A living rose symbolizes purity and innocence, therefore one can assume that a dead, withering rose implies the opposite, loss of purity and innocence, as illustrated. This indicates that the symbolism in the lively rose is gone and the withering rose implies the opposite. This theme is exemplified in the story on page 51 when the illustrations show Ahmadi being tortured in a prison by various means (Satrapi 51). The image in the center shows a few of these torturing methods and the image on the bottom panel shows Marjane frightened by the sight of the iron after the stories of Ahmadi (Satrapi 51). The text states, “They burned him with an iron...I never imagined that you could use that appliance for torture...” (Satrapi 51). This suggests the theme “loss of innocence” because Marjane was “innocent” or wasn’t exposed to a lot of things before she heard about the torturing that happened in the prisons and she was very surprised as well as being frightened. The images help show this theme by Satrapi’s use of facial expressions in the bottom image on page 51. Likewise, the author, Marjane Satrapi, emphasizes the theme on page 76 of the novel when Marjane and her parents go to a demonstration that becomes very brutal and violent. At first, Marjane’s father didn’t want her to attend the demonstration, however, her mother insisted that Marjane attend so …show more content…
She was at a very young and naive age at the time she is experiencing this brutality, creating the theme “loss of innocence”. Finally, the author’s efficacious use of graphic images aids the presentation of the theme, “religion”, in the novel Persepolis. This image shows religion because it shows the following of one belief. Many people refer to the north star as something to follow when one is lost. Similarly, religion is also seen as something people try to follow if they are lost in faith or spirit. This implies the theme religion because the star symbolizes the following of a faith or god; religion. This theme is presented in the graphic novel Persepolis in several situations throughout the novel. Near the beginning of the novel, Marjane wants to become a prophet, but by the end of the story, Marjane is a rebel and religion is not present in her life. In the bottom right panel on page 17, Marjane is shown laying in bed with tears streaming down her face as she asks, “god, where are you?” (Satrapi 17). The text attached to the image says “that night he didn’t come” (Satrapi 17), suggesting that she was very close to god and took religion seriously, contrasting her latter personality. At the end of the novel, Marjane says that she is very “rebellious” in her actions and didn’t consider god or religion in her actions. The illustrations on page 143 of the novel accurately depicts Marjane’s rebellious behavior,