Persepolis: Politics and Sentiment

Throughout the novel the Marjane is faced with attempting to be herself yet forced into conformity. She battles with trying to grasp at a better understanding of who she is during a political strain. Politics and sentiment are intertwined as those around her stress individuality while the government stresses conformity. On page 75, her mother insists "If anyone asks you what you do during the day say you pray, you understand?” This is great example of how sentiment actually overpowers politics. Her family also compromises their safety by going against rules in order to allow Marjane to enjoy her youth. When her parents take the chance on pg 129 to bring back a few posters of Kim Wilde, they prove that their feelings towards politics are overpowered by their feelings of identity.
Despite her fathers' statement, Marjane's whole experience proved that in some cases politics and sentiment do actually mix. Each family member expressed some sentiment towards the war, the regime, and the violence. Marjane I feel reacted off of the sentiments expressed from her family. She reacted to comments made by her father and mother as well has discussions she had with her grandmother. It seemed necessary for Marjane to react emotionally than politically to what she experienced.