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Persepolis (Identity (national and personal) (Marjane does not want to…
Persepolis
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Religion
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Character drawn in white, ghost-like, spirit-like. Has conversations with him. Gives her advice when in need.
Revolution:
Rise of Islamic traditions, mandatory restrictions imposed e.g. veils
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Forced
Execute people for not confirming, harshness and severity stops people believing
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Iranian Revolution
Rise of the Islamic Republic over the monarchy. Revolution of trying to spread Islam. Extremists. Affected many neighbouring countries, fear of its spread.
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Characterisation
Marjane's parents
Politically active and involved in demonstrations during the revolution. Very open, let Marjane attend. Want Marjane to have the best possible life and education. They send her to Vienna to get away from the regime.
Marjane
Follow her from childhood to adulthood when she returns to her parents. As a child, she is naive and trying to understand and help her parents. Experiences a lot during her life and observes things around her. Grows to become a woman and changes over time. Becomes expressive and aware. Begins to formulate her own opinions and becomes aware of the bias of others. Quite a sad character, as she struggles to fit in in Austria, and begins to feel alienated at home from the rest of society.
God
Friend who she seeks comfort from. Talks to him about her problems when she has nobody else to turn to. Helps her to get through some hard times throughout her childhood. God starts to appear less in the book as she becomes disenchanted by the Iranian Revolution and the enforced spread of Islam.
Uncle Anoosh
Trying to flee Iran to the USSR, but caught and supposedly 'executed' by the Shah. Anoosh returns to his family but is arrested again for being against the Shah. Sent to prison and then actually executed. Role model for Marjane. Fighting against the Shah, similar beliefs (hatred towards the Shah)
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Loneliness
Struggles to make friends and to fit in with people around her. She does not go on trips for winter break or do other things the same way people around her do.
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Namesake
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Characterisation
Gogol/Nikhil
Very rebellious and rude towards his parents, who just want the best for him. Does not know how to deal with his dual identity. Wants to fit in and form part of the majority in America. Wants to be like everyone else and tries to get away from his culture. Acknowledges how it is unique and special towards the end, and something he cannot escape.
Father
Involved in a train accident. This inspired him to move to teach as a professor at MIT because he survived. It inspired Gogol's name
Mother
Struggles to fit in and have a good relationship with her children. Goes on to organise big galleries and parties and meetings for the Bengali community in the US.
Maxine
Extremely beautiful, has a very nice life that he is amazed by. Likes the security of her family. They go on nice trips to New Hampshire in the summers etc. Amazed by the fact that her family have graves, something not accepted in Indian culture. He gravitates towards her American lifestyle and ideals.
Identity
Naming tradition
His grandmother was supposed to name him, but his name got lost in the mail, and so his parents decided to call him Gogol after his Dad (based on a short story by a Russian author). Thinks the book saved him from not dying in a train crash
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Indian heritage
Having been born in America, he is attracted to the American lifestyle and culture and struggles to fit in with his Indian family and roots.
Wants to live a normal independent life and escape from the constraints and restrictions of his family.
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Marries an Indian woman. Relationship ends badly but it brings him back to the family. This is exacerbated by the death of his father. He begins to accept his culture as a part of who he is.
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Love
Arranged
Traditional indian path.His parents have very defined gender roles. His mother does the housework and his father works. Lots of loyalty. For life.
Rebellion
Gogol's relationships are very intense. Tend to be very open sexually and outside of marriage, which is frowned upon in Indian culture.
Famial
His father's death changes his relationship with his family. He begins to come home a lot more and visit and connect to his roots. Though he struggles initially to follow suit, and has rebellious tendencies, he ultimately still cares for his family.
Death
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Grandmother's death led to a loss of identity as his name was not sent through. Contrast to his Dad's death, which achieved the opposite effect.
Graveyards and graves are not supported in Indian culture, and Maxine's family burial sites are a source of amazement for Gogol