Stereotypes In The Jewels

Despite the oppressive regime, ordinary Iranians enjoyed life by throwing parties, playing card games, dancing, drinking alcohol, telling jokes, and listening to music. These events are to distract from the horror they face everyday. They also highlight happiness in difficult times. For example, Satrapi uses comic relief in “The Jewels” to balance out the severity of the women of Iran turning on one another with kidney beans and “flatulence” (92). The jokes the children make gives them a sense of childishness and innocence, which is quite different from the situation they are in. In addition, citizens oppose and rebel against the regime when participating in activities that are deemed illegal. For example, in “The Wine”, Marji and her parents attend a party thrown by her uncle. They danced and drank alcohol, all of which is illegal. Someone said that without the parties, “it wouldn't be
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