I apologize to Ebi, Marjane’s father, but I strongly disagree with him. To say that politics and sentiment don't mix is like suggesting that humankind is completely devoid of emotion. It’s impossible to run a country without any kind of passion. Mostly (with exceptions, of course), humans make decisions based off of self-interest, and self-interest is motivated by emotions.
In this specific instance in Persepolis, the Shah of Iran stepped down from his throne and the King of Egypt accepted the former Shah into the country. Marji suggested that his acceptance was possibly because of the Shah’s first wife, who was Egyptian, in which her father says “surely not! Politics and Sentiment don’t mix.” However, many political marriages were arranged to strengthen ties or alliances in countries. If Ebi were to say that on September 20, 2001, the day the United States declared war on “terrorism,” I’m sure he would encounter a very different response.
Not only do I disagree with Ebi, but I believe that our little protagonist does as well. At the time, Satrapi seems to kind of brush her father’s words off of her shoulders. I don’t think she seriously dwells on his words right after they are said. Yet as the book (and her life) continue, Marji seems to find fault in Ebi’s statement. In fact, when the family returns from their trip to Madrid, Spain, they meet with Marjane’s grandmother. The old woman explains to the family that there was official announcement of the Iraq invasion just two days prior to their arrival. Marji writes, “My blood was boiling… I wanted to fight.” By this time, Marji may not audibly or narratively recognize it, but she realizes that her father was wrong and emotions may blend with politics.
Though I have a feeling that Marjane’s grandmother thought sentiment and government cannot be separated, she did her best to keep it divided in her own life. Grandma’s husband, who was the former prince of Iran, was tossed aside by his country when the Shah took the throne. Her grandmother and their children were immediately thrown into poverty, but while she was telling Marji the story, she had a peaceful demeanor. At the end of the novel, she told Marjane when she meets people that hurt her she should blame it on their stupidity to prevent responding to their unkindness, “Because there is nothing worse than bitterness and vengeance.”
Marjane's mother, Taji, is harder to pinpoint. Her whole character in the book just tries to do anything and everything that is right or will benefit her family.
Should politics and sentiment mix? I don’t think so. Does it happen regardless? Indefinitely.
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Dianne you reaffirmed my opinions of Grandmother Satrapi. Despite her very personal involvement with politics via her husband and son(s), she manages to separate them emotionally in her own life. I especially liked in the scene after the party when she is faced with a potentially life threatening situation in which she must dispose of the alcohol, she very coolly brushed off the severity of the situation and went on with the task at hand. She is definitely the strength of her family here. She reassures her son telling him not to worry she was always hiding his father’s pamphlets, and she quick wittedly tells the young patrol man she has to take her diabetes medicine (thus effectively combining sentiment and politics to her advantage). I think it is interesting that you take the more scientific stance when you conclude that politics and sentiment shouldn’t mix. I know its sentimental tack crap, but it reminds me of a quote from the romantic comedy You’ve Got Mail: “Its not personal its business. What’s that supposed to mean anyway? I mean whatever anything should be it should begin by being personal.” But I do understand where you’re coming from. We shouldn’t allow personal bias get in the way of moral choices. My! what sticky subjects emotions and ethics really are.
ReplyDeleteI could not agree more. To say that human emotion has no place in politics is ridiculous...when humans are involved, their sentiments will be as well (be it joy, satisfaction, despair or even outright anger). This is an inevitability...entirely unavoidable.
ReplyDeleteIn my reading of "Persepolis," I found a copious amount of feminist undertones. Would you agree? I only point this out because you did not address whether or not you believe that Ebi may have made this statement to Marji out of ignorance. Some (Descartes, in particular) argue that men, by nature, are less victim of their emotions than women. This is definitely a generalization...and certainly not always true..but I definitely think it holds water in this instance. Do you? Does Ebi say this because men can more easily discern between the two? Or is solely due to the fact that the lives of men in Iran at the time weren't as controlled as the women were? I mean...they were by no means free, but the men obviously had more liberties than the women.
You basically said what I was thinking… only with better references. Politics and sentiment shouldn’t be combined, they muddy up the water when emotion is involved, but you are right that it can not be avoided. Politics should have a very logical approach but they never will have a fully logical approach. It’s just the way of the world when we are involved; we are after all emotional creatures. I like your references the most I think. Not saying I didn’t like your point, but I liked the fact that you used references, of which silly me forgot to do. It made it very clear that you paid extreme attention to this book and what it was saying. For some reason I couldn’t remember certain points to save my life, no good. You have a clear grasp of the characters and their understanding. You especially seemed to grasp the grandmother. I was thinking the very same thing about her. She manages to keep her personal and political views apart for most the time. Maybe it’s her experiences, maybe her years, who knows, but I liked her. Either way, you did very well on this. Very precise. Keep up the good work.
ReplyDeleteYour blog mirrored my own in many ways, though much better constructed than mine (live and learn, I guess).
ReplyDeleteI agree that Marjane could not have possibly survived under the tyranny without the support and love of her family. It is, after all, the only true freedom left.