Those of us lucky enough to do so will spend the beginning of our lives swimming in a deep and ever-changing ocean, searching for land to rest our heads with confidence and acceptance of ourselves. Coming of age means swimming through this sea, some days floating, some days drowning, but always manipulated by its power as we search for our true selves. As Ralph Ellison said, “When I find out who I am, I will be free.” Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay Marjane Satrapi's book, The Complete Persepolis, is an incredible coming-of-age autobiography that reveals the immense struggles a young, rebellious Iranian girl must endure as she too desperately searches for her identity. The book opens with Satrapi as a 10-year-old girl facing the onset of Iran's Islamic revolution. In this crucial age he faces extreme change as the government imposes religious fundamentalism on its people. Laws are passed that test his faith and identity. Her relatively liberal parents eventually send her to Vienna so that she can continue school without religious intervention. In this new Western environment he tries to be many things, including his true self, but fails. No closer to finding her place in the world, she returns home four years later guilty and ashamed for leaving her family and country in trouble. At home he continues to try to force his changing, rebellious personality into an overly strict religious society. After some college and a failed marriage, she comes to the conclusion that she must leave Iran, while accepting her love for her culture and country, and move to France to live the life she is destined for. The Complete Persepolis is a raw and truthful telling of the story of a rebellious girl who becomes a rebellious and educated woman while searching for her identity along the way. As a young girl living through the Islamic Revolution, Marji is soon faced with adversity and finds herself faced with questions meant for a much older mind. At first she is a girl of deep faith but when religious fundamentalists gain a foothold and veils are imposed on women, she begins to expand her thoughts. “I didn't really know what to think of the veil. After all, I was very religious...". Marji's inherent curiosity and desire to learn accelerated her knowledge of things much bigger than herself, yet the Iranian regime has manipulated the information taught in schools. Fortunately, despite her young age, Satrapi's parents always tried to convey the truth to her. “As for me, I love the king, he was chosen by God.” “Come sit on my lap. I'll try to explain everything to you." This openness on the part of his parents played an important role in his development. Some of his training lessons were similar. Learning right from wrong through trial and error and the support of his parents. However, like the incarceration and execution of her beloved uncle Anoosh, certain childhood events placed the weight of reality on her too-young shoulders, forcing her to take steps toward maturity while leaving behind fragments of her old self . “And so I got lost, without orientation… what could be worse.” She identified with her uncle who she considered a rebel and a hero, which distanced her from her religious side. When he was taken from her, she lost both a loved one and her faith in God. As Marji grew up, she increasingly identified as a rebel determined to live and learn how.