Satrapi's Persepolis: An Analysis

In Persepolis, a memoir by Marjane Satrapi’s, she recounts her younger years growing up in the Islamic Revolution. Satrapi recounts for several memoirs that include massacres, wearing a veil, and the new rules of the Islamic church. Satrapi memories show her first account perspective and personal events as a child. In Persepolis, Satrapi depicts a beneficial memoir by showing her childhood events by illustrations viewing the growth through the Islamic Revolution in a childlike approach. At the beginning of Persepolis, Satrapi recounts when she had to start wearing a veil to school, and her school was split between boys and girls. All bilingual schools are ordered to close by order of the government. Satrapi old school was a French non-religious
Satrapi’s parents often attend demonstrations and believe freedom should be for everyone. At a riot Satrapi dad goes to take pictures of the protest, however, taking pictures of riots is strictly illegal. Satrapi dad has been arrested before but managed to escape at the last minute. Satrapi’s family waits for her dad for hours and are sure he has been arrested. Hours later he comes home unharmed with great pictures. Her parent’s political opinions are different than that of the Islamic Revolution. They believe in a free land for all. At one point Satrapi asks her parents if she can go to a demonstration with her parents, her dad states, “it is very dangerous, they shoot people… you can participate later on.” (17) Satrapi’s perspective of the way he parents demonstrate the different types of beliefs in Iran. While her parents are fro freedom, others believe in strict government rules. At the end of Persepolis, Satrapi is walking down the road, after picking up music tapes, when a van full of Guardians of the Revolution, “the woman’s branch… to arrest women who were improperly veils.” (132) Satrapi is wearing tennis shoes, skinny black pants, and a denim jacket. Satrapi talked her way out of being arrested, but was almost taken to The Committee, the headquarters for The Guardians of the Revolution. Satrapi is forced to tell The Guardians of the Revolution that her mom will burn her with the iron and that her father will put her
Satrapi maid, Mehri, had to leave her family at eight years old in order to make money for her family. Satrapi’s parents raised Mehri and she treated her like an older sister. At sixteen years old Mehri begins to get letters from Satrapi’s neighbor’s son, every night they looked into each other’s windows. When they start to write letters Satrapi has to help Mehri’s because she doesn’t know how to write letters. Mehri falls in love with the neighbor boy and is forced to separate from the neighbor by Satrapi’s dad. Because Mehri is a peasant, she has a lower statues than that of the neighbor boy she fell in love with. Satrapi doesn’t understand why Mehri can’t date outside of her social class. Satrapi tells her dad “But is it her fault that she was born where she was born?”(36) Satrapi believes everyone should be treated she same and social statues shouldn’t be a thing. Satrapi wonders if her dad is for or against social class because of the way Mehri is treated in society. Satrapi illustrates very well in Persepolis to show a visual image of how Mehri and her neighbor communicate. Mehri helps Satrapi describe and shows personal illustrations to depict a memories that influenced her life. Persepolis, by Marjane Satrapi’s tells the story of a young girl turning into a woman in the midst of the Islamic revolution. She learns to stand up for herself, learns about her new government,