Points of view about the Iranian Revolution differ. From Marjane Satrapi’s perspective, the Iranian Revolution (and resulting regime) was sexist and anti-feminist. The reader meets and comes to know an articulate Iranian female voice standing against the fundamental ideas of the regime. Accordingly, Persepolis is not only a humanist work, nor simply is it a recorded history of revolutionary Iran. Instead it is an original feminist text equally because thinking women capable of individual action are at its center, and because by reporting her story Satrapi explores femininity in a fiercely male dominated society.
Formatted as a vivid graphic novel, Persepolis is a female coming of age story. She struggles with autonomy, showing Satrapi’s childhood
For example, Marjane wore nail polish and displayed Americana. Marji’s mother tells her that she would “be better off without nail polish” because she “could get arrested.” Marji responds in a rebellious manner by saying that she will “put [her] hands in [her] pockets.” See Persepolis at page 119. Marjane also wore a “cool” denim jacket, and Michael Jackson pin. See Persepolis at page 131. Her bedroom displayed an Iron Maiden poster. See Perspolis at page 132. In large things and small Marji stands against the physical and intellectual pressures placed upon women by the Iranian regime. These acts of bravery can easily be called feminist, just as they can be called humanist. Similarly, Persepolis exhibits and protests against Iran 's male-oriented society. It stands in opposition to sexism. Throughout the book there are examples of women being minimized and controlled. For example, Marji attends school and is forced twice a day to mourn the dead by marching and hitting her breasts. See Persepolis at page 95. Her family stood in opposition to the Iranian religious leadership. Taking photos (which was forbidden) is an example. “He took photos every day. It was strictly forbidden. He had even been arrested once but escaped at the last minute” See Persepolis at page 29. Iranian institutions of learning were closed. Because Marji stands against the oppressive regime, at least at times and as according to her age
In Persepolis, Satrapi develops the central idea of Marji and her parents rebelling against the social injustices held by the Shah and the government. This is demonstrated in chapters “ The Trip”, “The Passport”, and “Kim Wilde”. Early in the revolution, females were forced to cover themselves up. They were told to wear their veils because it didn’t show a sign of western American style or sexual
Orientalism is a way of viewing the world as divided into two unequal halves: the Occident and the Orient. Occidental means Western Hemisphere, and Oriental means Eastern Hemisphere. These ideas of orientalism are challenged in Satrapi's Persepolis. A book about a young girl Marji who lived in Iran in the 1980’s, and therefore is placed in the beginning years of political and religious turmoil in Iran. Satrapi Juxtaposes the western view of Iran to Iran by showing similarities between America and Iran through Marji’s youth and adventures throughout the book.
Persepolis is a inspirational story written by Marjane Satrapi in the perspective of a young girl’s life during a powerful, historical moment in Iran. The Islamic Revolution was a life-changing moment that impacted her view on the world around her and her innocence shaping her into the woman she is today. Not many people understand what it feels like to feel pain, hurt and abandonment as a child from major and minor things. The author writes this story and decides for it to be a graphic novel to allow the not only young readers, but also for those who do not understand what happens everyday in the world they live in. Satrapi uses all rhetorical stances, ethos, pathos, and logos to show problems, purpose and emotions.
Persepolis is a graphic novel depicting the life of author Marjane Satrapi’s life throughout the Islamic revolution, starting from her childhood. At one point in the story, the Shah of Iran has left the country, and Marjane’s parents think that they will have new freedoms. Later, however, the country is bombed and fundamentalists occupy the United States embassy. After these events, Marjane is ultimately forced to leave the country without her parents to live in Europe. This was foreshadowed in arguably the most significant panel in Persepolis, the 7th panel on page 43. It features Marjane and her parents, sitting in the family’s living room, the news on a television in the background. They are discussing the fact that the Shah recently left Iran to live in Egypt. Around the panel’s frame is a serpent-like creature. In this panel, Marjane Satrapi uses the frame, and contrasting facial expressions and dialogue to show that the Shah is not the only problem in Iran, foreshadowing the unexpected events of unrest that fill the rest of the story.
Persepolis is a coming of age story written by Marjane Satrapi in 20001. Depicting a young girl growing up during the religious revolts in Iran. Throughout the story the main character loses her innocence. The author uses the appeals of genre, ethos, pathos, and logos, historical context, and illustration to depict the loss of innocence in the main character.
Marji shows her resistance to her government by accepting the Western Culture, listening to American music at home, and wearing jeans and jewelry regardless of what her teacher said. In Persepolis, it stated, “ I was fourteen and a rebel. Nothing scared me anymore”(Satrapi 143/). The word “rebel” is used for people, who committed crime against the government’s laws. This highlights Marji’s ignorance of laws.
Due to the serious tensions looming in the air, many people would think it is strictly forbidden to laugh a little or have fun in Iran. The constant political instability makes it seem like the citizens live like robots under extreme oppression. However, in Marjane Satrapi’s biography, Persepolis, she gives an inside look at her experiences growing up in Iran and adds comic relief throughout the novel. As the main character, Marjane, evolves from an innocent girl into a mature woman, Satrapi adds bits of comic relief to highlight her typical personality while living in the midst of an oppressive society.
The novel Persepolis, written by Marjane Satrapi, portrays a diverse amount of symbolism throughout the novel which contributes to the protagonist developing into a young women. The main character, Marji Satrapi flourishes at an early age in her life due to the setting of the novel. Satrapi acquires knowledge about different insights of the Iranian government which constitutes her self judgement. Satrapi reckons that the individuals that make up the population of Iran should all support the idea of the government before the ministry of Iran can commence a war. “For a revolution to succeed the entire population must support it" (Satrapi 17).
Religion, government, and social organization all played a part in Marji’s journey in Persepolis from childhood to adulthood. Religion caused many arguments between Marji and parents, friends, and teachers. The Iranian government affected Marji by making her more rebellious than she already was. Social organization was a big issue in her life, because she had a good relationship with her maid and was angry that she could not have the same opportunities. The revolution in Iran has changed Marjane Satrapi’s life, in ways good and
In Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi, Marji regains her rebellious side when she is confronted with the sexist dress code and hypocrisy at her arts school, as well as her life outside of school. When Marji is called to an assembly, she is told that she must be modest, avoid makeup, and wear a longer veil, to which she is depicted as standing up for herself and others against this dress code, as is seen on the images from pages 296 and 297. Satrapi does an excellent job illustrating this when she draws Marji standing up in a crowd of veils, and defying all odds. By doing this, Marji establishes her sense of freedom once again and is granted the ability to make change in the system. Moreover, she is able to prove herself once again even through harsh
Throughout Persepolis, Marjane Satrapi displays the vital role that the women around her have in developing her character and becoming the woman she is today. Women such as her mother, her grandmother, her school teachers, the maid, the neighbors, and even the guardians of the revolution influenced Marjane and caused her to develop into an independent, educated, and ambitious woman. Throughout the novel, Marjane never completely conforms or lets go of her roots, this is strongly due to the women who have influenced her.
Throughout Persepolis, Marjane Satrapi displays the vital role that the women around her have in developing her character and becoming the woman she is today. Women such as her mother, her grandmother, her school teachers, the maid, the neighbors, and even the guardians of the revolution influenced Marjane and caused her to develop into an independent, educated, and ambitious woman. Throughout the novel, Marjane never completely conforms or lets go of her roots, this is primarily due to the women who have influenced her.
Satrapi continued encouraging Marji’s unique style and ideas. Her mother did not want Marji hidden from the world, rather she wanted her to open to new ideas and opinions. In Persepolis, Mrs. Satrapi sewed Marji a leather jacket to wear out in public. Rather than tell her the right and wrongs, or what could happen, she taught Marji to think for herself and discover the consequences or rewards. After purchasing music from a strange vendor on the street, two women (fundamentalists) stopped her, berating her for her “western decadence” and “punk” style (Satrapi 2007). Only thirteen-years-old, Marji was labeled a “slut,” because her veil revealed too much and her creative jacket mocked their religious policies. Yet, Marji found a way to get away from the women by compulsively lying to them, a trait she learned from her mother. Only when Marji’s life was being threatened did she finally stop encouraging and send her to Vienna so she can freely express her opinions without Iran’s rules and regulations. A clear line, drawn between these fundamentalist women and Marji’s resistant family, creates two separate influences on Marji. Should she follow the rules, or respect her own personal values and
Marjane Satrapi in her memoir, “The Complete Persepolis” enlightens readers with the reality of living in Iran, as she tells her journey through her life of becoming a woman during the Islamic Revolution. Iran similar to other countries has made different prescribed roles for their women and men based on their cultures religious and traditional set of laws. Society to them was a depiction of what their people were expected to look, and act like when in public. When trying to understand the importance of gender along with their roles in society, it’s crucial to acknowledge outside factors, for instance things like culture and social class. The characters throughout her memoir illustrate how their
Persepolis, a graphic novel by Marjane Satrapi, is not a run-of-the-mill comic book. It is written with purpose. Satrapi wrote and illustrated this book to show Americans that their perspective of her home country, Iran, is askew. She believes Americans are too focused on the “fundamentalism, fanaticism, and terrorism” (Satrapi ii), of the nation and that they forget to notice the normality and humanness of it. Since these two perspectives have vast differences, Satrapi wants to change their minds. Thus, it is crucial that she effectively communicate this humanness of Iran to the literary audience in America. Since the literary devices in a work are needed to correctly convey a message, she found it necessary to include these and manipulate them in her favor. Satrapi uses the innocence of a child along with morals in her pictures and a relation of cultures to effectively communicate her message. It is necessary to examine how she manipulates such literary devices in order to gain a full understanding of the text.