Politics vs. Sentiment

In Persepolis, Marji's father tells her "politics and sentiment don't mix." In looking at the horrors of the war and revolution that their family is living through, it is easy to see how he could come to such a conclusion. He is watching his country be destroyed by people who repress the population. However, I'm not sure I agree. Political choicese come as a direct result of personal sentiment. The violence of the war that is terrorizing their country came as a result of politics. Is politics not a personal sentiment? People take positions on political issues because of how they think it will effect their country and the lives of those they care about. Those in power in Iran during the war force the citizens to adhere to strict religious conduct (the way they dress, who they see, or even how they walk down the street). But, are they not doing this out of a desire for, what they call, a good environment? While people may have different political views, everyone wants what is best for those they care about.

I think Marji may agree with this statement, but I'm not sure she would mean it. Marji's struggle throughout the story comes as a result of her conflict with politics. It is only through the love of her family and pride in who she is that she emerges on the other side of the conflict. Personal sentiment serves to combat the hardships of politics in this story. If Marji was an orphan, I highly doubt she would have emerged out of the turmoil of her childhood into the strong, confident adult she is at the end of the story. I think the women in her family would agree as well. The hardships women face in that part of the world, especially during that time period are more than I can imagine. However, Marji's mother and especially Marji's grandmother are both confident women who have turned into strong people. While sentiment and politics might not mesh perfectly, they definitely exist parallel to each other.

Nick is a very important character in The Great Gatsby. However, he is easily overlooked as he is the narrator and does not a have a great deal of action revolve around him. Instead, he serves as a detached character who sits back and watches the story unfold. This allows Nick, as a character, to develop and grow without actually being a major player in the progression of the story. Nick is the only character who takes away some kind of knowledge at the end of the story.

At the beginning of the novel, Nick establishes himself as an outsider, who has come to live in the ultra-rich lifestyle of Gatsby and the Buchannons. So, even though he becomes somewhat absorbed into their world, he is still reserved and never truly belongs there. It is this sense of detachment that allows us an insight into Nick's character and mentality towards the whole ordeal. As the novel opens, Nick is fascinated by Gatsby. Even as Nick finds out disreputable things about Gatsby's past and how he came to be so wealthy, he never adopts a negative opinion of him. It's almost as if Nick recognizes that Gatsby only wants everything he never had. I think that Nick views Gatsby as an embodiment of the common man; searching for the American Dream, willing to go to whatever lengths necessary to acquire the lifestyle he desires. In this regard, I think Nick empathizes with Gatsby. This would explain why Nick is the only one to go to Gatsby's side after he is shot. Gatsby is the only one that Nick sees before he leaves the East.

I don't think Nick's story is resolved at the end of the novel. On the contrary, I think it is just beginning. Having lived and watched the events and behavior of Gatsby and the Buchannons for some time, I think Nick is able to walk away form that lifestyle having learned a great deal. His insight into Gatsby's personality and ambition gives Nick a clear image of what the 'American Dream' really is and how it can be twisted and broken. I think Nick learned that you can not live your life obsessing over a single dream. Real life can never measure up to fantasy. Such is the story of Jay Gatsby.