Persepolis

The frames that I was drawn to the most were the middles and bottom ones on page 144. In this section she is questioning her teacher and backing up her argument with facts, and she shows an interest in learning instead of being lied to. These frames demonstrate just how important education is. This doesn’t just simply mean going to school and reciting what the teacher is saying. People should be knowledgeable and aware of what is going on in the world around them. Students should never be afraid to ask questions because this is the only way people are going to learn. If you walk around in a daze just doing what you are told, then you are always going to be ignorant. These particular frames speak to me because I cannot even begin to imagine a world where I am not encouraged to ask questions. Asking questions is what shows that people are thinking for themselves. Of course, in the context of the book, thinking for yourself is not considered a good thing. It is considered radical and can get you arrested, tortured, and executed.

However, being educated doesn’t only mean being aware of things. Educated people also know how to act in certain surroundings. It is clear in this situation that the main character does not see the importance is keeping her head down. Because she is still just a child, she is not aware of the consequences of her actions. Not only could she get herself killed, but she could also put the rest of her family in danger. Of course, like every other child, she is a product of her surroundings. Being raised by radical parents has is good and bad effects. The good is that she does know how to think for herself and she does not believe everything just because someone said so. Her parents taught her to question things and to think for herself. The bad side to this is that it could easily find herself in a deeper trouble than she can get herself out of.

While reading this book, I have come to realize just how ignorant of the world I am. My parents did not raise me to be politically active or even aware. We never discussed foreign affairs in my family while I was growing up. And since the events in this book took place before I was born, I honestly had no idea what had gone on in Iran, so I had no opinions to either confirm or deny. I can‘t even begin to imagine what life would have been like to grow up in those situation. In my opinion, it was probably harder for her than it was for those whose parents assimilated with the rest of society. At least they were not constantly hearing two opposing arguments. I don’t think that those of us that were born into an environment where we are allowed to think for ourselves will ever be fully aware of just how lucky we are to not have to constantly keep our heads down and our mouths shut.

The Moviegoer

I believe that when Binx says that he has “not the inclination to say much on the matter” in the epilog, it’s because he has finished his search, not just given up on it. I think there is something to be said about the meaning of the “everydayness” of the lives that most people lead. If it weren’t for the everyday people, then great men would not be so great. But I think that he doesn’t want to speak on the matter because he doesn’t have the authority to. If the search is to be continued, then it shouldn’t be by him, because he has no idea what he is looking for. I believe the meaning of life is in your friends, your family, your coworkers, and all the other normal everyday people that you come into contact with. I would like to hope that Binx would come to the same conclusion and was not merely settling into the depression of everyday life. After all, he did say “to be aware of the possibility of the search is to be onto something. Not to be onto something is to be in despair.” By using this logic, he knew that there was the possibility of a search, and even began one in a strange sort of way. Just because he is no longer searching is not to say that he wasn’t on to something.

I think that Binx had the right idea but he was over thinking it. He says that the movies had the right idea but they messed it up. I think they got it right. They just have a way of showing the extraordinary in the everyday life. It seemed to me that Binx was realizing this when he was with Sharon. It seemed like he was indulging himself in her beauty. He also had this need to please the people that he cared about, like his aunt. He said “my search has been abandoned; it is no match for my aunt, her rightness and her despair, her despairing of me and her despairing of herself.” This makes me think that he cares more about what his aunt thinks of him than he does uncovering the meaning of life, and this is something that everyday people do. He even has to convince his aunt that he is “not a hero, but an ordinary fellow.” He even cares about Kate enough to look after her and make sure that he is in complete control of her life like she asked him to be. He even cared enough to test whether or not she is getting better by giving her instructions but telling her to go on her own. Being with a beautiful woman, gaining the approval of his aunt, and helping someone that he cares about are part of what brings Binx to his conclusion. The search may not be over, but it is for him. And I think he found what he was looking for even if he isn’t able to open his eyes and see it.