Read the text below and then answer two questions.
First, how is this true in Persepolis? Be specific.
Second, what questions does our society prefer we not think about? (What questions are we not supposed to think about/ask?)
On Education:
“The purpose of education, finally, is to create in a person the ability to look at the world for himself, to make his own decisions, to say to himself this is black or this is white, to decide for himself whether there is a God in heaven or not. To ask questions of the universe, and then learn to live with those questions, is the way he achieves his own identity. But no society is really anxious to have that kind of person around. What societies really, ideally want, is a citizenry which will simply obey the rules of society.”
-James Baldwin, American, 1924-1987
QUESTION:
Baldwin states that “to ask questions” is the means by which one “achieves his [or her] own identity”, but yet society is not “anxious to have that kind of person around” who does ask questions. What is so dangerous about the question?
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In Persepolis, Marjane is sent to school, and like all children, she is encouraged to learn and grow as a student. However in her quest for knowledge, Marjane comes across views that contradict the Shah's, and the school's. All of a sudden Marjane is told not to ask certain questions, and not to think certain things. Here she comes to realize the problems she is creating for society by forming new opinions. Rather than accepting her teachers lessons on how she should behave, Marjane speaks up. She is now far from being the obedient, ideal citizen of Iran she started out as.
Although we do not live in Iran, and we have certain rights that protect our individual opinions, there still exists an ideal citizen. Those of us who rally, and protest, those of us who swim against the current and try to make a difference, disrupt the flow of society. These people don't fit the mold, and though they aren't thrown in jail with the disobedients of Persepolis, the rebels are not what society wants as a result of education. We are supposed to agree with our fairly elected president, because society discourages a fuss.
In Persepolois, Marjane is not just a little girl, she is a weapon, a time bomb. School for her suppressive government is not a means of educating her but of diffusing her. Enter the wrong or too much information into her brain and and she could explode in revolt. It is for this reason that she discouraged from asking questions, at least the wrong questions of her teachers. Her government is threatened by her trying to seek an education through a school that was not meant to educate her.
Questions are not discouraged in our society, in some cases they are even encouraged. This blog is an example of the way we are encouraged to question even the systems that are encouraging us.
At Marjane’s school in Iran she has all of the tools to due well in her studies. As her schooling goes on she becomes more and more aware of the politics and currents events that are happening all around her. Marjane develops her own view on them and realizes that they are discouraged because they go against the government. When she voices her opinions at school she is instructed not to ask certain questions of think certain things. Marjane’s society encourages the pursuit of knowledge as long as it goes along with the Shah’s views.
Questions are encouraged by our society. It gives the government a way to see how others are thinking and improve.
In Marjane's society women were not supposed to be individuals. They were supposed to be the wives of their husbands, and the followers of their leaders words. When Marjane begins to question this system, she is really just walking down the path all humans do at some point, the path to becoming an individual. The problem is, thats not what society wanted. Even her own parents rejected her requests for individuality, although their reasons were not as selfish. But the only reason Marjane's parents had to reject her questions was because the country brutally killed anyone that questioned their system.
Our country's Constitution was built on themes almost contradictory to that sense of thought. In our society, if enough people question the methods of the government, they can have those methods changed. In this kind of environment one can ask infinite amounts of questions, and become the individual they desire to become. But even in our society, becoming too much of an individual is frowned upon, and those who have become too individual, too different, and have gained too much information from all of their question asking, are shunned as they are in Marjane's situation, although less so.
In Persepolis the purpose of education is not to give people their own opinions, but the same. When Marjane begins to ask questions and speak her mind the teachers punish her and tell her what they want her to think. Instead of encouraging students to form their own opinions, teachers tell the students what they are expected to believe.
Our society is very different from the society of Persepolis. In Persepolis individual onions are not respected and speaking your opinion is discouraged. In our society we are encouraged to ask questions and fight for what we believe in.
In Persepolis, Marjane has to go to an Iranian school where the teachers teach only inside the box. Although most students in the school accept what is being taught, Marjane is questioning and losing belief in what they are teaching. Even though she wants to share her opinion, her questions are shut down by the teachers.
Now, in America, we are encouraged to speak our mind about whatever we have to say. Instead of rejecting students opinions, teachers want students to share their opinions in the classroom.
In Persepolis, Marjane goes to school as a student. she is very curious and ask many questions. These questions go against authority or the government. She is told that she cannot ask these questions but she disobeys her teachers and acts on her own free will. This is dangerous becasue by asking these questions she could provoke others to ask question as well.
Most questions are encouraged to be asked. Most teachers say there is no such thing as a bad question
Marjane goes to school, like most people, and her teachers want her to learn, but once she starts to form her own opinions she becomes a threat to the stability of the government, and her teachers try to get her to conform to the ideas the government wants everyone to have. Although she gets in trouble for doing this, it also helps her understand more about the world and her country, and she becomes more informed than the other children her age.
In America we have many rights that allow us to speak our minds, but even though we have those rights the government still doesn't want people going against what it does. Our government isn't as harsh to people who go against the government, but they prefer if people agree with what they say, because it is a lot harder to govern a country if the people in it don't approve of what the government is doing.
In Persepolis, Marjane starts to grow up in a pretty open and liberal school. It focuses more on educating individuals than putting one or more of the same ideas into many minds. Then everything changes and she is growing up in a narrow-minded school where people who ask questions that go against the social order are not welcome and could be considered a threat to the society. They do not want her asking questions and figuring out for herself what she believes. Which as Marjane grows older does not fall into what The Islamic Regime wants her to believe.
Our country was built on free thought and being able to decide for yourself what you wanted to think. Although now in our society some questions for example, that criticize capitalism, or the way that government officials are elected, or why wars happen and if they are a cover- up for power in that invaded country, are definitely frowned upon. The measures taken against these questions are more under wraps then in 1970-80’s Iran. In our society we can think anything we want and vocalize it to a certain extent, but if it doesn’t follow the guidelines of a capitalistic democratic nation then we are forced to confine it to ourselves.
In the novel Persepolis, the reader meets a young Iranian girl named Marjane. At first, Marjane goes to school as a typical student. She listens to the teacher intently and does not question anything she is told. Although Marjane's parents are free-thinkers; her school, which is strongly influenced by the deteriorating government, is not molding her to be a independent and intelligent individual but an intimidated second-class citizen. As she grows older and more mature, she pays greater attention to her surroundings and realizes that she must ask questions that go against the government if she wants to know the truth. By the end of Persepolis, we the readers are left with a different Marjane. This Marjane is not an "ideal" citizen because she refuses to be silenced and ignored by anyone.
In our society, though it is not perfect, most of the time we are encouraged to ask questions and to enrich our lives with as much knowledge as possible. The freedom of speech is the catalyst of scholarship in our society. Of course there are certain "hush-hush" topics that lead to protests, marches, and debates. It can be agreed that they might cause a disturbance but even the people who are very active in those things don't qualify as "bad" citizens. Overall one should say that in our society questions are not only encouraged but necessary.
In Persepolis, Marjane attends school like a normal child in aspiration to have a good education and live a good life. As she ventures through her quest for knowledge however, she realizes she cannot wonder about certain things and she cannot ask certain questions. She comes across comments and opinions that stir up trouble and she is warned not to ask questions about the ongoing issues because she is contradicting her governments’ philosophy. When Marjane recognizes her actions have consequences and she doesn’t understand why they do, she acts out against her teachers and parents trying to comprehend the significance of what is going on. She doesn’t understand that she isn’t allowed to learn things that contradict the views of the Shah’s, or voice her opinion, but only allowed to learn what they want her too. Marjane’s disobedience to her government makes her far from a model citizen, but Marjane is only trying to figure out the confusing puzzle she lives in, which she is not allowed to solve.
There are not specific questions our society doesn’t want us to ask as in Iran; however there still are the rebels against the government. Those who protest and rally against certain bills and laws are not as brutally charged here as those in Iran however are still the “unwanted” citizens who go against the system. Our government wants the education of its people on the ongoing issues, but those who make it more difficult don’t fit the ideal citizen profile. In our Society unlike in Iran at the time, we are encouraged to voice our opinions but in a rational matter.
In Persepolis, Marjane has a hard time keeping her thoughts and questions to herself about various things in her life that may or may not be against her government. With all of the learning going on in her life, she thinks why not be able to ask these things and why are they so bad. When she does this she steps out of the mold that the government has created for her. The government that she is controlled by doesn't want anyone to step outside of this mold because it will create a disturbance in their system and way of life that they follow.
Questions and wandering thoughts about things, in our society, is very much encouraged. This allows for improvements and changes to the way that we live our lives and maintain our freedom.
In Persepolis, Marjane Satrapi is sent to a school in Iran, during the Islamic Revolution. Marjane, is a regular student, expected to exceed and grow in her studies. Although, during this time, school teaching styles change as events in the Revolution change, causing students to wonder and ask questions. Marjane comes across many questions focusing on the contradictions toward the Shah's and the schools. During the course of the book, Marjane is told repeatedly not to ask many of the questions, causing Marjane to have a mind of her own, not focusing on what everyone else is involved in but being more independent.
In our society, questions are not discouraged but encouraged. When asking more questions we gain more knowledge about what's going on where we're living as well as what is happening in other parts of the world. We are encouraged to fight for what we believe in and with that questions must be asked. Knowledge is power, and in our society power is what we strive for.
In Persepolis, Marjane Satrapi is a little girl with big ideas. While she is educated on what is going on in the world, mainly by her parents, she is often forced to downplay the opinions she forms in public. In a strict society like Iran, it is dangerous to disagree with authority. The government is terrified that if too many people actually form their own opinions, they will eventually realize that they have the power to band together and rebel. It is much easier and safer for the government to tell the public that they are incorrect for believing the things that they do, rather than risk being overthrown. Marjane's parents are adamant believers in Baldwin's theory of forming one's identity through asking questions, and encourage Marjane to do so, privately.
Although vastly different from the circumstances in Iran, we too are discouraged from asking certain, though not specific, questions. The main difference, however, where this pressure is coming from. In Marjane's life, the government is the group who is stopping her from achieving her own identity. In America, these pressures mostly come from smaller groups. Families, neighbors and friends with conflicting views and ideas may influence someone impressionable like Marjane to change or hide his/her opinions. Even though these groups are less powerful, they can be equally as influential and can stunt the growth of an individual.
In Persepolis, the little girl, is at first encouraged by her parents to learn and ask questions, specifically of the government. Yet when she asks questions to do with God or being a prophet she is told to hush or to stop being blasphemous. Another time she was people didn't want her to have her own personality is when she got the Nike's and the denim jacket and was apprehended for being to western.
Any question we aren't supposed to ask i have been not asking or thinking about for long enough that i cant think of it.
This quote is true in Persepolis because often you see Marjane getting in trouble for voicing her opinions however, these opinions would not have gotten her punished in the old government. Often when change in power occurs, old ways of thinking are looked down upon and are not allowed in society. This includes the school system because everything that involves human interaction follows rules set by the authority figures in ones life. So when power changes or there are new opinions, the rules of life in a society are affected and often change quietly. This means that a school may try to act no different than before, but the inner-workings have completely changed, only allowing certain opinions.
Every person in the the Untied States has certain rights, including the right of privacy and freedom of speech. Although we as American citizens will not be thrown in jail for voicing our opinions, often people face social ridicule and are avoided in most situations for preaching what they believe in. Which is why many educators, parents, and/or role models help teach the younger generation how to "pick their battles". This is because human interactions tend to go more smooth when people are not trying to force their opinions onto the other. So although you are allowed to say anything your heart desires, it is often encouraged to look at each situation and choose what to do with your power of speech. Either for you to remain silent or speak out.
In Persepolis, the main character Marjane learns that by asking questions in her school is not appropriate during the time period of the Islamic Revolution. She keeps asking questions because she is aware of the events that are going on around her and wants them to be answered correctly. Her school does not give her the answers she is looking for, due to the Shah's and school's rules, and she is told it is disrespectful. Since her parent's are very open to the situation in Iran, Marjane feels like she has the right to talk about it in class and ask those forbidden questions. Her role as an Iranian citizen hasn't taken on the task as her school would like her to be.
In our society, we learn in school and by others that questions are important and okay to ask. Depending where you are there are times when questions are appropriate to ask, and there are other times when certain questions should be asked privately. Our country is much different than where Persepolis takes place because we are free to speak our minds, rather than getting shut down like Marjane did.
1.) This quotation really catches the essence of the scene that Marjane is trying to set for us in the, then conservative, country of Iran. In Persepolis, to be liberal within a public setting was a crime strongly persecuted against. This is at least what occurred after the start of the Iranian Revolution, which turned the semi-liberal Iranian nation into a highly conservative nation on the brink of civil war. The Iranian Government was looking for a Utopian society full of the perfect citizens. With freedom of speech and rebel-questioners being out and about as an influence to other citizens, there was bound to be chaos and conflicting groups of "thinkers". In Persepolis, free thinkers and questioners were not part of their Utopian plan of transforming the country, so those who stepped over the thin line of liberal questioning and thinking were persecuted. With the rebels locked up in a jail house, the government locked out with them any doubt of the new conservative ways that they were instilling in their citizens.
2.) In America we are citizens of "the land of the free", but why do we still have barriers regarding the questions that we choose to ask? There are some questions such as ones that might cause a new way of thought or more liberal thinking. It isn't by any-means forbidden to ask questions that stir up a confrontational idea but it is look down upon by certain groups of conservatives.
In Persepolis, Like MOST kids Marjane was sent to school and wasz encouraged to learn as many things as they can. But, during her school year, she was losing intrest in what was being taught. So when she asked questions or share her thoughts the teachers would punish her. She really didnt have any decisions to make for herself, it was as if they were already decided for her.
Now in America we are able to speak our minds and fight for whatever it is that we believe in without being punished for it.
~Jelisa~
In Persepolis, Marjane like any other child in Iran is sent to school. At first school for Marjane isn't too bad, but then the Shah's rules set in and everything changes. Then in school they were taught to only believe what they were told and not to keep their own opinions. Everything that was being drilled into Marjane's brain built her up with anger until she exploded which made her turn and speak out against her teachers. When she asked questions that came from her beliefs and opinions her teachers just punish her with, whatever you say is wrong and whatever we say is right.
Our society is pretty open to what the people think. All questions can be asked and will be answered fairly and in the most case truthfully. You also aren't punished for having your own thoughts on life. In most cases we are encouraged to ask questions. In our society we have freedom of speech which gives us the right to speak out.
Neha Narula
The Islamic revolution occurred because people were disregarding the rules of society and thinking for themselves. They revolted against the government, which in their opinion wasn’t religious enough. Similarly, Marji, though young and naïve at times, is unique because she questions things even though society doesn’t want her to. While education is supposed to encourage people to think independently, her teacher gets mad at her when she does. The schools are telling people what is right and what is wrong rather than giving the students the skills that they need to decide for themselves. It’s interesting that a society that believes in education, which encourages you to learn and question things, is also the same society that restricts you. Marji also questions the social class system. At first, she doesn’t understand why her father doesn’t approve of Mehri, her maid, and their neighbor’s love. He explains to her that their love “is impossible because in this country you must stay within your own social class”(pg 37). Though her father is fairly open-minded, even he doesn’t question the importance society puts on social class. However Marji immediately wants to go protest against society’s unfair system. People aren’t even allowed freedom of speech when they are going against what society says is right and are promoting their own views. When Marji protests on “Black Friday,” many people are killed while they are trying to voice their opinion. Marji notices, “ it was our own had attacked us”(pg 39) because society doesn’t want them to protest because it would encourage more independence in their thinking.
Compared to the society of Iran in the 1970s, our society is very encouraging and asks us to form our own opinions based on our own morals and beliefs. However, we are often influenced by society in the form of the media, our peers, and the pressure to fit in. Because of this, those of us who are brave enough to voice their opinions regardless of who is listening are the ones who truly leave an impact.
Like most people, Marjane attends school and is given the resources she needs to succeed from both her school and her home environment. With these resources, she is able to learn about the events occuring in the world and form her own opinions about these events as well as ones that had occurred in the past. While being informed and having an opinion is welcomed and enforced in Marjane's society, only a certain opinion is embraced and for that matter tolerated. Marjane is given the opportunity to look at the world for herself, decide what's black and what's white and to make her own decisions, but at the expense of her and her family's social acceptance and more extremely, their lives. An opinion outside of the Shah's is not accepted and is considered a threat to the govermental and religious function of Iran. This is why Marjane's curiosity, questioning and skeptisism is not welcome. She is free to have her own identity as long as it conforms to that of the Shah's.
Now, questions are encouraged to be asked and individuality is embraced. This is especially true now with the issues the nation has had to face. I believe that there will always be "taboo" topics in society and therefore will always be questions that people, and maybe even the government, may prefer that others do not ask, however I don't think that that will cause people to not ask them.
According to James Baldwin, the ideal citizen is a person that obeys the rules of society. In Persepolis, as the government changes after the Islamic Revolution, the education Marjane receives at her school becomes more and more controlling. The government is concerned that people will go against the authority if they are independent. Children in Marjane’s generation are being taught to follow the rules of society to ensure that they won’t be liberal citizens when they grow up. The freedoms that Marjane first enjoys at school are taken away, including western studies and ideals. When Marjane starts to question and form her own opinions that go against the government, she begins to head down the road of independence, which leads to a punishment in school. Although Marjane’s parents are free thinking people, they are forced to keep their opinions to themselves as well. Marjane’s parents want Marjane to grow up to be independent, so she ends up attending a French school in Vienna where she can think freely and be safe.
In our society, independent thinking is definitely encouraged compared to Marjane’s society in Iran. Our democracy works because the opinions of the people can be expressed freely and it is okay to disagree with the government. Although we have freedom of speech, as citizens, we are expected to express our opinions within the law. We still have an opportunity to protest and question our authority, but there are limitations.
In Persepolis, Marjane is sent to school as most children are, expected to learn and further her education. During this time, the education styles in Iran change due to the political uproar, causing Marjane to be confused and ask questions. Many of her questions contradict the Shah's teaching, causing her questions to be denied and for her to be scolded. Marjane realizes that she is not supposed to have an opinion that goes against the Shah's, causing her to be disobedient.
Even though we live in a country far from the strict policies of Iran, our society still does have an image of an "ideal citizen". We are allowed to disagree with our government, but protesting and rallying, if destructive and violent, is illegal considered unpatriotic.
In Iran the purpose of education was reduced to teaching people to follow and obey the rules, and not to question the authority. Each person is supposed to fulfill a specific role. When Marjane asks questions she brings trouble to her family, showing disagreement with the rules. The government specified the rules, people to obeyed the laws and did not ask questions. Therefore, the society wanted complete obedience to rule and control its citizens.
Leaders in our society prefer us not to think about some decisions of the administration. Many of such decisions led to increased control over the world. For example, previous administration preferred not to explain the reasons for the Iraq invasion. Also, we are supposed to accept new policies that invade privacy of regular citizens. Even though we have freedom we are to follow government plans and policies.
In Persepolis, the Iranian Revolution takes place and affects the young mind of Marjane. As a young student she is much older then her years in her questioning of authority. Her beliefs are much stronger then those in power who dictate what her behavior should be like. Strong willed, she sticks to her opinions and therefore stands out.
Our society encourages questions and freedom of thought but,wee taught to respect the religious beliefs of others and not question them about their beliefs.
Questions are important because some who search for answers may need them. In Persepolis, secrets couldn't be kept because it was a dark time for Iran. It was a time of war and rebellion. Marjane is a girl who was influenced by this war and changed. She turned from an obedient to a disobedient girl in her search for truth. Her family's lives were endangered in the fight and she became reckless out of fear for their safety by doing things that she believed that would help them all.
In American society, we aren't supposed to think about segregation which is right because we are all the same despite our religion or looks.
Baldwin's quotation implies that questions are dangerous to society because they give the mind freedom to stray from the persuasion of society. In Persepolis, one would have to conceal their thoughts if they were different than the ideas that had been implanted in their heads by the Iranian government. It was important to conceal any ideas that opposed what they were taught because expressing these opinions came with consequence. For example, Marji didn't see the advantages of wearing the head scarf, so when she showed a few strands of hair she was penalized by the Guardians of the Revolution because Marji's opinions were different than her government's. In our society, although in theory we are encouraged to express our individuality, there are also some controversial topics. It differs from religion, culture and environment, however in our society almost all cultures believe that sexual content and drug abuse are taboo topics that showed only be talked about in the proper manner. As we become older and mature more, certain topics become more acceptable to be expressed. The society we live in gives much more opportunity for freedom of thought than the society in Persepolis.
This is True in Persepolis because the little girl in the book Marjane likes to ask questions about what is going on at the time. She is trying to achieve her identity by finding out true information on her country and what is happening so she can better understand the reasoning of the position she is currently in. People like Marjanes school teachers and even people on the streets who are opposed to Marjanes rebellious acts, which she only does because she struggles to find her identity, only oppose her questions because they are scared she will gain knowledge and then truly find her identity and fight for it. She will also become more powerful and oppose the law they know.
In our society, although it is not as strict as Iran, we are not supposed to think about the way society is organized or governed. Also how we are not supposed to think about the reasoning for the laws and the reason we have to obey them.
In Persepolis, there are many different views on society, and our World as a whole. What Marjane is learning in school is only one groups opinion, and is contradicted by her family, friends, and people around her. She is confused by many of these opposite "facts" being thrown at her, but when she questions any aspect of it, it is considered dangerous. The Shah is trying to restore order in Iran, but if the new generation is able to learn to think and act for themselves, he will not be able to keep his throne, and remain in power. The government tries to keep the people obeying the rules, rather than thinking for themselves.
Although we have freedom of speech and opinion, we are still highly discouraged from asking about how justified the Constitution really is. All of our nation's laws are based around our constitution, which is assumed to be the right thing. What if our constitution isn't a well built one? Is our society corrupt? We all are taught to assume that our views and ideals are correct, and what justifies them is our constitution.
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