Marjane Satrapi's Persepolis: Character Analysis

War can leave many scars, mental and physical, but it can also have a unifying effect on a community. Whatever side one supports, there are many other people who agree. “My enemy's enemy is my friend,” is a proverb that is commonly used in wartime. It means that two people that don’t get along can work together against a similar enemy. It reminds people that there’s a bigger problem than an annoying neighbor and encourages communities to band together. Usually, they do. People see the bigger picture and disregard petty rivalries to comfort and support each other. However, this feeling of unity cannot happen if a person is physically isolated from other others in a time of distress. In the autobiographical book Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi, the main character, Marjane, lives through part of a war but is sent away for her safety before the war is over. Being apart caused her to feel isolated from people in Vienna and people at home, in Iran. War can only unite people if …show more content…
When she spoke to the therapists on page 271, she says that being in Vienna took a huge toll on her self-esteem and she was ashamed of what happened while she was away. These feelings were the root of her depression and were caused by being away. Had she stayed in Iran, she wouldn't have had the same opportunity for bad things to happen. Her parents would have been more involved in/knowledgeable about her life, which would have prevented many of Marji's problems. In the chapter, Skiing, Marji attributed her depression to her time in Vienna, saying that her past was catching up with her and her secrets weighed her down. Had she stayed, there would be no secrets to feel guilty about. She wouldn't have had to hide four years of her life from her parents because they would have been there. Her family could have supported her and been her rock, instead of