Marjane Satrapi's Character

Throughout Persepolis Marjane Satrapi is a fiercely independent character who is searching for the truth.  She can't find an ideology or worldview that seems to fit what she feels is right, so she is continually adopting and then abandoning them.  Her constant quest to find something she can believe in is what gives the story purpose.

I think Marjane's strong, independent character is primarily a result of her parents' influence.  She was an only child so she must have had her parents attention more than children who had siblings.  Her parents took politics very seriously, and they probably influenced her to think likewise.  She was also encouraged to read about religion, politics and social views.  These factors must have been at least part of what shaped her strong character.

You have an appointment with the Patrician...

I have decided to respond to the post above, having found it mildly interesting.

It is plain that young Marjane is looking for a worldview to adopt as her own, but I cannot see that she is particularly independent.  In point of fact, I would say that she is constantly following the views of others.  All through the story she constantly hears other people's worldviews and adopts them as her own.  For example, at school she is told that the king was chosen by God.  She believed this and repeated back to her parents.  I think that for most of the story Marjane is simply adopting the ideas and views of other people.

Hello again, Henry here.

I want to add something to my ideas from earlier.

I think that Marjane can hardly be blamed for accepting some of the ideas that she has been given.  She is only a child, after all, and that's what children do.  The truly unusual thing about her is how she keeps rejecting the ideologies she was given because of her experiences.  For instance, she loses her faith in God when her uncle Anoosh is executed.  Also, at the beginning of the story Marjane wants to believe that communism is good because her parents support it, but she is confused by the fact that her father drives a Cadillac and that they have a maid.  What is remarkable about Marjane is that she is willing to pursue the truth and do the right thing even when it is harmful to herself.