I couldn't help but chortle my amusement at the comedic abuse. I think this single panel is so hilarious just because the whole book is so tense. While Persepolis and its dark tone was really hard for me to read, this frame makes me laugh every time.
Persepolis just felt like a shroud of gloom dampening my spirits each time I opened the book. I know that there are people suffering and there is pain, and I can't ignore that, but isn't there hope, too?
Maybe I'm just a Disney-spoilt happy-ending idealist. Maybe the real world isn't the exciting place I'd like to make it out to be. Yet I think of one of my favorite quotes, one from The Chronicles of Narnia, about that:
"Suppose we have only dreamed, or made up, all those things - trees and grass and sun and moon and stars and Aslan himself....in that case, the made-up things seem a good deal more important than the real ones. Suppose this black pit of a kingdom of yours is the only world. Well, it strikes me as a pretty poor one....I’m going to stand by the play-world. I’m on Aslan’s side even if there isn’t any Aslan to lead it."
~C.S. Lewis, The Silver Chair
I truly believe that there is hope, that there will be a happy ending to all this, as Ms. Charlotte did: "Even so, come, Lord Jesus!"
Great blog, and yes I do agree that you are a Disney happy go lucky person. I also laughed at that frame.
ReplyDeleteWhile I agree on many points I have to say I disagree that there isn't any hope in Persepolis. Through all the trouble Iran goes through in this book many characters keep up their spirits and their hope. They stick together and are never shot down, no matter what the consequences may be.
ReplyDeleteOverall a really nice post, your writing is very elegant, nice job Mary!
ps- I LOVE Disney movies! (:
MARY!! First off, I love that you mentioned Disney (: and second, I totally agree that where there is darkness, there is also hope. I think through the whole book, Marjane was hopeful, even though she would go astray sometimes.
ReplyDeleteI also love that panel! It brings some humor to an otherwise dark book.