Kyle Rich- Reading Response

Hafizah- In Persepolis, the protagonist, starts off telling a tale of living in Iran. She starts off on page three by explaining her class picture and how they are not distinct, because the girl's have to wear veils over their faces. And then on the next page, she briefly describes how at one time things weren't like this by showing all of the new laws that went into effect as soon as the Islamic revolution happened. Sadly, you don't get to hear much more of how things were as an insider, and suddenly you see the harshness of how things are to her now. Right from the first two pages, she already is an outsider in a world she was comfortable and familiar with. This is a dynamic that is presented the instant the story begins. I have definitly in my lifetime felt like an outsider. To use a recent example, my three roomates are all either majoring in music or play an instrument. And i felt a little left out as i watched them jam together in the living room, wishing i could join. But the thing about me is although i may be an outsider, if i'm intrested i try to project myself into it. I sat around their circle and talked to them about playing, and i just messed around on a few chords and just tapped my feet. So although it was from an outsider's perspective, i made myself as comfortable on the inside as possible. Even being at home and hanging out with my close friends, I’ve always felt a little different in the activities and the way they think. I almost already feel like an insider here at Columbia, being surrounded by kids who use creativity to shape their lives and passions. It may be too early to tell, but I already feel right at home.


Izzy- Satrapi's character in Persepolis definitly is shaped and influenced by her family, her surroundings, and authority. Her character is one who wants to be a prophet. It never quite explains how she got the idea in her head and imagines talking to God, but to me i believe she wants to do nothing but help people and fix turmoil. For example on pages six and seven she explains what "commandments" she would enact. She tells how she thinks it's unfair that their maid does not eat meals with them. Or how her grandmother is sick and has knee problems. The few commandments showed aren't ones for humanity to follow, but however just to fix the problems in her life. And from all the negative that is surrounding her life, she finds positivity in it by realizing what she wants to do on this earth and what she wants to fix. Her title in the story isn't only the narrator, but the protagonist as well. On page seventeen, she expresses to her parents how she wants to participate in protest demonstrations to help the cause. Obviosuly, her parents say no. It makes me think that her parents are also kind of sheilding and sugar-coating all that is going on in their country. I find this dangerous, because a little girl thinks nothing of the danger and doesn't realize all the protestors being killed and beaten, and doesn't realize that could easily happen to her as well. However, she doesn't consider it, all she wants to do is simply help. I can relate to this. For example, being in middle school i never had political views of any sort. But once high school hit and people started to be more vocal, i almost rebelled against it. I grew up in a very conservative city, and i did not agree in the slightest sense and of their values. It instead saw me to look at the other side of the spectrum, and i finally saw where i fit in. I believe this helped and shaped me greatly, because many kids my age don't know or care whats going on in the world yet, and i find it helpful to be one step ahead. Also growing up and hanging out with shallow and closed minded people, it showed me how much i did not want to be "normal." First it just started off by refusing to watch MTV, or listen to stupid songs on the radio. But now it has gotten more elaborate and made me realize that i could never work an office job. I want to use my creativity and passion in writings to shape and support the rest of my life. I feel if i never made this discovery, i would not be sitting right here in Chicago typing this essay.