Day 5: Richard

Tatum's Response

Francisco is now in a state of mind where he is struggling to find out who he really is as a person. Knowing all the whereabouts of gang life out and inside juvenile hall can be very persuasive to a youth if they don't want to get hurt. In most cases the youth claim its a family someone that has your back. Do they have your back? Well this angel and devil feeling is really what sparks change in ones mind because they know better but they don't want to be the square or lone wolf out on the street or while in jail. See Francisco knows he can change his ways just because his writing says so but his writing doesn't mean anything to the higher ups. Francisco is just a kid who was brought around the wrong alley and when push comes to shove he sides with a local gang for respect and loyalty. That's the picture painted for him only because he didn't want to deal with bully problems or even facing two gangs at the same time. So which one would you choose? Gang One or Gang Two? Or maybe just maybe be able to survive on your own facing both gangs. Marjane in Persepolis has the same struggle; which one to side with. At this point she feels alone and wants to support this war with Iraq. Since things weren't going her way she felt like all she had was herself. Still in revolution its strange how her family doesn't support conformity but still use old methods of religion on the less fortunate, like their maid. I can't make my own analogy with an angel and devil but I struggle with the same issue sometimes I feel like I know whats right and I should stick to that than doing something else.

Kyle's Response

The inmates and Marjane struggle day to day about the ins and outs of life. The inmates that attend the writing class that Mark provides to these young men want out. Marjane is in between support or struggle, conformity within her own country. See if Marjane doesn't support the war she will be seen as a traitor and doesn't have pride for her country a revolutionary but if she supports she is a country supporter but wouldn't that make conforming with the new rules being forced on to there country. See we all are fighting wars mentally and physically with no sight on what could happen to another as long as we are happy with ourselves we could careless what happens to another. In this case the inmates side with there race or they will be dealt with by another race or their own race. Get down or lay down. Revolutionize or Conform. It's the way of the world it just depend on what you choose.