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In this panel, Marji remarks about wanting to be just like several important communist figures from history. This is one of the chapters where she is youngest. Marji is not very experienced with these topics, but this gives insight into her sense of pride. As a young child, she knows of these people as heroes, when we, as Americans, are not so fond of them. She doesn't care for the negative (and/or isn't old enough to see that side). She simply sees "heroes", and wants to be like them, even at a young age. This sense of pride can really be felt amongst a mass revolution.

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To a great extent are Marjis' traits impacted by social and political events of the Cultural revolution.

Marji represents both sides of the Cultural Revolution: The side rejection "dated" Islamic traditions, and the side wanting to "purify" Islam in Iran. This is illustrated visually by the author, as Marjis' figure is split into two. First, she is greatly impacted by her Parents, who are political and social activists. When Marji sees her parents protesting at a rally, she to wants to join in. Her parents hence impact her traits, as she will become out-spoken, bold, and treasure education. The other side, is religion. Although I hesitant to group religion as one cause for these next traits, as I believe the impact of  religion cannot be described in a person easily, as many other factors contribute to their traits. Religion, in my opinion, is as fluid as the panel described is to be (background right). However for the sake of simplify, I will exclude nuances in the following. Religion impacts Marji's traits, although at the beginning being self-centered (becoming a prophet), she establishes strong morals and sense of purpose at an early age, which is important for her development as a character. I think religion also imposes more nativity on Marji, as perhaps she becomes less optimistic as the graphic novel progresses. These are how cultural and political events shape Marjis' traits.

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In this panel, Marji really shows what values are important to her. She is very sweet and helpful. Although these are good qualities, it comes from a place of pain. This is my favorite panel because it shows how her traits are shaped by what is happening around her. She observes unrest and protests in the world, as well as her grandmother’s physical pain. She has to take this in every day, and it’s hard since she can’t do much about it. So she made rules to protect her loved ones and what she cares about. She wouldn’t have to worry about these things if she grew up in a more stable environment.

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Marji’s traits were affected by the social and political climate because as the veils were required for all young girls to wear over the age of 10 she felt separated from her identity in school. In the first page of the chapter Veil Marji felt as though she blended in with the other girls which shows her loss of identity which contrasts with this strip because it shows her at age 6 before the veil was enforced being much more confident in school. She was also being prideful of her religion by saying she was the next prophet before the revolution occurred.

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This panel shows Marji being honest towards her conflicting ideas over her devotion to her religion and her modern beliefs. As certain aspects of her life continue to change around her such as having to start wearing a veil to school and the boy and girls being separated, she is honest about her lack of understanding and doesn't pretend to know why they have to do these things. She shows this honesty when she says, "We didn't really like to wear the veil, especially since we didn't understand why we had to." She also demonstrates honesty later in the chapter when she is honest about what her aspirations in life are when she tells her teacher that she wants to be a prophet despite receiving backlash from her teacher and being made fun of by her peers. This trait most likely comes from her parents who seem to be open about their beliefs which are displayed when her mother attended demonstrations in the streets openly expressing her view against the veil. This is an unlikely trait for someone in this time period because it can become dangerous to be honest, and speak your mind(as seen when the mother was photographed and then feared for her safety) but because Marji has strong role models, she has grown up with this way of thinking and will not be silenced.

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Marji, at this point of the graphic novel, is a young girl living in a complicated world that doesn't always align with her ideologies and interests. She claims to be "born with religion", firmly believing that she is the final prophet despite her young age, as well as the fact that she's a girl (while every other prophet was a man). Through her ambitious attempt to be a prophet, her efforts reflect her selflessness, as well as her desire to aid others-- it's not that Marji enjoys the title of a prophet, it's that she believes it's her purpose to fix the injustices she witnesses in her childhood, especially those provoked by the revolution. Being at such a young age, the impact these issues have on her is clearly strong considering that she has such prominent feelings of guilt and responsibility.

Marji claims to speak to God at night, and she describes her guilt for lying to her parents about wanting to be a doctor when she's older. She deeply wants to maintain that strong, spiritual connection she has, and "reassures" Him that she will still be a prophet when the time is right. She believes that she is the spark of hope that the world deeply needs, and doesn't want to bring the unspoken promise she's made to her people. It's solemn, how a young girl feels the need to carry such a tremendous weight on her shoulders, feeling the need to fix things a child shouldn't even ponder about.

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This panel is showing Marji at the age of six believing that she was great enough to be a prophet. Being a prophet in Islam implies you have a particularly strong connection with Allah, something that Marji was clearly confident in if she was able to be sure of this at an age as young as six. The frame depicts the young girl with a halo of sunlight around her face and the dress of a traditional Muslim prophet's robes. This a great deal of responsibility Marji is putting onto herself at a young age and it really shows the self-confidence in the rest of her life that a young child can have. As for how this trait is being defined by the historical and political events around her, as the chapter progresses we see Marji grow a little bit, not quite understanding politically what is happening around her, but still eager to support whatever her parents are supporting. She does her best to understand the political climate her country and people are facing even though it is very hard for her young mind to comprehend. This amount of care is not often found in young children, and her dedication at the attempt to understand goes a long way to proving that her character is dedicated and confident she could even make a difference at all in this arena of life. Seeing young adults such as her parents being out in the streets, protesting for what they believe in, alters the mind of a child in the way that it reinforces the notion that you as an individual can make a difference through the smallest of actions, and that actions actually do speak louder than words. Therefore, the rest of her life we see a pattern of actually "doing" (protesting, speaking out, etc.) rather than "saying".

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In this panel, Marji is expressing her internal conflict about the social changes that were occurring during this time. These young girls and women were eventually required to wear these veils that semi-covered their faces. This was hard for the young girls to interpret, especially those who were in Marji's environment. Marji's mother was also vocal in her opposing beliefs to this new social change, and it was interpreted differently in the public eye, which caused her to also change some of her physical features to ensure her safety. The writer uses a very specific wording in this panel stating that she personally was very religious (represented on the right side), but her family as a whole were very modern and advanced (represented on the left side of the panel). Because of this, Marji displays an antithetical trait because she has opposing qualities that both make a significant contribution to her character. This, however, does not make Marji a weak person. This displays authenticity, because we all can experience internal conflicts to such a degree.

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She is already growing up with a particular disliking to the way life goes in this country. One major point of significance to this disliking is the way that she and her friends have to dress, specifically veiling themselves. It takes away their identity and makes them all uniform. In this section, you can see the sun illuminate all around the head, and you can imagine that the light would outshine the veils. This ties into symbolism that the revolution was a bright new idea. And, one girl who dislikes the system and a revolution that promises to change that system is a match made in heaven.

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In this panel, Marji has her Holy Book and is reciting to her grandmother rules number six, seven, and eight. ¨Rule number six: Everybody should have a car. Rule number seven: All maids should eat at the table with the others. Rule number eight: No old person should have to suffer.¨ These rules from her Holy Book are solutions based on current reasons or things that she cannot understand. Why her family´s maid does not eat with them, why her father has a Cadillac while others do not, why her Grandmother´s knees always ached. She terms them all as problems from her visible perspective and as the proclaimed ´last prophet´ her duty is to fix them to her liking or belief. Not to act as a messenger for God to the world. Even before the revolution Marji had a strong connection to her religion and recently it has been brought to light by the recent changes caused by the cultural revolution and demonstrations for and against the veil. The author´s choice of portraying Marji´s desire to provide everyone with what they don´t have ties to her aspirations to be what she considers a prophet. Fair.

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From a young age Majri was able to see people stand up for what they felt was politically correct. Especially seeing her mother stand against the strong and powerful government, that must've helped shape her desire for what she wanted in the future. All the qualities that her mother had, were definite qualities that she wanted to implant in herself to be a leader. Strong, powerful, and the face of a movement. A clear trait that Majiri has is her strong willpower. Although she knows that she wants to be a prophet, she does not flaunt it, because she knows that everyone will question her for who she is. She almost suppresses her desire to be what she wants in life, until she has the complete chance. That's the reason why many people can't know about her real intentions. In her scenario, she had to lie to her parents to make sure they were not catching on. Having the ability to still have such a strong desire even when times are rough is a clear sign of a strong character.

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Throughout this chapter, there is a common theme about women being viewed differently than men. From students being forced to wear the veil, boys and girls having to go to separate schools, protests against the veil, and this panel about how Marji can't be a Prophet, we see the issue of gender roles. This panel specifically shows all the Prophets, who were all men, questioning her on how she could be a Prophet if she was a women. I think the reason Marji doesn't understand these things is because of her innocence, and that she was too young to understand why they were happening. When you're younger, you have a sense of optimism and that you can do anything, and this mindset is very innocent because you haven't been exposed yet to anything that would limit this. This relates to the social, historical, and political background of the story. Socially, Marji is living in a country with gender roles dividing men and women, shown through the veil and the separation of schools by gender. Historically and politically, this relates to her life having started with going to bilingual, non religious, co ed school, and then the entire dynamic being changed by the cultural revolution. The writer's choices highlight this change and how it shaped her through word choice and the separation of lines, creating an emphasis on parts of a sentence with more importance.

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This panel shows us that Marji doesn't know how to approach the difference between her own personal views and the views her parents espouse.  Marji tells us that she feels very religious, and in later panels we see examples of this in her desire to be a prophet and her frequent discussions with God.  Her family, however, is very modern - to the extent where her mother had to hide from the Savak (though Marji doesn't quite understand this yet, because she is too young).  The institution of 'the veil' as a requirement for women in Iran highlights Marji's inner conflict.  As a symbol of religion, Marji should theoretically support the veil, but she is also a child who doesn't like this drastic change to her every day life (one of many) and can't see all the ramifications of or reasons behind the veil yet.

Marji's choices for the aesthetics of the panel clearly show the divide between ideals and the conflict she is going through. On the left, we see modernity - a dark background with a hammer, gears, and a ruler drawn in white. Marji's left side wears modern clothing, and her hair is uncovered. The left side shows tradition - a white background covered in what might be traditional Arabic script ('stacked script'?) or simply a traditional design. Marji's left side also wears traditional clothing - what might a chador or a hijab over modest clothing. Overall, the left side of the panel reflects Marji's deeply buried personal views, while the right side reflects her parent's more avant-garde, modern views.

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From the beginning, you can see that Marji is determined. She's determined to find out why they suddenly had to wear a veil, why she was separated from her friends, why her mother was worried, etc. When she was six she was sure she was the last prophet and was determined to help the people surrounding her. Maji created a holy book filled with different rules and traditions. She says "I wanted to be a prophet ... because our maid did not eat with us. Because my father had a Cadillac and, above all, because my grandmother's knees always ached". She was determined to fix the problems surrounding the people she cared about. Even though her teacher and classmates thought she was crazy, she still believed in herself and would have nightly conversations with God. She also decided that she wanted to be a doctor, but she was still faithful to God. Once she had an idea she stuck with it and it became an important part of her identity. This is a valueable trait because at the time so many things were changing, but she was determined to do what she thought was right.

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During the time period, there was unfair treatment for Iranians. All Marji wanted was to help and change the way they were treated. Marji said "I want to be a Prophet because our maid did not eat with us, because my father had a cadillac and because my grandmothers knees always ached". She wants to become the Prophet when she grows up to make changes happen that impact people in a good way. She believes that elders like her grandma should not work a lot or suffer. She saw how here grandma couldn't handle work anymore because of her knees which influenced her in wanting to make that change. She wanted her maid to eat with her since she didn't want her to eat alone and she wanted everyone to have their own car just like her dad. She more or so is a type of person who wants to give goodwill. She's kind and cares more about others than herself. Marji's family is more privileged than others. She wants people have the things that she has. For instance, her dads car, since some people don't have that type of transportation at all. the writer did well in writing the way Marji feels and how she can be interpreted as kind, helpful, and good-willed.

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The panel in the bottom right (Jujiang Metcalf)

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Marji at a young age doesn't know the significance of the veil only that there are people in her country who want to wear the veil and those who are very much against it. In the beginning we learn she's born into a country that's torn and as such she's hearing two different and often conflicting opinions from her parents and the public. Her mother heavily influences her desire to not want to wear it as she activly protests against wearing the veil. Marji states "I was really proud of her", but she doesn't understand the strong arguments on either side because she is still a young child. Eventually as the story goes on we see her mother gets nervous and changes her appearance after seeing her photo in the newspaper for fear of what could happen. I believe this also influences her curiosity and desire for knowledge, but it also shows her that sometimes voicing your opinions can be dangerous.

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As a child, you depend on others such as your parents and guiding figures before you can obtain your own independence. For Marji, she depended on God a lot. She said that she had "big discussions" with God every night. This means that she relied on God to listen to her problems, give her advice, and support her. Her trait of dependence (on spirituality/religion) is being defined from all of the problems she is having to face in school. Marji had previously explained about all of the problems not only her but her family as well had faced because of the political events that occurred, including being separated from her friends, forced to wear a veil, her mother having to dye her hair to simply blend in, and others degrading and making fun of her for wanting to be a prophet when she grows up. All of these issues had suddenly fallen on her, so she then depended on God is support her. I particularly like this panel because in the previous panel, she said "God, give me some more time, I am not quite ready yet.", hence why in the second panel (the panel shown) he says "Yes, you are, celestial light, you are my choice, my last and my best choice". God is providing Marji the reassurance that no one else (except for her grandmother) is really providing for her. In the picture, God is holding Marji in his arms - holding her safely and protecting her.

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Marji is a young child in a country with lots of religious, political, and social conflict.  Young children are universally associated with the trait of naivety.  In this case, Marji and her peers of the same age experience this sense of unawareness.  They know they have to be obedient but fail to see WHY.  Separated from her male classmates and forced to wear a veil, she was left to accept that "that was that"; brushing it off, as she was too innocent to understand the country's affect on her life.  Now, her naivety is in danger and her awareness to the conflicts occurring around her is inevitable.

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Marji is someone kind. She worries about her grandmas knees, her maid not eating with her and her family, and most interestingly everyone having a car. She worries about her maid and how not everyone has a car because of the social disparities that she is a witness too. Although not a blatant matter, she has grown up and had these things present her whole life so subconsciously it has had an influence. In her surroundings people were basically split into castes or levels and that is why her maid doesn't eat with them. Many people gawk at cars and especially hers because it is a Cadillac. This is because many dont have cars and she subconsciously realizes this and that is why she always ducks and hides when passing people in the car. The writer does a good job of showing her wanting to be kind and creating change by subtly showing us the influences which lead to these specific things. - Alejandro Maya

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Marji in this aspires as she says "to be justice, love and the wrath of god all in one" she is determined to stick to her beliefs regardless of what others might think. This is because in the background of the story the world she lives in is becoming more westernized so this idea of being a doctor is more widely appreciated than this idea of being a prophet which to others is 'crazy' because this idea of focusing heavily on religion is not as widely seen other than the revolution which is to embrace nationalism more because of the overwhelming effect of westernization. But this westernization leads her to have her aspirations of being a prophet and anting to be love rustic and wrath is something that she wants to be because its something. she sees as vital in this world that others might not see as much. This panel shows those three versions of her different but the same all her though. This Shows her trait of really seeing those different aspects which is actually necessary in her world too because so much is happening, changing and going on but she holds to this belief of religion.

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Marji is seen between two world's one seemingly more western, while the other is more religious. I think it's a great reflection of the ideals she has grown up with, on one side having been raised more western due to her parents, but the other was taught to fit the more cultural ideal of her home place. Her traits are one that has a mix between the two ideals, one that is seemingly created through such a historical event. Sort of almost centrist-like, and that is why I thoroughly enjoyed this specific panel, as I thought it was illustrated really well.

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In this panel Marji talks with her grandmother about her dreams of being a prophet. Being born a prophet was something mentioned in many panels, clearly, it is very important to her and her character. A prophet's job is to lead and interpret the word of god. In her holy book, she writes about what she believes God would want to tell the world through her rules. Not only does this show her connection to religion, her compassion, but also her leadership and will to take charge. In her book, the primary goal of her rules is to help others and lead the world to a more harmonious and kind place. Her eighth rule is "... No old person should have to suffer." clearly showcasing kindness. Also in other panels, it showed the historical context of prophets, being that they were all men. She would be the last and first female prophet leading the way for women to have a role in religion. In the panel, Marji is presenting her rules to her grandmother showing her trust in her grandmother and she feels connected to her in a way different from any of the other relationships she has so far.