In Marjane Satrapi’s personal memoir, Persepolis, young Marjane's identity and those of women amongst her are affected by the obligatory Veil, which is seen from the treatment she receives throughout her childhood and into her teenage years. In the beginning, basic moments vital to the formation of Marjane’s identity are affected by the obligatory Veil. As the novel progresses, the knowledge of others’ opinions begins to sink in as Marjane realizes the Veil will structure her identity because of her gender. Ultimately, by the end of the novel, Marjane’s identity is treated as an object in need of religious structure, the Veil, which furthermore limits her opportunities as a woman. At the start of the novel, the Veil prohibits Marjane from expressing herself individually and enjoying the fun of childhood. During a child’s elementary years, being lawfully required to wear a religious item eliminates one’s ability …show more content…
In the years after the establishment of the obligatory Veil, Marjane’s mother is demeaned and called a whore in the streets for “bad hijabi,” and Marjane realizes that the Veil affects both one’s physical and personal identities as well. In an image from the novel, Marjane’s mother’s feelings are expressed (Page 74). Furthermore, Marjane notices the Veil's effect on women’s personal identities when she participates in protests against the Veil. Marjane recalled, “For the first time in my life, I saw violence with my own eyes,” (10. 75.). Men for the Veil attacked and demeaned the female protesters, showing that as long as the Veil is required, women will not be allowed to express their political, physically, or recreational identities anymore unless they wish to be harassed and scolded. As Marjane’s interests change as she becomes a teenager, she begins to become directly affected by the
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
For some women wearing a veil is not something that is forced on them but rather a choice of their own. Martha Nussbaum and Maysan Haydar are both authors that try to explain their reasoning that veiling isn't an oppressive tool used against women. Martha Nussbaum's article “Veiled Threats”, is a political and philosophical take on why banning the burqa is a violation of human rights. On the other hand Maysan Haydar’s article “Don’t Judge a Muslim Girl by Her Covering”, is a more humorous and personal take on why veiling shouldn't be as judged or stereotyped. Though Nussbaum and Haydar have equal goals this essay is being used to understand the main argument, claims and whether or not each article has any weaknesses.
Furthermore, Haydar expresses that she has been able to embrace the modesty in veiling and that it allows her to be seen as a whole person. She addresses the fact that “many Americans see veiling as an oppressive tool forced on Muslim women by the men in our culture” (414). Yet, Haydar informs the readers that veiling isn’t specific to the Islam culture and is also a choice for many women. She even points out that many other religions promote and advocate for modesty in
Today’s class discussion on Persepolis 2 (Marjanne Satrapi) revealed the importance of dependence and independence in forming one's identity. Persepolis 2 starts when Satrapi has been sent to Vienna by her parents to escape the oppressive Iranian regime. In doing so she is also separating herself from the dependence she had on her parents. In this separation Satrapi is left without inhibitions, her rebellious attitude consumes her. She becomes friends with anarchists and experiments with drugs.
Professor Leila Ahmed, active Islamic feminist, in her article “Reinventing the veil” published in the Financial Times assumes that there is a connection between “advancement” and veiling, which means that unveiled women are advanced and vice versa. In addition, she supports that it led to increasing rate of violence. She questions why women wear veil, that is considered as “symbol of patriarchy and women’s oppression”. However, research changed her position towards wearing veil. Firstly, she states that wearing veil was essential for women, because it could be beneficial and influence to how people treat women, in terms of job, marriage and free movement in public. Secondly, her assumption was explained while interviewing women, who stated
During our class discussions, the issue of identity in Marjane Satrapi’s novel, Persepolis (2004), became a contentious issue. The question was asked whether Persepolis might be understood to being in-dialogue with western ways of seeing and did the effects of modernization influence the identity of Marjane’s protagonist in Persepolis. How does the novel involve the issue of identity? I will extend the argument and, through the exploration of Marji’s changing ideologies, I will attempt to prove that Marji is caught between the traditional eastern culture and western modernization.
Little Marjane is like any other girl. She loves to play with friends, play games, explore, and do normal girl things. She is smart, and has smart parents that know how things work, and are almost independent from the rest of the country. They are a group of “rebels,” and what they're rebelling against is the veil. The veil is a piece of fine material worn by women in the Islamic religion to protect or conceal the face.
Marjane Strapi had the choice to share her coming of age story in many ways but she decided to share her experience in a surprising way. Satrapi wrote her autobiography in a comic novel. Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi is a popular autobiography comic novel not only, because it is a primary source of historical events of Iran but also, because the book provides many life lessons and makes a person more open-minded of its surrounding. “ They were Guardians of the Revolution, The Women Branch…. [they] arrested women who were improperly veiled.”
When it comes to culture, different views can cause major conflicts, and these said conflicts occur in the novel Persepolis. The book is a memoir about Marjane Satrapi, also known as Marji, growing up in Iran under the Shah’s rule and the Islamic rule. Even with the many different cultures in Iran, she stuck up for what she believed in and rebelled against the things she thought were wrong. In Persepolis, Marjane’s growth is affected by various aspects of culture including religion, government, and social organization.
To begin with, Marjane has encountered with internal conflict caused by external conflict—since a child. For instance, Marjane claims, “ My faith was not unshakable.” (10) This example conveys Marjane’s easy influence to discard any of her beliefs due to the Islamic Revolution. In fact, the Islamic Revolution was a reason for a lot of Marjane’s internal conflict. For example, Marjane reveals, “I really didn't know what to think about the veil. Deep down I was very religious but as a family, we were very modern and avant-garde.”(6) This illustration represents Marjane’s confusion on her spirituality. Also, this demonstrates Marjane deciding if her modern lifestyle is appropriate even though it's different from her religion. To
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. Marjane’s mother was one of the most influential people in her life, her mother taught her to be strong and independent. By introducing her mother through the story of her mother getting photographed at a demonstration, Marjane presents her mother as being independent and rebellious (Satrapi 5).
However, she says otherwise. Being surrounded by other women who serve as her role-models she has learned to find the veil liberating and dignifying; it gives her a sense of strength and empowers her. She may be the only one in the building garbed the way she does but that does not stir any feelings of being worthless or low statured. In fact, this piece of cloth has taken a place in her heart such that she feels unique being the only one cloaking the way she does.
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
The main character Siham has mixed emotions towards her veil. Which then highly compares to how I feel about how I was raised. She both appreciates and disowns it, similar to how I shun and I praise my way of being raised. Siham was taught to keep herself covered from all men to gain respect and to maintain respect.
The book, Persepolis, is a biographical story about of girl named Marjane that lives in Iran. Marjane and the children were marginalized at their school by the Islamic government and by their teachers. Marjane was also raised in an oppressive culture where a group is in position of power who controls the less powerful in cruel and in unfair ways. Also, a lot of women were marginalized after 1979 the Iranian Revolution. Marjane was living and growing up with a family that was a communist family.