Persepolis 2: The Story of a Return: The Croissant Summary & Analysis

Fortunately, Marjane is too concerned about doing well in school to get in big trouble. But as she prepares for her final exams, she realizes she has major knowledge gaps. One night, God appears to her in a dream and tells her the subject of the upcoming test. Marjane calls Mom, who calls God, who tells the examiner what to ask Marjane. Marjane gets the best grade in the school. Over the summer, Marjane takes odd jobs and eventually gets a job at a cafe. The job pays well, but male customers often try to pinch Marjane’s bottom. Svetlana, the Yugoslavian chef, spits in these customers’ food.

When school starts again, the principal calls Marjane to his office. He warns her that selling marijuana at school could bring severe consequences, successfully ending Marjane’s career as a drug dealer. But even though Marjane isn’t selling drugs anymore, she takes more and more. Markus is impressed at first, but when his lecturing doesn’t curb her use, he distances himself from Marjane. To the reader, Marjane admits she’s smoking too many joints and often falls asleep during class. She knows she’s a vegetable and is disappointed in what she’s become. Thanks to Mom’s prayers, though, Marjane manages to graduate.

In 1988, Markus begins to study theater. Marjane registers to study technology but never goes to class. During this time, Marjane begins to learn about Austria’s new president, Kurt Waldheim. She often accompanies Markus to a cafe to discuss politics with his friends. Markus’s friends insist that Waldheim has instituted Nazism in Austria, but Marjane insists that nothing much has changed since Waldheim’s election 18 months ago. Marjane also hasn’t noticed the skinhead population increasing, and she insists that the skinheads aren’t nearly as scary as the Guardians of the Revolution in Iran. All of Markus’s friends, like most young Viennese, protest often against the government. They insist that old Nazis are teaching extremism to new Nazis in the Tyrol. Marjane notes that people were nice to her in the Tyrol, but one woman says that’s only because Marjane is female.

Markus, however, never joins his friends at protests. Instead, he holes up in his room and writes his play. He tells Marjane that protesting is a waste, since Waldheim was elected democratically. Marjane calls Markus a coward when he insists that writing is his form of protest—they have to educate people so people won’t vote for Nazis. This marks the beginning of the end for their two-year relationship, though they both try to hold things together. On the night before Marjane’s 18th birthday, Marjane shares that she’s going to Graz with a friend and asks to stay the night. Markus reminds Marjane that her apartment is closer to the train station. In the morning, Marjane misses her train anyway.

Deciding this is a sign that she should spend her 18th birthday with Markus, Marjane picks up croissants and decides to surprise him. When she arrives, though, she finds Markus in bed with another woman. Markus tries to explain, but Marjane hurls insults at him. At this, Markus tells Marjane to leave. They never see each other again.