Reading Question

Do a character sketch of one of the characters in Persepolis. This should include the character's name, age (or ages as the book progresses), gender, appearance, personality, and importance to the plot of the book.

Uncle Anoosh is the brother of Ebi, Marjane's dad, and a big influence on Marjane. He lived in Russia and had had once had a family there before the book started. He is a very kind and soft spoken man when he is around Marjane, and she looks up to him a lot. During the first half of the book he is accused of being a spy and is later executed because of it. This influences the plot a lot because it makes Marjane doubt herself and her belief in God for a while.

Reading Question

Explain the differences between Marjane's personality before she left Iran and when she returned after being in Austria. Why do you think she changed so much? Use specific examples from the book to support your claims. 

I believe that Marjane was a rebellious teenager before she left Iran. She spoke back, wanted to do and wear what she wanted, and even hit her principal getting her expelled from school. She ended up being sent to Australia by her parents because they believed it was one of the only ways to assure her well being. After she had returned from Australia, she was even more shocked my the state of the country. She was so used to some of the liberties Australia had to offer that when they were not available for people in her own country she was horrified. She realized more than ever that the religious groups that were running Iran at that point were disallowing many things she thought were important for every person to have.      

Reading Question

Why is Marjane's relationship with her uncle so important to her?

From what I have read so far, I believe that her uncle was a major inspirational figure to her and that she felt grounded with him around. He helped her to understand her family, the revolution, and anything else she wanted to know. That is why I believe when he died she felt lost and alone, because she felt uprooted and ungrounded now that her uncle wasn't around. She also seemed to lose her faith in religion after his death which may have been because she was thinking that her religion wouldn't allow for her uncle to be killed. This drives a wedge between her and God for what seems to be a long time.