Analysis Of Satrapi's Persepolis

Throughout the story Persepolis, there are many incidences where Marjane Satrapi's accuracy of how the historical events unfolded are questioned, and when you think about it, her influences may have distorted her interpretation of fact. How she regarded the topics of social classes, religion, and the revolution would have been affected by her environment, her age, her religion, her wealth, and much more. All of those influences combine to create Marjane’s perspective, and her perspective affects her presentation of social classes, religion, and revolution. To go a little deeper into how Satrapi’s presentation of the divide in social classes is thrown off by her perspective, her childhood experiences come into play. First,
Her religion can be demonstrated by the picture of the Emirate of Umm Al Quwain. The Emirate of Umm al Quwain is the center of all Islamic religion, and it is where everything “concerned with all aspects of the Islamic religion” takes place (Umm Al Quwain government online). Religion is an important aspect of the book Persepolis. Correspondingly, the theme of religion is regularly mentioned in the book. Marjane is very religion-oriented; when she is young, she believes she is the last prophet, and she constantly holds conversations with God. Her close relationship with her religion caused her to feel certain ways about things, like when she is devastated and confused at finding out that God did not actually choose the Shah. Religion also shows up in the book when the Shah begins to enforce the religion more strictly upon the country. The women are forced to wear the veil, alcohol and parties are banned, and posters, tapes, and memorabilia no longer are allowed into the country. The Guardians of the Revolution take it further and arrest anybody who is ‘improperly veiled’, or is not wearing appropriate clothes. Consequently, this change in how religion is viewed and enforced affects Marjane’s perspective; in the beginning of the
This is demonstrated through the picture through protest. People are out on the street trying to fight for their rights and to gain what they feel they deserve. They are tired of how they are being treated and have a hankering for a change, therefore they are revolting in the streets of their nation. That spirit of revolution is represented in the book when Marjane’s parents talk about the revolution and attend protests against the shah of the time. It can also be seen when the Iranian women effectuate demonstrations against the veil, protesting “guns may shoot and knives may carve, but we won't wear your silly scarves” (Satrapi 76). Accordingly, revolution affected Marjane’s perspective and, in turn, the way she represented it in her books. Her parents were actively taking part in the revolutions of the time, so her perspective was influenced by their actions. They made revolution seem like a good thing, something they should participate in. If Satrapi’s parents had not been active participants in demonstrations and revolutionary talk, she would have had a different perspective on the revolution against the Shah of the time. She became accustomed to people being captured and killed for the cause of bringing down the shah at a very young age. Her perspective, being as it was, that revolutionary actions were necessary and a positive thing to be a part of, affected her