Identity

Throughout Satrapi's memoir, the issue of identity is addressed. Living in Iran shaped the ideas of the cultural norms that she was to follow. However, throughout the memoir, Satrapi holds on to her own identity, and refuses to conform with society. She often defies popular opinion and voices what she thinks - Satrapi portrays herself as a woman with no filter. She is bold and unapologetic in a society where women are belittled and objectified. During the lecture, when women are being told the standards to which they must dress, Satrapi questions authority with logic.

 

Satrapi questions why women must conform to these standards when men are free to do as they please. She questions why women are objectified but men cannot be. Throughout the novel, her identity remains strong, and acts as an anchor to her beliefs, much of which are learned behaviors from her parents. Although her situations and geography change, Satrapi holds firmly onto her identity as a woman, who refuses to bow down and demands to be heard. Her identity is the only constant that remains throughout the memoir. 

Note to Self

Dear Brianna,

Don't rush yourself. Live in the present, don't anticipate the future. Worrying about tomorrow only takes away from today. Don't waste your younger years worrying about things that, as a 21-year old, do not matter. I promise you that the time you spend making yourself anxious does nothing.

Don't be self-conscious. Don't worry about what others may think or say. Learning to accept yourself as you are, to love yourself, will be a difficult, but beautiful journey.

Life will present you with difficult situations. Don't spend your time questioning, "Why me?" Learn from the process of hurting and healing. Difficulties cannot be avoided, but you will learn a way to manage your emotions during stressful times.

Respect your parents, and enjoy your time at home. Although you have a lot of sass, don't talk back to your parents. Don't take for granted the time spent with your mother and father. Don't spend high school disobeying their rules. Being rebellious does not serve you well. Do not fly through your high school years waiting to leave home. As soon as you do, you will wish you hadn't.

When you leave home, and go to college, don't secure yourself to the familiar. Learn to reach out, and to grow as a person. Do not limit yourself based on your fear of being known. Don't stay quiet. Speak up. Be yourself, and people will learn to enjoy your presence.

Most importantly, remember what you value. Do not sacrifice your values, they will act as your guide during the times in which you question your direction. Remembering who you are and what has shaped you will point you the right way. Stay true to yourself.

Love always,
Bri

Girl, Interrupted

Explain to a doctor that the laws

of physics can be suspended?

That what goes up may not come down?

Explain that time can move backwards and forwards

and now to then and back again ...and you can't control it?

I found Susanna's words in the beginning of the movie to be interesting. Do we ever have control? Susanna feels that her life and happenings are beyond her. Maybe Susanna is a product of the 60's, maybe what happens to her is out of her reach. Susanna feels disconnected from her life. She lacks close relationships with others. Surprisingly, when she is admitted to the ward, for the first time in her life, she develops relationships she cherishes. While her family never understood her, Susanna doesn't need to be understood by the other patients. Never being able to live up to the expectations of her family, for once, she is accepted. I think this is what leads to Susanna's change in response to the question of why she took an entire bottle of aspirin and followed it with vodka. In the start, she is adamant that she was not trying to kill herself, and that she does not belong in the ward. However, when given the opportunity to leave with Toby, her response changes. She says that this is where she belongs because she did try to kill herself. Whether or not this is the truth, Susanna chooses to stay in the ward rather than have control over her life and what happens. This leads me to the conclusion that Susanna never wanted control, but a life that she valued with people who accepted her as she was.