Character Outline

Solomon Radasky:
Solomon was born on May 17, 1910 in Warsaw, Poland. Solomon is of average height and fit, but no muscular. Solomon is married and has two kids. The kids he went to school with enjoyed his company, he was friendly and relaxed, also he had no fear in sharing his feeling and ideas. His personality changed dramatically as the situation in Poland did after allying with Germany. Once Jews started becoming oppressed he became scared and introverted, and for good reason. He was born and raised Jewish family of just him in his mom. His religion was something he held dear and relied on in times of need, this was being taken away from him now. He worked hard as a carpenter and made a name for himself in the industry before the war. Solomon didn’t have pets, his mother wouldn’t allow it. Although his mother was strict, they got along well. He was intelligent, but not text book smart, he rather had the street smarts that allowed him survive through his adventures, which were far more important.
Carmen Radasky:
Carmen was born on June 17, 1894, in Warsaw, Poland. Carmen is Solomon’s mother. Her husband was killed when coming back from the grocery stores when her son was 5 years old. Carmen and Solomon’s father never had a good relationship. They got married when she became pregnant with Solomon and only stayed together because of him. In some ways they loathed each other but were always hiding it from their friends and son. Her husband cheated frequently, but what could she do? Carmen had a large capacity to love, but also to hate. Her emotions could drive her to take crazy actions. Carmen was Jewish and proud of her religion. She stuck up for what she believed him in had no fears. She had no problem revolting to what she didn’t believe in, even if she was going against something much bigger then her. These qualities made her strong but also got her in trouble.
Adalwolf Germonvock:
Adalwolf is a good friend of Solomons. They always had eachothers backs throughout school. He was raised in a family of five, he was the 2nd youngest. Adawolf, or “Wolfy” as his friends called him, was the same age as Solomon and was a classmate of his until they graduated. They were some of the last Jews to graduate in Poland for a long time as they started having rights taken away, including the ability to go to University. Education was valued in Adawolf’s family, but he didn’t graduate for them, he didn’t do anything for them. He had a weak connection with his parents and never got along with his siblings. He wasn’t antisocial and had plenty of friends at school but if it weren’t for the unconditional love from his family they would have no reason to even talk to him. Behind his rebellious attitude, though, he was scared. He lacked the love that could help him through tough times. His family was well off and his parents tried to buy his place back into the family. He knew how much his parents wanted to get along with him but he knew they were just opposites. When Wolfy was hungry for soup his parents wanted pasta for dinner, it was nobody’s fault, but it lead to a schism in the family. His friends stayed with him and helped him in whatever he needed. He was always happy and optimistic around them. He had no enemies at school and was liked by teachers, outside of the house anyone would have thought he had a perfect life. These emotions and relationships would lead him to putting his friends, namely Solomon, in front of his family when all were in need.
Edward Bliart:
Edward lived in Germany is whole life. He was in school before World War II and made many friends, some Jewish. He kept these friends throughout life and accepted their life styles. Born and raised Christian in Poland he had no worries. His family was very well off and connected politically with many important individuals. They had frequent extravagant celebrations. Ed was too young to understand he attended gatherings celebrating the oppression of minorities and the beginnings of a Nazi Germany and Poland. He later looked back at himself with a moral eye and therefore self loathing. He had been enjoying a life fueled by dishonesty and hatred. His political affiliations eventually combated the beliefs of his family, and for good reason. Edward was a loving man and couldn’t stand the wrongs his parents had supported and caused. He forever wanted to make up for the things they had done, and he tried his best to do so, and succeeded.

Persepolis

Over the past few weeks we have been working hard on getting through a unique, informational, and reward text dealing with Iran and specifically the Iranian revolution. The main character, and author, is Marji Satrapi. She tells her inspirational story through this graphic novel. This fun but meaningful memoir teaches the reader a lot about Iranian history. In the beginning of the novel Marji explains her understanding of Iranian past and a little about how her nation came to be. Her parents were very knowledgeable on this topic and explained how Persia was once ruled by Cyrus the Great. This leader made the Persian Empire the strongest nation of the time, even more powerful than the Greeks. As this empire stayed strong a new string of leaders came to power, The Shah. In 1935 Reza Shah renamed Persia Iran. Now Reza was in control of this strong nation and perhaps made his biggest mistake by misusing his power. As this corrupt dictator instated laws that made Iran's citizens oppressed and angry, they knew a change was necessary. This change would come in the presence of Mohammed Mossadeq. As he took control Iran made drastic changes. The most important of these changes was the nationalization of oil. This exclusiveness to Iran upset the Western world, specifically the United States. With a strong oil trading partner of theirs discontinuing its exports, the United States wanted change. Then the CIA, an American organization, organized a coup against Mossadeq. As he was overthrown America arranged for the Shah to be back in power. Once again, Iran's people will be oppressed. I believe the United States had incentive to make change in Iran because of the oil but went about it in a terrible way. This thoughtless attack on Iran's government forever shaped Iran, and its citizens, and its foreign connections with countries like the United States. Now the Shah was changing Iran dramatically. With fundamentalist laws and perspective in place there was a schism in Iran. As a national dress code and a theocracy in place there was an obvious uprising of resistance of those who wanted a secular government. Finally there was the inevitable Islamic Revolution. Dramatic movements were being made during this time including the US embassy being taken hostage for 444 days. There was a veritible string of hope for this hostage's survival and release. We read articles about the hostages and hostage takers in class that made this event more personal for me. Now one year later another change came as Iraq invaded Iran. This invasion left Iran in panic and turmoil. After two years of bombings, attacks, and political battles Iran withdrew troops. Iranians were in a brief time of peace when Iran retaliated with its own invasion. In 1987 after long years of war, trade embargos on Iran and Iraq damaging an economy, and much unrest by the citizens, the fighting ended in a stalemate and there was a peace agreement in 1990 after more than a million casualties, these heroes of war would forever be remembered as martyrs.

Marji did a great job in telling her story and keeping her work historical and informational within a memorable novel. We also learn a lot about her and the changes she made during this time period. As Marji discusses the happenings around her she also inserts her personal opinions and beliefs making the story much more personal. In the dramatic time period she lived in changes her family and friends she is affected as well specifically in her opinions of her family, country, and herself. She always knew her family was different. Whether it is were her parents protesting the veil, having clandestine discussions, attending decedent celebrations, or leaving their home for long hours, they were always up to something. Marji and her parents had a very strong connection and Marji told them everything when she was young. As she grew up she became more rebellious. I think this has to do with her parents as well sing that they are rebels in themselves protesting Iran’s laws and dictators. The family stayed close during times of war and Marji had a very strong bond with them by the end of the book, and this bond was broken when Margi had to leave and go to Vienna. When Marji was growing up she didn’t have a strong understanding of politics like many other proletariats. This was changes through the years as politics started affecting her. Now she took a look at her country with the guide of her parents’ knowledge and she soon began to realize how corrupt the government and people in Iran were. In this look into the world she also changed herself. At one point she lacked the knowledge and understanding to participate in this uprising of resistance but eventually she sees her part in her changing country and tries to institute change with her parents, and is just as strong willed as them.

The book ends when she leaves Iran and heads to Europe, without her parents. They at first promise that they will move to Vienna with her in a few months but slowly give that up and promise frequent visits. Marji points this out and would be able to make that prediction because she wrote this novel in the following years. I believe that after she moved out of Iran she started her life over again living with her mom’s best friend. I am sure she kept in touch with her parents and they visited her. They would finally move back together after the war ended and probably all live in Iran again. This process would change the relationship between Marji and her family but for the better. When she wrote this novel she obviously kept her parents in mind and had respect for all that they had done for her. In her writing this novel she gave a reservoir of knowledge and insight to the historical changes in Iran, told about a memorable part of her life, and put a face to the statistics of Iran we hear about on the news. This understanding of what somebody’s life must be like in Iran makes the reader draw the connections between this person and all the news of Iran we hear constantly.