Freedom vs. Oppression and Fundamentalism
During the Iranian revolution, women had restricted roles in their society. Most Iranian women complied with these roles in fear of the severe consequences. In Marjane Satrapi’s graphic novel: Persepolis: Story of a childhood, Taji Satrapi serves as a symbol for women fighting against the oppressive laws instituted by the Iranian government after the departure Mohammad Reza Shah during the Iranian revolution. Taji’s actions not only impacted her society but her daughter Marjane who looked up to her mother. A woman’s image is highly important in Iran. Particularly the use the covering of their faces and hair. On page 5 in the novel, Marjane Satrapi explains the divide in the society over the use of …show more content…
These massacres would seal the shah’s fate as he could not make peace with Iranians and install democracy. This shah’s departure led to new policies being enacted following the guardianship of the Jurist plan for government. The Ministry of education decided that the universities would be shut down with the goal of insuring that the children of Iran are not subjected to become imperialist and instead keep track on the path of Islam. They believed that, “ Better to have no students at all than to educate future imperialists” (Satrapi 73)This was the popular idea at the time in the society but it had zero appeal to Taji. She stated,” Soon their actually going to force us to wear the veil and (speaking directly to Mr. Satrapi) you, you’ll have to trade your car for a camel, god, what a backwards policy!”(Satrapi 73). In this quote, Taji expresses her clear disgust in the decision and what it means for the future of Iran and her family. Along with the tone of her speech and exclamation, Taji is shown having a somber face and body language. Up to this point in the story, Taji’s actions against society’s view of women had gone largely under the radar. That would soon change in the next scenes of the novel in which she was targeted …show more content…
Two secondary characters, Mehri and Niloufar, were subjected to low quality jobs and in the latter, abuse. Mehdi was taken in at an early age by the Satrapi’s in order to help her by giving her a home and in return should become their maid. Mehdi would continue to live her life as maid with no other possible choice. She was even denied her love for a neighbor boy following the mergence of her real identity of a maid. This was a problem as Mr. Satrapi stated, “.. in the country you must stay within your own social class” (Starapi 37). Niloufar, like Mehri had suffered a rough adolescence. Niloufar had escaped her home as she was being track down for being a communist. This transgression would have been pardoned by law in the past after the revolution, along with democracy was heavily looked down upon. She eventually captured, arrested, and executed. Taji was fortunate to have a husband and family to mask her rebellious activity against the government and instituted
During the Iranian revolution, women had restricted roles in their society. Most Iranian women complied with these roles in fear of the severe consequences. In Marjane Satrapi’s graphic novel: Persepolis: Story of a childhood, Taji Satrapi serves as a symbol for women fighting against the oppressive laws instituted by the Iranian government after the departure Mohammad Reza Shah during the Iranian revolution. Taji’s actions not only impacted her society but her daughter Marjane who looked up to her mother. A woman’s image is highly important in Iran. Particularly the use the covering of their faces and hair. On page 5 in the novel, Marjane Satrapi explains the divide in the society over the use of …show more content…
These massacres would seal the shah’s fate as he could not make peace with Iranians and install democracy. This shah’s departure led to new policies being enacted following the guardianship of the Jurist plan for government. The Ministry of education decided that the universities would be shut down with the goal of insuring that the children of Iran are not subjected to become imperialist and instead keep track on the path of Islam. They believed that, “ Better to have no students at all than to educate future imperialists” (Satrapi 73)This was the popular idea at the time in the society but it had zero appeal to Taji. She stated,” Soon their actually going to force us to wear the veil and (speaking directly to Mr. Satrapi) you, you’ll have to trade your car for a camel, god, what a backwards policy!”(Satrapi 73). In this quote, Taji expresses her clear disgust in the decision and what it means for the future of Iran and her family. Along with the tone of her speech and exclamation, Taji is shown having a somber face and body language. Up to this point in the story, Taji’s actions against society’s view of women had gone largely under the radar. That would soon change in the next scenes of the novel in which she was targeted …show more content…
Two secondary characters, Mehri and Niloufar, were subjected to low quality jobs and in the latter, abuse. Mehdi was taken in at an early age by the Satrapi’s in order to help her by giving her a home and in return should become their maid. Mehdi would continue to live her life as maid with no other possible choice. She was even denied her love for a neighbor boy following the mergence of her real identity of a maid. This was a problem as Mr. Satrapi stated, “.. in the country you must stay within your own social class” (Starapi 37). Niloufar, like Mehri had suffered a rough adolescence. Niloufar had escaped her home as she was being track down for being a communist. This transgression would have been pardoned by law in the past after the revolution, along with democracy was heavily looked down upon. She eventually captured, arrested, and executed. Taji was fortunate to have a husband and family to mask her rebellious activity against the government and instituted