God the guide for Marjane
A big white cloth with white hair, white mustache and white face floating in the sky. Who’s that guy? “It was funny to see how much Marx and God looked like each other.”(Book Persepolis page 13) Yes, that is God who acts like a grandfather and sometimes a friend to Marjane. He never looks holy or untouchable like the god we have in our real life. A warm huge give by him is always on time when Marjane needs support or confused. Unknown by other people he exists in Marjane’s dream and mind.He guides her through every problem she meets and establish a view of the world for Marjane. Therefore, I think God is Marjane's guide in her daily life, as well as filling the hole in her family, such as grandpa and friend.
First, God acts like a grandfather and friend to Marjane who support her idea and having discussion with her. He is a very good listener better than Marjane’s parents. For example, Marjane’s family pays less attention on listening to Marjane’s idea and dream then their work, so Marjane needs God to support her and listen to her. Also when Marjane is sad or disappointed God will act like her grandfather and gives her a deep hug. For example, from page 53 “The only place I felt safe was in the arms of my friend”(Persepolis page 53) This tell us that Marjane treats God like friend, but actually this is not just the relationship between two friends. From the gentle hug and kindness eyes to Marjane, we can tell that he takes the place of Marjane’s grandpa who died years ago in the prison. Nonetheless, from page 8 we know that God has a big discussion with Marjane every night and God said she is the only and best choice choice for prophet which support her dreams. Because of the more western way to educated in Marjane’s family,it allowed Marjane to become free on thinking, action and wearings. However, it is really hard for Marjane to find a friend in her age group to talk about her dream and things about society, because Marjane is precocity and start to thinking and query about things around her. Therefore God is very important to Marjane, because he filled the hole of Marjane’s grandfather and friend and give her mentally support. He become the only person who can communicate with Marjane and bring her support and happiness.
Second, Gods become a guide to Marjane who gives her an idea of freedom and equality which affects her a lot in the future. For example, the braveness to speak out in a country which is feudalistic and superstition. I think that kind of ability is given by god, and we can know that from the quote below. It is really interesting that God looks like a white person which is different from people in Iran, and I think that it is writer’s hint about how Marjane think about Iran in a view of more western way. According to the book where gives a description about God:“It was funny to see how much Marx and God looked like each other. Though Marx’s hair is a bit curler.”From this quote we understand that God gives Marjane a more open view of the world; She accepts thinking from the western country, such as Marx. She never limited herself by what other told her what she always does is question what she knows and find out the truth by herself. We can know that from what Marjane does in her school, she always questions against teacher about what she thinks is not truth and justice.Also from page 33 show us how Marjane find out the biggest problem in Iran is the difference in social classes. This is not normal for a girl who is just six years old to discover the problem for her country.In my opinion, these kind of ability to inquirer the truth is inculcate by God who gives her a more western ways of thinking, such as communist: she thinks everybody should be equal.Therefore I think God is a guide to Marjane, he gives her a more western ways of thinking and the ability to seek for the truth.
To sum up, God plays a very important role in Marjane's life which guide her to a totally different life from others. Because of God Marjane become a girl who seek for truth and freedom which also push her away from her family and country. What is really interesting to talk about is How God appears in Marjane’s mind, by her experience in French school or the dream of being a prophet? We don’t know if is these influences God makes on Marjane which make her life really different to the normal kids in Iran good or not for her. Maybe only the writer knows the answer of this question.