Persepolis Character Analysis
Introduction
The graphic novel Persepolis is a two-part series by author Marjane Satrapi that consists of Persepolis: The Story of a Childhood and Persepolis 2: The Story of a Return. The graphic novels carry the reader through Satrapi’s life as a child in Iran, her migration to Austria to get away from the war and its effects, and back to the war-torn country of Iran when Satrapi has matured into a lady. The novels aim to highlight the author’s experiences she faces both in her childhood and her adolescence.
Plot
Exposition
The book starts by the author, Marjane Satrapi, referring to the Islamic Revolution of 1980 which brings new rules. Marjane asks to join a demonstration showing revolt against the Shah, but her parents do not allow her …show more content…
Marjane eventually goes back to Europe to continue her education and life the lifestyle she wants to.
Characters
The main character in the Persepolis series is the author herself—Marjane Satrapi. The series walks the reader through how she develops from her childhood to adolescence with everything she encounters on the way.
Behaviours
One of Marjane’s major behavioural changes are when she allows a broken relationship to put her self-esteem and self-worth down, causing her to go into depression due to having no support. The quote, “I spent more than two months on the street in the middle of winter…until I spit blood and ended up…” (Satrapi 2.86), shows the extent to which she hurt herself on account of depression. Depression also leads her to attempt committing suicide. Fortunately, she survives and looks on it as an act of god, so she decides to get a hold of her life. This is illustrated by the quote, “I inferred from this that I was not made to die. From now on, I am taking myself in hand” (2.119). Another sign of behavioural change is when Marjane grows into an adult in Austria. With this, she decides to update her look to assimilate with the population. With these changes, she is making herself different from her own culture which presents problems for Marjane upon return to Tehran. This highlighted by the quote, “The harder I tried to assimilate, the more I had feeling that I was distancing myself from my culture, betraying my parents and my origins”
The graphic novel Persepolis is a two-part series by author Marjane Satrapi that consists of Persepolis: The Story of a Childhood and Persepolis 2: The Story of a Return. The graphic novels carry the reader through Satrapi’s life as a child in Iran, her migration to Austria to get away from the war and its effects, and back to the war-torn country of Iran when Satrapi has matured into a lady. The novels aim to highlight the author’s experiences she faces both in her childhood and her adolescence.
Plot
Exposition
The book starts by the author, Marjane Satrapi, referring to the Islamic Revolution of 1980 which brings new rules. Marjane asks to join a demonstration showing revolt against the Shah, but her parents do not allow her …show more content…
Marjane eventually goes back to Europe to continue her education and life the lifestyle she wants to.
Characters
The main character in the Persepolis series is the author herself—Marjane Satrapi. The series walks the reader through how she develops from her childhood to adolescence with everything she encounters on the way.
Behaviours
One of Marjane’s major behavioural changes are when she allows a broken relationship to put her self-esteem and self-worth down, causing her to go into depression due to having no support. The quote, “I spent more than two months on the street in the middle of winter…until I spit blood and ended up…” (Satrapi 2.86), shows the extent to which she hurt herself on account of depression. Depression also leads her to attempt committing suicide. Fortunately, she survives and looks on it as an act of god, so she decides to get a hold of her life. This is illustrated by the quote, “I inferred from this that I was not made to die. From now on, I am taking myself in hand” (2.119). Another sign of behavioural change is when Marjane grows into an adult in Austria. With this, she decides to update her look to assimilate with the population. With these changes, she is making herself different from her own culture which presents problems for Marjane upon return to Tehran. This highlighted by the quote, “The harder I tried to assimilate, the more I had feeling that I was distancing myself from my culture, betraying my parents and my origins”