Loss Of Innocence In The Cigarette

Through the symbolism of the cigarette, Marjane Satrapi highlights loss of innocence. In the final panels of the chapter titled “The Cigarette”, Marjane isolates herself from her mother, whom she feels is acting like a ruthless dictator because of her angry reaction to finding out that Marjane had ditched school. Throughout the four small panels (page 117, panels 6-9), Satrapi illustrates the transition from Marjane trying the cigarette, coughing out of disgust and deeming it “awful” with tears rolling down her face, to surprisingly putting it back in her mouth. By ending this transition, as well as the chapter, with Marjane stating “I kissed childhood goodbye”, Satrapi emphasizes Marjane’s official loss of innocence in the midst of her “mother’s