Graphic Images In Persepolis
The Use of Graphic Images in Persepolis
Persepolis is a rollercoaster of emotions, this is because of the author’s very purposeful thought into each illustration. Marjane Satrapi’s use of graphic and artistic images help the reader understand the realities of living in a revolution, the loss of her innocence and religion in Iran.
First and foremost, this illustration represents the revolution, in Persepolis this is shown when the Iranians break the chains that their government had put on them. These people are free, but in the picture the shackles still remain which can also be seen as a remnant of the revolt. Which can be interpreted as the loss of people and stricter laws like those enforced in Persepolis. In the first revolution, Iranians wanted the Shah to leave Iran; unfortunately this led to a larger problem. The Islamic regime stepped in and Islam became the national religion that was forced upon the country and the regime began to blur the lines of religion and …show more content…
law. Revolutions were a big part of the book and we could see the effects it had on people’s families and friends. Even as a 13 year old girl, Marjane proudly says, “I was ready to defend my country, I wanted to fight.” (79) Marjane Satrapi includes symbolic drawings, such as the one shown below. Marjane Satrapi says “the revolution is like a bicycle. When the wheels don’t turn, it falls.”(6) This photo makes a complex idea easily understandable. Which proves the deep thought she put into every frame.
Secondly, in the photo Marjane is the white rose which represents her innocence. When her innocence slowly goes away it’s as if she’s being tainted, that’s what the blood represents. It all really began when she saw a woman at a rally get stabbed; it’s a disturbing picture that stuck with her. The graphic pictures are thought provoking. Her mother also takes away her innocence in a quick conversation, where she learns what the regime does to virgins. The last blow to her innocence was seeing her neighbor’s house destroyed and in the rubble her friend’s bracelet still attached, she had already lost some of her her naivete earlier, but seeing a part of her dead friend was the last straw. Such strong emotions are hard to depict and an empty black frame was fitting. After her eyes are opened to the world's impurities she lets it all go. Consequently, she smokes a cigarette she stole from her uncle, and says “With this first cigarette, I kissed my childhood goodbye.” (Satrapi 117) She realizes herself that she is no longer a child; her innocence is gone.
Thirdly, the photo shown is essentially Islam in Iran before the revolution.
Islam is truly peace and tranquility in its roots, but when the Islamic regime stepped in, Islam was changed for the worse. As a child she was very religious and even thought of herself as “the last prophet” (Satrapi 6) but after the revolution she is scared to break the laws and religion is no longer a way to get closer to god and instead she is forced to obey or else she will be punished severely. For example when Marjane runs into the guardians of the revolution and reveals “At the committee, they didn’t have to inform my parents. They could detain me for hours, or days. I could be whipped, in short, anything could happen to me.” (Satrapi 134) Later on, her mother instills this fear into her with harsh words and the absolute truth, but only for her daughter’s safe being. When she learns about the government's changes to Islam, her last worry is to keep her religious schedule, but to get out of this horrible
situation. In conclusion, Marjane Satrapi uses graphic images to her advantage which pulls the reader into the story. These photos show the impact of the revolution, the loss of innocence and religion on Marjane Satrapi in Iran.
Works Cited
Blacklock, Sarony. “Marjane Satrapi.” marjanesatrapi. 3 Nov. 2013. Online. 14 Feb. 2017.
Delli, Ellice. “World literature.” imaginingtheworld. 21 Apr. 2012. Online. 13 Feb. 2017.
Disciple, Freedoms. “Revolution in America – which revolutionary principles will YOU choose?”Freedomdisciple. 7 Mar. 2016. Online. 10 Feb. 2017.
Khan, Sarah. “Looking beyond the veil: Hidden transcripts in Persepolis.” morningsidereview.
2015. Online. 10 Feb. 2017.
Satrapi, Marjane. Persepolis. New York: Random House Publishing, 2003. Book.
The Editors of Encyclopædia Britannica. “Qur’an: Woman Reading the Qur’an.” Encyclopædia
Britannica. 5 Jan. 2017. Online. 10 Feb. 2017.
Persepolis is a rollercoaster of emotions, this is because of the author’s very purposeful thought into each illustration. Marjane Satrapi’s use of graphic and artistic images help the reader understand the realities of living in a revolution, the loss of her innocence and religion in Iran.
First and foremost, this illustration represents the revolution, in Persepolis this is shown when the Iranians break the chains that their government had put on them. These people are free, but in the picture the shackles still remain which can also be seen as a remnant of the revolt. Which can be interpreted as the loss of people and stricter laws like those enforced in Persepolis. In the first revolution, Iranians wanted the Shah to leave Iran; unfortunately this led to a larger problem. The Islamic regime stepped in and Islam became the national religion that was forced upon the country and the regime began to blur the lines of religion and …show more content…
law. Revolutions were a big part of the book and we could see the effects it had on people’s families and friends. Even as a 13 year old girl, Marjane proudly says, “I was ready to defend my country, I wanted to fight.” (79) Marjane Satrapi includes symbolic drawings, such as the one shown below. Marjane Satrapi says “the revolution is like a bicycle. When the wheels don’t turn, it falls.”(6) This photo makes a complex idea easily understandable. Which proves the deep thought she put into every frame.
Secondly, in the photo Marjane is the white rose which represents her innocence. When her innocence slowly goes away it’s as if she’s being tainted, that’s what the blood represents. It all really began when she saw a woman at a rally get stabbed; it’s a disturbing picture that stuck with her. The graphic pictures are thought provoking. Her mother also takes away her innocence in a quick conversation, where she learns what the regime does to virgins. The last blow to her innocence was seeing her neighbor’s house destroyed and in the rubble her friend’s bracelet still attached, she had already lost some of her her naivete earlier, but seeing a part of her dead friend was the last straw. Such strong emotions are hard to depict and an empty black frame was fitting. After her eyes are opened to the world's impurities she lets it all go. Consequently, she smokes a cigarette she stole from her uncle, and says “With this first cigarette, I kissed my childhood goodbye.” (Satrapi 117) She realizes herself that she is no longer a child; her innocence is gone.
Thirdly, the photo shown is essentially Islam in Iran before the revolution.
Islam is truly peace and tranquility in its roots, but when the Islamic regime stepped in, Islam was changed for the worse. As a child she was very religious and even thought of herself as “the last prophet” (Satrapi 6) but after the revolution she is scared to break the laws and religion is no longer a way to get closer to god and instead she is forced to obey or else she will be punished severely. For example when Marjane runs into the guardians of the revolution and reveals “At the committee, they didn’t have to inform my parents. They could detain me for hours, or days. I could be whipped, in short, anything could happen to me.” (Satrapi 134) Later on, her mother instills this fear into her with harsh words and the absolute truth, but only for her daughter’s safe being. When she learns about the government's changes to Islam, her last worry is to keep her religious schedule, but to get out of this horrible
situation. In conclusion, Marjane Satrapi uses graphic images to her advantage which pulls the reader into the story. These photos show the impact of the revolution, the loss of innocence and religion on Marjane Satrapi in Iran.
Works Cited
Blacklock, Sarony. “Marjane Satrapi.” marjanesatrapi. 3 Nov. 2013. Online. 14 Feb. 2017.
Delli, Ellice. “World literature.” imaginingtheworld. 21 Apr. 2012. Online. 13 Feb. 2017.
Disciple, Freedoms. “Revolution in America – which revolutionary principles will YOU choose?”Freedomdisciple. 7 Mar. 2016. Online. 10 Feb. 2017.
Khan, Sarah. “Looking beyond the veil: Hidden transcripts in Persepolis.” morningsidereview.
2015. Online. 10 Feb. 2017.
Satrapi, Marjane. Persepolis. New York: Random House Publishing, 2003. Book.
The Editors of Encyclopædia Britannica. “Qur’an: Woman Reading the Qur’an.” Encyclopædia
Britannica. 5 Jan. 2017. Online. 10 Feb. 2017.