Day 3: Chris

Michelle Response:

I feel that Marjane doesn't want to tell her parents what she wants to be, because she fears being judge. Earlier in the book she was confident with her choice to be the last prophet, but the minute it was mentioned to her class she instantly became the disturbed girl. Marjane's class laughed at her and her teacher decided to have a conference with her parents. Although Marjane doesn't know her parents see nothing wrong with her choice, but that feeling of fear is still there. I too was in the same position as a child, since my parents thought they knew what I wanted to do with life. I hid my goals of wanting to own an clothing boutique since they always had something to say about how I owned too many pairs of shoes and articles of clothing. I didn't want to disappoint my parents with my decision the same way Marjane doesn't want to disappoint her parents. Instead of the truth me and Marjane both try to impress our parents with a career path no one could complain about. She choose doctor I choose an apprentice to become an operating engineer. I think we both wanted to be spared of the long conversations of how that isn't the right decision and how we should reconsider. I believe me and Marjane both have a strong dream and don't want anyone or anything to deter us from it. As I continue reading I hope Marjane stays strong willed with her hopes to become prophet as it motivates me to continue believing in my dream, as I'm sure it will to any reader of the book.

George Response:

The main thing blocking the "clouds" in "The Complete Persepolius" is of course the Islamic Revolution going on. The people during this time seem to see only hatred for one another and only wish to place judgment on each other without taking the time to see how it affects the person. They don't see that the revolution is affecting them all equally; instead they all wish to push their different ideas of what's right and wrong onto one another. I think this holds true to modern day society as well, since people today still force their beliefs on one another. Until that one lucky day comes I think this habit will always somewhat block people from the "clouds." People today and people back then never looked at the bigger picture of how much violence and destruction something as simple as an opinion could bring. Millions of people died during the Islamic Revolution for just protesting and expressing what they felt could better themselves as a society. I feel this is a way of some people refusing to see the "clouds" I think myself use to refuse to see them as well and those "clouds" to me were education. I use to take school as a joke and never really thought it was that important and that I didn't need it to succeed, but as I got older I think my vision got clearer, because I eventually saw those "clouds" and now getting an education is one of the most important things in my life. Maybe soon more people will begin to see the "clouds" and society together as a team can work to build a better future for us and those around us. I really hope this moment comes by sooner than later, because I think we all need to see those "clouds"