Up in Smoke

Marjane's life was restricted through her parents and her strenuous government. She never had her own sense of direction as she takes pride in her race, she is always being told what to do and how to act. She adventured in her own mind to only find rebellion. She just wanted to fit in and found it in the worst spot. She climbed over a forbidden wall which she found obligated to do. "If I wanted to be friends with 14 year-olds, I had to do it." (Satrapi, 111).

Not only did her rebellion begin climbing a wall, but as well as the forbidden punk phase. On her parents way back from turkey they hid posters through customs. If they were to get caught they'd be punished, "you realize that if I find anything illegal, I'll.."(Satrapi 129). If Marjane see's her parents rebelling against the government, then how will she know it's wrong? In life, children learn from their parents actions as well as media and others.
After all this it led to her first cigarette in which she stole from her uncle. The resemblance of the cigarette was a loss of innocence. She did this to prove she is ready to make her own decisions as a woman even if it was in the wrong way. After smoking this cigarette, she held her head differently, it made her feel like she had become an adult. "With this first cigarette, I kissed my childhood goodbye. Now I was grown-up." (satrapi 117).  What do you think? Do you think Marjane is doint these forbidden things because her family does them or is it her way to find herself?