"The Complete Persepolis" Reading Response

The graphic novel “The Complete Persepolis” by Marjane Satrapi is an autobiography that tracks her life from the time she is a young girl to the time she is a grown, married adult. In the story she struggles with war, growing up, falling in love, and finding a way in life. The events, things, and people that surround Marjane change who she is and force her to grow up.

As a child Marjane is changed by the war surrounding her, it forces her to grow up. For example after her neighbors house was destroyed and she saw her friends wrist with her bracelet on covered in rubble “No scream in the world could have relived my suffering and my anger.” she says. This shows that she was heavily affected by what she saw, she was horrified. I think this is when it struck her that she was in a lot of danger. She is also forced to grow up when the war starts to get really bad. Marjane decides to smoke to prove she was a grown up. She says “With this first cigarette, I kiss childhood goodbye .” I think this shows that with all the things going on that she couldn’t control, Marjane wanted to be able to control the fact she was an adult and smoking was a choice she made. 

Overall Marjane has to deal with hard things and be exposed to hard things and she has no control over that.

"No Job? Get Lost!" response

Unemployment. A problem so many people around the world have to face. Without a steady job it’s almost impossible to make money. But, in one part of Norway unemployment isn’t a problem. The article “No Job? Get Lost!” from Upfront magizine talks about a town where not having a job isn’t allowed.

“If you don’t have a job, you can’t live here” Odd Olsen Ingero, the govenor states. But why? Not having a job doesn’t make you a bad person, or dangerous, it just makes you unemployed. In this town unemployment isn’t just frowned upon, it’s illegal! Police will deport anyone without a job. It’s simply unfair that you will be banned from living somewhere just because you don’t have a job. What if you got layed off, or fired? That’s not your fault. According to the article “Homelessness is also banned” which is also extremely unfair and upsetting. Since I live in New York I see homeless people everyday who are suffering . Not everyone can get a job, or even get an education. Being punished for that is just wrong.

Overall the article showed me that unemployment is a huge problem, and no one should be punished for that. Though that almost crime-free town in Norway may seem like a desirable place to live for some, I don’t think I will be moving there any time soon.