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Persepolis Marji Character Analysis

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Coming of Compassion
There is good in everyday because humans possess the heart, not the physiology of a chambered muscle, but an understanding of compassion to drive inexhaustible actions that lift people out of the chasms of gloom and recover from tragedies. Especially during obstacles in life, attitudes of cynicism, displeasure, and fear seem enticing, but a genuine human being, is an individual who can act with kindness. In Marjane Satrapi’s graphic novel Persepolis, Marji is a girl who grows up in an unstable society during the Iranian Revolution and quickly adopts feelings of resentment towards her circumstances, but does not fully mature until she learns compassion. Through Marji’s forgiveness of Ramin and her experience with a Guardian …show more content…

After a shopping trip, Marji feels “grown-up” for wandering alone, until a Guardian of the Revolution threatens to take her to the committee. Marji sobs through her dilemma, while her face transforms into one akin to a ghost, prompting the Guardian to “Miraculously let me [Marji] go” (Satrapi 134). Marji’s facial metamorphosis into a ghoulish figure is metaphoric of the Guardian’s changing perception of Marji from a rebellious girl, to someone who possesses a soul capable of complex emotion. Subsequently, the Guardian, upon catching sight of Marji’s soul, feels empathy and releases Marji to alleviate Marji’s suffering. The Guardian’s consistent, menacing, and disgruntled facial expression shows the ubiquitous nature of compassion, regardless of outer appearance. Ultimately, Marji learns that it is not independence, but grown-up actions of compassion, that define maturity.
Marji’s forgiveness of Ramin, and her experience with the Guardian’s gesture of sympathy all teach her that maturity is derived from positive actions, and she must contribute acts of kindness before she can become an adult. Throughout the novel, Marji observes adults participate in questionable actions in response to unfavorable circumstances before realizing the difference between getting older and coming-of-age. Those who experience the latter are admirable, and compassionate benefactors,

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