Juxtaposition In Marjane Satrapi's Persepolis

The Significance of Juxtaposition in Persepolis

It is not possible for a country to function when it’s people are against their own government. Persepolis is an example of just how problematic this can become, a world where the rule of the government is no longer accepted by the people. The people of Iran desperately search for solutions by revolting against their strict government, however their plans are often violently shut down. In the story of Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi the juxtaposition of color, size, and age is used to emphasize the hope of the people versus the violent oppression of the government. Marjane Satrapi juxtaposes the dark color of black and the pale white within the story to contrast the simplicity of the people’s

The young Satrapi is the innocent and hopeful one. She speaks about the war in a simplistic and naïve nature. On page 37 a young Marjane is confused by the idea of separating social classes. Marjane cares about her maid Mehri and believes that is simply all that matters, that regardless of class she should be allowed to sit with them at dinner and love who she wants. It was the voiceover in the last panel on page 37, where the older Marjane accepts they are not in the same social class, but are still able to enjoy each other’s company. Young Marjane is also very emotional in times of distress. On page 70, Marjane is seen yelling at God as if blaming him for the loss of her beloved Uncle Anoosh and the war itself. Marjane seeks someone to take her anger out on, rather than defying the government; she blames her own beliefs and leaves her ideals of God in the past. Her future self, voicing the panel on page 71 in which she seems to be floating through space, reflects upon the moment she found out about war and truly accepted it. She is not really mad at God, but is rather upset due to her confusion and growing lack of hope for the future. This is also portrayed near the end of the book with the Marjane in the book starting to sync with the author’s voiceovers. It is in the end where Marjane’s innocence is forgotten and her independence is seen. On page 147, she jumps into this independence as she is told she will be going to Austria alone to study. This is where the character and voiceovers finally become parallel in their uneasiness about leaving their parents behind. Marjane is no longer the naïve child she started as, she ends up a sad young adult having to leave her parents to rot in an oppressive government that will