The Importance Of Margi's Independence

Growing up, Mari is fortunate enough to have been born into a wealthier family that also understands that they need to stand up against the Shah regime and its tyranny on the revolution. Her parents often risk their own lives in demonstrations, even though they know that they have a lot to lose and could wind up in jail. When Margi is ten years old, her parents are not permissive in allowing her to join them in demonstrations against the king because they know that it is too dangerous for her. They are only looking out for her safety. Margi wants to be a part of the demonstrations more than anything, but because she is not allowed, she decides to do the only thing she can, which is to educate herself. Fanatically, she reads and writes as much as she can so that she can better understand the revolution. One day she is driving home in her father’s Cadillac and she feels ashamed to sit in it. She has a revelation that is impressive for a ten year old to be realizing: “The reason for my shame and for the revolution are the same: the difference between social classes (33.7).” Margi knows that she is
This is the first time that readers are shown Margi’s independence. However, even though Margi says that she feels shame, her facial expressions show otherwise in the panel (33.7). Instead of being sad, she looks angry. Her eyebrows are pointed down, she is gripping her pencil harder than she needs to, and her left hand is pressing against the table in a powerful way. Even though she is literally writing that she is ashamed, because of the graphic novel format, we see the shame has led Margi to feel angry. She feels angry at society in which she can’t do anything to help. All she can do is take advantage of her higher social class and educate herself so that in the future she will be able to