakdown of law and order, exploitation of children in the form of... forced military service become accepted as the normal societal state" (169). Those children have done nothing wrong, yet they were sentenced to potential death. From a westernized point of view, one may think that the conscription of children is morally unethical. In addition, children that survive may be exposed to chemicals and explosions that will affect their long-term health. Some children lose limbs or sustain irreparable from war damage that ruins their lives. Also, during the Iran-Iraq War, children were being brainwashed into believing that they were going to paradise after sacrificing their lives (Satrapi 89). The state decided to exploit the minds of the children in order to use them as pawns in their fight. War can result in children losing themselves and others around
Children can sustain physical and emotional trauma during these times, potentially scarring them for life. Although wars are started by political disputes, the civilians always end up losing the most. Satrapi tells us that the state enlisted children to fight in the Iran-Iraq war (102). Children were being forced to fight a war that was started by the state. Pearn states that "in civil war situations where there is a breakdown of law and order, exploitation of children in the form of... forced military service become accepted as the normal societal state" (169). Those children have done nothing wrong, yet they were sentenced to potential death. From a westernized point of view, one may think that the conscription of children is morally unethical. In addition, children that survive may be exposed to chemicals and explosions that will affect their long-term health. Some children lose limbs or sustain irreparable from war damage that ruins their lives. Also, during the Iran-Iraq War, children were being brainwashed into believing that they were going to paradise after sacrificing their lives (Satrapi 89). The state decided to exploit the minds of the children in order to use them as pawns in their fight. War can result in children losing themselves and others around