The graphic novel Persepolis is a two-part series by author Marjane Satrapi that consists of Persepolis: The Story of a Childhood and Persepolis 2: The Story of a Return. The graphic novels carry the reader through Satrapi’s life as a child in Iran, her migration to Austria to get away from the war and its effects, and back to the war-torn country of Iran when Satrapi has matured into a lady. The novels aim to highlight the author’s experiences she faces both in her childhood and her adolescence. Plot Exposition The book starts by the author, Marjane Satrapi, referring to the Islamic Revolution of 1980 which brings new rules.
Marjane asks to join a demonstration showing revolt against the Shah, but her parents do not allow her to participate on the account that it is too dangerous. Rules are strictly enforced and the Satrapis take a vacation to let matters cool down. Rising Action Upon their return, a war has sprung amongst Iran and the Arabs, which leads to mass destruction. Marjane smokes her first cigarette symbolizing her growing up. Marjane gets into trouble by the Guardians of the Revolution for wearing westernized clothing which is banned. Climax Due to the dangers of the war, Marjane moves to Austria to live with Zozo, her mother’s best friend.
She uses narcotics constantly to combat stress and loneliness. Marjane is constantly moving houses because she can’t seem to get along with the landlords. Falling Action Upon returning to Tehran, Marjane sees the aftermath of the war. She feels isolated and attempts to commit sucide. Considering the failure a sign, she decides to get a grasp of herself. Conclusion Marjane gets married to an Iranian boy, but her relationship does not work out and she gets a divorce. Marjane eventually goes back to Europe to continue her education and life the lifestyle she wants to.
Characters The main character in the Persepolis series is the author herself—Marjane Satrapi. The series walks the reader through how she develops from her childhood to adolescence with everything she encounters on the way. Behaviours One of Marjane’s major behavioural changes are when she allows a broken relationship to put her self-esteem and self-worth down, causing her to go into depression due to having no support. The quote, “I spent more than two months on the street in the middle of winter…until I spit blood and ended up…” (Satrapi 2. 86), shows the extent to which she hurt herself on account of depression.
Depression also leads her to attempt committing suicide. Fortunately, she survives and looks on it as an act of god, so she decides to get a hold of her life. This is illustrated by the quote, “I inferred from this that I was not made to die. From now on, I am taking myself in hand” (2. 119). Another sign of behavioural change is when Marjane grows into an adult in Austria. With this, she decides to update her look to assimilate with the population. With these changes, she is making herself different from her own culture which presents problems for Marjane upon return to Tehran.
This highlighted by the quote, “The harder I tried to assimilate, the more I had feeling that I was distancing myself from my culture, betraying my parents and my origins” (2. 39). Actions One of Marjane’s distinguishing actions that show her transformation is smoking her first cigarette. The quote, “as for me, I sealed my act of rebellion against my mother’s dictatorship by smoking the cigarette I’d stolen from my uncle two weeks earlier…with this first cigarette, I kissed childhood goodbye” (1. 117), shows her transformation as she leaves her childhood and is becoming older.
Another action of Marjane’s is that she becomes addicted to narcotics to relieve stress and for pleasure to stay happy being away from her parents and home. The quote, “I began my career as a drug dealer” (2. 68), shows the extent of her addiction and as stated previously, she has an emotional breakdown with narcotics being a contributing factor. The action of Marjane wearing westernized clothing despite the bans/norms shows she is self-aware and will do what she believes is right.
To protect herself and what she believes, Marjane ends up getting n innocent man beat by the Guardians of the Revolution to avoid them from noticing her western clothing and makeup (2. 131-133). Relationships Throughout the series, Marjane has many relationships most of which end up failing. One of her sustained relationships is with her parents. She maintains her relationship with them and it shows that she needs them through the following quote, “I needed so badly to go home” (2. 91). Their relationship is normal, just as any parents with their child. One thing that does stand out is that her parents are very permissive relative to the situation of their surroundings.
For example, she is allowed to go out alone at the age of 13 being a girl during the times of repression (1. 131). Many relationships with boyfriends all fail. They start off by starting as how she wants, but tend up disastrous due to circumstances. One of her boyfriends early on abandon her after admitting the fact that he has confirmed he is gay. Another boyfriend, Markus, uses Marjane for her money and is caught cheating on her, which leads to her breakdown. When it comes to love, Marjane is blinded and does not realize what is happening. This is illustrated by the quote, “How could I have been so blind?
What love? What support? What an asshole! ” (2. 82). Marjane’s final relationship is with a boy from Iran named Reza. This is who she decides to marry, but her father knew all along that it would not work out which is exactly what happened. This is because her father knew she was not ready with the lifestyle she had. This shown by the quote, “I was already sorry…I had conformed to society…it required too many compromises. I couldn’t accept it, but it was too late” (2. 163). Goals Marjane has a hidden goal of being westernized and Iran is repressing her.
She is constantly wearing western clothing and makeup, but she is not really aware of the goal. Although, her mother is aware as stated by the quote, “The Iran of today is not for you” (2. 187). This is why she sends Marjane to Europe. Themes One of the major themes in the series is the theme of war and its impacts. The war influences what the Satrapis do all throughout. One example of this is Marjane’s parents’ decisions to Austria for safety from the war. The quote, “We feel it’s better for you to be far away and happy than close by and miserable” (1. 48), describes the current situation in Iran as not pleasing because of the violence.
This is due to the constant bomb threats and witnessing of many innocent and close relatives dying. This is why her parents think it is in her best interest to move to Austria. Another example that shows the destruction of the war is the amount of work available after the lengthy eight year war that most think was unnecessary. The quote, “Do you always get home so late? Ah yes, I have a lot of work these days. Now that the war was over, my father, an engineer, didn’t know where to begin.
Everything has to be rebuilt now” (2. 98), shows that the amount of destruction is causing workers in the industry to work late due to everything have to be rebuilt. This is usually an outcome of war and destruction is practically inevitable. The example of all the street signs being changed to include martyr’s names is also a statement showing the significant amount of lost lives due to the war. The quote, “Many had changed names. They were now called martyr what’s-his-name avenue or martyr something-or-other street. It was very unsettling.
I felt as though as I were walking through a cemetery” (2. 97), shows the great amount of casualties; some soldiers and some civilians from aerial attacks. Preceding this quote, it shows Marjane walking through the streets of Iran and she sees many sixty-five-foot-high murals displaying martyrs with slogans like, “the martyr is the heart of history,” or, “I hope to be a martyr myself,” or, “A martyr lives forever” (2. 96). These slogans also show that all of the surrounding environment is transformed due to the war and like Satrapi says, “It is very unsettling. ”
Another major theme is the theme of repression due to religion. As an outcome of the Islamic Revolution in 1980 and the war which enforced repression, the new Islamic regime instated strict laws against objects that suggested affiliation from the west. These new bans bring severe penalties if one did not comply. One example of the repression is the Guardians of the Revolution. This group enforces all of the laws, one of which includes, women cannot show any hair; all women must wear veils at all times.
The quote, “This group had been added in 1982, to arrest who were improperly veiled. Like me, for example)” (1. 132), shows the enforcement actions in place which could have potential punishments of detainment, being whipped, or anything for that matter” (1. 134). After the laws were updated, the criteria and severity increased. Another example of repression occurs when a new law stated that women can no longer show any of their skin at all. This reduced all art to be paintings of women wearing drapes. The quote, “In the past, we drew nudes, but things have changed. Your model will be covered.
Try to make the best of it” (2. 45), shows the amount of repression in Iran. The purpose of art, to be spontaneous and creative, is being reduced to minimal creativity. The example when Marjane comes home to Iran also shows the state of repression. The quote, “I immediately felt the repressive air of my country” (2. 92), indicates the type of atmosphere upon entering Iran. This shows the impact of repression as being strong enough that it can easily be identified by an outsider. These are the two major themes that affect the Satrapis and in particular, Marjane as she goes from her childhood to adolescence.
