Persepolis, a graphic memoir by Marjane Satrapi, explores the coming-of-age story known so well to audiences all over the world. Marji (the novel’s protagonist and Satrapi’s semi-fictitious self) lives on the other side of the world from many of Persepolis’s readers and is, at many times throughout the book, closed off from all other societies. Despite this, readers can still relate to her everyday struggles and rebellion throughout the novel. As with many coming-of-age stories, the theme of rebellion in Persepolis plays an influential role in Marji finding who she is within her school, her society and herself.
Marji’s rebellion often mirrored the turmoil around her. She had to grow up and find herself amid a chaotic revolution, civil war, …show more content…
She had a pair of Nike’s, which got her into trouble with some of the Guardians of the Revolution, supporters of the fundamentalist regime. In the chapter, “Kim Wilde”, thirteen-year-old Marji goes out to buy cassette tapes, which could only be found on the black market. Getting ready to go out, Marji says, “I put my 1983 Nikes on…and my denim jacket with the Michael Jackson button, and of course, my headscarf.” (Satrapi 171) She took pride in wearing more Western clothing, as she felt that it was the way in which she expressed herself best. After Marji purchased two tapes, she was stopped by two Guardians of the Revolution. The panel shows two angry women yelling at Marji, “you! Stop!” Marji explains, “They were Guardians of the Revolution, the women’s branch. This group had been added in 1982 to arrest women who were improperly veiled. (Like me, for example.) Their job was to put us back on the straight and narrow by explaining the duties of Muslim women.” (Satrapi 132-133) The women pick apart Marji’s outfit, claiming that her Michael Jackson button symbolizes “decadence”, her jeans were too short and shoes were too “punk”. Before they could take her to the committee, which is the headquarters of the Guardians of the Revolution, Marji quickly makes up a lie and tells the women that her mother is dead and that her cruel stepmother would send her to an orphanage if she didn’t …show more content…
Marji “rebelled” against her prior notions of religion. Even in the first few pages of Persepolis, the reader learns that Marji wants to become a prophet when she grows up. Marji also has frequent exchanges with God. In the chapter, “The Veil”, she narrates, saying, “every night I had a big discussion with God.” The reader sees a comic panel of a very young Marji sitting in her bed talking to a caricature-like depiction of God. Marji says, “God, give me some more time [before I can become a prophet], I am not quite ready yet.” To which God replies, “yes you are, celestial light, you are my choice, my last and my best choice.” The comic strip then goes to young Marji at school. Her teacher has just asked the class what they want to be when they grow up. Marji states emphatically, “I’ll be a prophet.” (Satrapi 8) This particular comic strip shows that Marji’s faith in her religion and her God was very solid during her early childhood. She loved God and felt that she had private discussions and a great relationship with him. However, hen children in her school made fun of her for wanting to become a prophet when she grew older, she began to say that she would want to become a doctor, but felt guilty towards God since he knew she really wanted
Marji’s rebellion often mirrored the turmoil around her. She had to grow up and find herself amid a chaotic revolution, civil war, …show more content…
She had a pair of Nike’s, which got her into trouble with some of the Guardians of the Revolution, supporters of the fundamentalist regime. In the chapter, “Kim Wilde”, thirteen-year-old Marji goes out to buy cassette tapes, which could only be found on the black market. Getting ready to go out, Marji says, “I put my 1983 Nikes on…and my denim jacket with the Michael Jackson button, and of course, my headscarf.” (Satrapi 171) She took pride in wearing more Western clothing, as she felt that it was the way in which she expressed herself best. After Marji purchased two tapes, she was stopped by two Guardians of the Revolution. The panel shows two angry women yelling at Marji, “you! Stop!” Marji explains, “They were Guardians of the Revolution, the women’s branch. This group had been added in 1982 to arrest women who were improperly veiled. (Like me, for example.) Their job was to put us back on the straight and narrow by explaining the duties of Muslim women.” (Satrapi 132-133) The women pick apart Marji’s outfit, claiming that her Michael Jackson button symbolizes “decadence”, her jeans were too short and shoes were too “punk”. Before they could take her to the committee, which is the headquarters of the Guardians of the Revolution, Marji quickly makes up a lie and tells the women that her mother is dead and that her cruel stepmother would send her to an orphanage if she didn’t …show more content…
Marji “rebelled” against her prior notions of religion. Even in the first few pages of Persepolis, the reader learns that Marji wants to become a prophet when she grows up. Marji also has frequent exchanges with God. In the chapter, “The Veil”, she narrates, saying, “every night I had a big discussion with God.” The reader sees a comic panel of a very young Marji sitting in her bed talking to a caricature-like depiction of God. Marji says, “God, give me some more time [before I can become a prophet], I am not quite ready yet.” To which God replies, “yes you are, celestial light, you are my choice, my last and my best choice.” The comic strip then goes to young Marji at school. Her teacher has just asked the class what they want to be when they grow up. Marji states emphatically, “I’ll be a prophet.” (Satrapi 8) This particular comic strip shows that Marji’s faith in her religion and her God was very solid during her early childhood. She loved God and felt that she had private discussions and a great relationship with him. However, hen children in her school made fun of her for wanting to become a prophet when she grew older, she began to say that she would want to become a doctor, but felt guilty towards God since he knew she really wanted