Pictures in Persepolis

One picture which stuck out to me, is on page 44 of the book. Marjane and her parents are talking to some of their neighbors. The husband says, "Look! a bullet almost hit my wife's cheek. Liberty is priceless." Marjane's mother says, "Oh!" Marjane is in the middle of the two couples, staring up at them. The reason why this picture struck me is probably psychological. To read the description of a smile is different from actually seeing a smile. And it really bothered me that both neighbors were smiling. Marjane and her parents were frowning, but the neighbors were smiling; meanwhile, the husband is happily pointing at a scar on his wife's cheek.



This is book is filled with a lot of sensitive issues, because it is about a country with politics so deeply intertwined with religion. It definitely makes me more curious to know what the Qu'ran actually says and just differences in how it is interpreted. The phrase "liberty is priceless" is usually so positive, but if it is found alongside a picture of a husband pointing to a scar on his wife...I dunno. And considering the context, found within a country that seems to be very sexist, it is certainly not something to smile about. In an American context the phrase, "liberty is priceless" might come up, but it is usually after a patriot has died for their country in order to honor them. Americans tend to value life, and it would be considered taboo for someone to go around lying about a loved one being grazed by a bullet in the name of freedom.



Another picture which really struck me was on page 142. It reads, "I saw a turquoise bracelet. It was Neda's. Her aunt had given it to her for her fourteenth birthday..." The picture depicts Marjane's mom pulling her away from a pile of rubble. Her mom is looking worriedly at her while she stares down at a bracelet amidst the rubble. Her eyes are a little big. To me, this is a heart-wrenching picture. The way that the author leaves a lot implied by the words forces the reader to depend on the pictures. The author never actually shows Neda. I was definitely left with a hollow feeling; I completely understand the picture of complete blackness four pictures later.

The very last picture in the novel also left me with a deeply sad feeling. Marjane has her hands and face pressed against a floor-to-ceiling window at the airport. She watches her father walking away carrying her mother. People outside are staring at them, while inside the airport life moves along; one can see the silhouette of a large line of people behind Marjane. Her father looks half-silhouette himself. Her mother is obviously dressed in black, but her face is white with large eye slits. She almosts looks dead, as though she has died of heartache. I assume she just is just passed out or collapsed out of sorrow. I think the feeling of movement in this picture is very significant. Interestingly enough, the author does not even need to show a plane flying off in the distance, just passers-by. One would actually think that after all the Iranians have been through at this point, to see a lone woman collapse is not such a spectacle. But maybe the author is trying to depict a sense of humanity that remains within the people despite all they have been through. Or maybe just curiosity and confusion from being constantly aware they could be attacked any moment.

Binx's Search

Despite his lack of "inclination to say much on the subject" of his search, Binx does say he has "not the authority...to speak of such matters in any way other than edifying." Then he goes on to say "it is not open to me even to be edifying...or do much of anything except plant a foot in the right place as the opportunity presents itself." With regards to the word "edification," he is specifically making reference to Kierkegaard. As discussed in class, Kierkegaard was the "father of existentialism." He believed that each individual is found in one of three spheres of existence: the aesthetic, the ethical, or the religious. I feel personally that even though Binx does ponder certain ethical and religious matters throughout the book, he never fully transitions from the aesthetic to the ethical sphere. It seems this is clarified when he adds the sarcastic comment: "...if indeed asskicking is properly distinguished from edification."

There is much ambiguity in the phrase "right place as the opportunity presents itself." What is "right" defined as? No specific system of ethics is implied here. Furthermore, what can be seen as opportunity to some might be misfortune to others. So I think the quick sarcastic comment that follows is actually very significant. He is juxtaposing the terms "asskicking" and "edification." Edification is defined as "a moral or spiritual uplifting." It is certainly a positive term, and in true Binx fashion the description of his search becomes an internal mockery. Perhaps it could be interpreted that he is kicking himself in the ass. I certainly feel the novel ends with Binx still lost and frustrated. The tone of the Epilogue, the fact that he loses another family member (Lonnie), with whom he shares a special connection is a continuation of the depressed tone held throughout the novel.

To return to the topic of the spheres of existence, I think it is also clarified that Binx has not reached that of religion, as he directly states that he "[shies] away from the subject of religion" and admits himself to be suspicious of the word "religion."

A few pages earlier, Binx tells Kate "There is only one thing I can do: listen to people, see how they stick themselves into the world, hand them along a ways in their dark journey and be handed along." This again evokes of tone of depression and despair. He says there is only one thing he can do, as if he has no choice, as if he finds himself trapped. He feels for everyone life is a "dark journey," that people are merely "handed along, and for good or selfish reasons." The latter is another ambiguous ethical statement. He does not seem to care to make the conscious effort toward good motivations. And again, one might ask: what is a "good" reason?