Kyle Rich- Question Response Aug 15th, 10

Eli- I think that both characters in each story, know the stakes already. Mark should know with jail that people get moved around, transferred, or ever worse, killed, all the time. I don't think he expects the kids in his class to be permanent as there will always be some that come and go. And Marjane by now definitely knows the risks of life in Iran all around her. It seems as if almost everybody close to her either dies, or gets arrested under the Shah. I feel at one point she may not have known what was at stake, but slowly with each more death, she now knows that nothing around her is permanent. However, I feel like she does not feel her parents will go. I just feel like the story won't allow that to happen, because not only are her parents essential, but it would just make things too sad. When her parents were in jeopardy, she had not the slightest clue. In the beginning of the book, she tells how her mother was all over magazines and newspapers for protesting. Her mother had to change her identity and appearance, so nobody would recognize her and punish her for her opposition. However, Marjane just believes she is "famous" and basically changed her look so people wouldn't always approach her. If anything were to happen to her parents, i feel as if things would go horribly. With Marjane's attitude and lack of fear (and common sense sometimes), she would find out wherever her parent or parents were taken and try to break in or tear the whole establishment down. She would throw all caution to the wind and jeopardize herself in lieu of trying to save her mom or dad. I cannot imagine what it would be like to have somebody close to me that could just go any day. But when you think about it, that’s everybody. Anybody can get in a car accident or have a heart attack at a given point. Instead of focusing and worrying that anybody any day or anytime can just die, you have to think in the moment. Cherish those closest, spend time, and never try to leave on a bad note. You never know when your last moment with somebody is going to be. Nothing is promised.

With all the crazy changes Marjane has been forced to make, one would wonder if they are good or bad steps towards her development as a character and adult. To me, i think it is just all about how you look at things. You can always compare and contrast the negatives and positives of a situation, and weigh the differences. While her strict Islamic government has put her and her country through hell, there is always bad and good. Marjane's lack of freedom and lack of a right to a real childhood, is crippling. Especially for a woman in Iran. She describes her seemingly perfect life at the beginning, telling of just any day average problems. But eventually her biggest problem isn't "wanting a car", but it evolves to just trying to survive. It involves having to hide normal everyday things from the government, in fear of being prosecuted or beaten. Her opportunities become so limited as well. Eventually the borders close down and nobody is allowed to leave or enter without top priority permission. Colleges begin to close down as they aren't "fundamental to Islam" enough. Her education even now as a child is being limited. All the brainwashing from the government and all the time devoted to praying or beating themselves, is taking time out of learning and instead going towards praising a higher power that probably doesn't even exist. However, with all these restrictions and guidelines, she can shine out and grow up the hard way. With all these struggles, she knows what she wants to be when she grows up. She knows how and why she wants to help and make a difference. Without experiencing the bottom, she may have not found out her way of wanting to work towards the top. Without all this oppression, she may have just been fine living a content life as a business-woman or house maker. Without having her education being taken, she may have just sat back and took it for granted. But the fact it's being taken makes her want to fight hard. She can showcase how hungry she is for knowledge, and for that, she will try and do so much better. I have seen nothing but change the past two years. I hit my rock bottom. And i am so thankful i did. I now know where i never want to be again in life and how i am never going to let it happen again. Hitting the bottom means you can go nowhere but up, and for the rest of my life, i am going to do everything in my power to keep it that way.