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The Vegetable
Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in Persepolis 2: The Story of a Return, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Growing Up and Growing Old
Identity, Culture, and Self-Expression
Gender and Oppression
Suffering and Trauma
Summary
Analysis
When Julie and Armelle leave Vienna, Marjane moves into an apartment that she shares with eight young gay men. By now, Marjane is done with her punk phase and doesn’t want to be “marginal” anymore. One day, Mom calls—she’s visiting in two weeks. Marjane’s housemates are overjoyed for her. In preparation for her mother’s arrival, Marjane bathes, irons her clothes, and dresses up to go to the airport. At the airport, it takes Marjane a minute to recognize Mom, since her mother now has gray hair. Mom doesn’t recognize Marjane at first, either. It’s odd for Marjane to be the taller one when they embrace.
Coming face to face after a year and a half of separation is a shock for both Marjane and her mother. It throws into sharp relief how much Marjane is growing up—and how old Mom is getting. Mom’s gray hair in particular drives home that she’s getting older and is doing so rapidly. Though Marjane doesn’t talk much about her housemates, their excitement for her suggests that she’s in a more supportive place where she can more comfortably be herself.
Themes
Marjane brings Mom to stay with her at the communal house. Mom is shocked to discover that Marjane’s roommates are all men, though learning that they’re gay seems to placate her. She comments that Marjane has grown up a lot. Marjane doesn’t say that Mom has changed a lot, too—she’s getting old. Conversations between them are difficult, since it’s hard to catch up on a year and a half’s worth of events. Mom talks about Dad’s new job working on the gas in Tehran’s buildings. She also lies to Marjane that she left a special anniversary necklace in Iran, though Marjane doesn’t learn Mom lied until much later. After the first night when Marjane cooks pasta, Mom takes over the cooking.
For Mom, it’s a big shock to realize that her daughter is living with eight gay men. With this, Marjane has to confront how Westernized she’s become in the last 18 months. The revelation that Mom lies about the whereabouts of her necklace suggests that Mom is trying to protect Marjane from traumatizing information. Marjane seems to imply that Mom sold or lost the necklace, which would suggest that Mom and Dad aren’t doing well financially in Tehran.
Themes
Mom gives Marjane a letter from Dad. In it, Dad writes that he’s happy about Marjane’s idyllic life in Vienna. Marjane realizes Dad has no idea what she’s going through. Mom and Marjane spend much of their time walking and talking about the situation in Iran. Marjane is relieved that Mom never asks about life in Vienna—she figures that Mom is afraid of what Marjane might say. Often, they simply hug each other. Mom tells Marjane that she has to become the best at something—even if she only becomes the best cabaret dancer. She also talks about how much things have changed. When she used to come to Europe, people would treat her kindly and generously. Now, everyone treats her like a terrorist when they see her Iranian passport.
It’s disconcerting for Marjane to realize that Dad thinks she’s living a happy, conflict-free life in Vienna. In reality, Marjane’s life is far from idyllic—her living situation is unstable, and she feels alone and unmoored. For Mom, this visit doesn’t just introduce her to a more adult version of her daughter, it also shows her a new, unfamiliar version of Europe that isn’t nearly as open and welcoming as it once was. The Islamic Revolution has shifted European’s perspectives on Iranians, and Mom recognizes that things will probably never be like they used to.
Themes
A few days later, as Mom and Marjane sit at a cafe, Mom asks for a cigarette. She knows Marjane smokes—Marjane smells, and Mom found a packet of Camels in Marjane’s bag. Though Marjane is enraged that Mom violated her privacy, she decides to let it go and hands over a cigarette. As they smoke together, Marjane shares what really happened with the nuns. Mom praises Marjane for standing up for herself but makes her promise to not insult people in the future.
Again, it’s telling that Mom praises Marjane for not taking the Mother Superior’s abuse. This makes it clear that Mom and Dad have raised Marjane to be independent and stand up for herself. However, Mom still believes her daughter needs to be polite, which suggests she still has firm ideas about who Marjane should be, even as Marjane begins to step outside of those ideas.
Themes
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Since Marjane’s lodgings are temporary, Mom finds Marjane a new apartment. When they go see it, the landlord, Frau Doctor Heller, greets them and offers them tea. They agree to the terms of the lease. At the tram stop, though, Marjane and Mom can’t stop laughing—Frau Dr. Heller looks like a horse, and her tea was “like horse piss.” They laugh at this joke for years to come. Mom stays for 27 days. She cooks Iranian food, strokes Marjane’s hair, and speaks in Persian. The night before Mom leaves, she begs Marjane to buy more vegetables and to not insult Frau Doctor Heller. She also shows Marjane sketches for new clothes. Marjane is sure that Mom knows how lonely she is but keeps a straight face anyway.
Even though the graphic novel is peppered with horrific instances in which Europeans insult Marjane’s appearance, joking about Frau Doctor Heller indicates that Marjane can be just as rude. However, it’s important to note the power dynamic here—Europeans are the dominant culture and denigrate Iranians to make Iranians assimilate or feel inferior. Marjane and Mom, on the other hand, are just looking for a laugh.
Themes
