A State of Mixture by Richard Payne investigates the entwining of Zoroastrian and Christian groups in late antique Iran. Payne claims that “Zoroastrian and Christian elites, institutions, and symbols came to commingle in a political culture that the present book calls ‘a state of mixture,’ employing a metaphor current in contemporaneous Iranian political thought.” This quote summarizes and lays out the foundation for the rest of the arguments that he covers in his book, arguably making it his thesis.…
Akyol, throughout the book, often recognizes similarities and differences between Islam and Christianity; as well as, he notes the different environmental factors between the Middle East and the West and how they play a role in the political development of each religion. For example, Akyol explains the medieval christians’ fascination in Islamic liberalism and freedom, which Christianity, at the time, was considered a much more conservative ideology (78-79). Akyol uses these contrasting ideas to show the nature of religion and how it affects the development of a state in an academic and economic sense. As well as, he describes these differences in order to clear the misconceptions held by the West that Islam is a widely conservative ideology when in reality, it’s post-Qur’anic traditions that impose the conservative ideas seen in modern day Islamic states, in addition to giving a historical context that not necessarily long ago Christianity was considered the ultra-conservative doctrine.…
Persepolis is a historical book yet an entertaining story of a girl during a frightening time in an important era in her country. Author, Marjane Satrapi writes about her experience in Iran as a child. She includes humor as well as sentimentality in this book to express her view on how times were. As a reader of this book it helped me understand the dark times that the Iranian people faced. With this book being a memoir it further helped understand the Islamic Revolution and the actions taken by the people of Islam in their efforts to stay safe during the war with Iraq. Marjane Strapi brought her experience to life as she wrote this book.…
1. Satrapi is trying to dispel the stereotypical image that all Iranians are fundamentalists, extremists, or terrorists.…
Marjane faced many person vs. society conflicts. There were many changes being made in Iran due to the revolution. It was made mandatory for girls and women to wear the veil. Marjane and her friends did not understand why they had to wear the veil. Also, boys and girls were separated at school. Marjane…
The book addresses many of the challenges that Muslims face in this day and age, and touches on controversial topics such as jihad, warfare, terrorism, the nature and role of women, in the light of a clear distinction between puritans and moderates…
In Persepolis, by Marjane Satrapi, one can learn about how it was like to live in Iran during the Revolution of 1979. But before one can fully understand Persepolis, they must understand the condition of Iran in the 20th century. Before the Iranian Revolution, the type of government was a monarchy, but after the Shah was taken out of power, an Islamic republic was set in place. Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini was the one who started the revolution after he realized how corrupt the government was. The causes for the revolution include the country’s discontent with the Shah’s rule, the exile of Ayatollah Khomeini, and social injustice. The people used demonstrations, strikes, and civil resistance as methods to overthrow the Pahlavi dynasty. The…
The book Persepolis expresses a theme that not only occurs throughout this book, but also in life. I believe that death is the key to reality. Two events that happened in my life when I was very young can back up my theme. From my uncle being executed, to my friend who lived right next door to me, these events have helped me open my eyes to see what was really going on around me.…
This is relevant because in the “Introduction”, Satrapi says that although Iran is seen as a country with ties to “fundamentalism, fanaticism, and terrorism” (Satrapi paragraph 4), Iranians shouldn't all be condemned to that idea. It is made evident here that not all of the stereotypes placed on Iranians are true. Not all Iranians are terrorists. Some, like Marji and her family, represent frightened Iranians who seek something to lift their spirits when the regime is constantly pressing down on them. In spite of all the violence and terror occurring in their world, citizens still find a way to be happy and rejoice instead of crumbling to fear and terrorism. The whole point of her novel is to show the true culture of Iran and show that some of the stereotypes are inaccurate. Ordinary citizens like Marji and her family just want an outlet for their troubles and that leads them to fun activities to indulge in for the time…
the dominant tones used is rebellious. Many parts of the story comes off with a sense of…
In Marjane Satrapi’s book Persepolis the author writes how even though Iran deals with countless years of warfare, the submission to radical Islam, and the problem of education. Not all Iranians support the portrayal of their country by the western world. In fact this story gives the honest truth about the history of modern Iran.…
Keddie, N. (2003). Modern Iran: Roots and results of revolution. New Haven, CT: Yale University Press.…
Who People Are Are people what they love or what they are told to love? The Viel written by Marjane Satrapi asks this question in her comic strip based on her own life in Iran. During “The Islamic Revolution” in Iran in 1979 plenty of transformations took place (343). Differences happened in Iran that Satrapi did not feel comfortable with. Similarities hold between her life and that of many children in every land.…
Violent revolutions have been the most effective way to bring about change dating back to the American Revolution in the late 1700s. While analyzing this ferocious rebellion, it is revealed that all of the American’s non-violent attempts to compromise with Britain failed, and that it took a bloody eight year war for the Americans to finally separate from Britain. Violent revolutions are not only more effective, but easier to pull off. The Iranian government was a well known institution that used fear to prevent successful non-violent revolutions from happening, by executing innocent kids who spoke up against the government. “Between 1980 and 1983, the government had imprisoned and executed so many high-school and college students that we no…
During your tender years of childhood including young teenage years, you are not at the appropriate age to make important life decisions. Many of the decisions parents make for their children are for long term effects, specifically their future. In “Persepolis”, the Islamic Revolution is putting a strain on Marji’s future. With the war progressing and no signs of ending, Marji’s parents finally make the decision they need to send Marji to another place to start a new life. War causes parents to make decisions that may hurt them, but will benefit their child.…