In Marjane Satrapi’s personal memoir, Persepolis, young Marjane's identity and those of women amongst her are affected by the obligatory Veil, which is seen from the treatment she receives throughout her childhood and into her teenage years. In the beginning, basic moments vital to the formation of Marjane’s identity are affected by the obligatory Veil. As the novel progresses, the knowledge of others’ opinions begins to sink in as Marjane realizes the Veil will structure her identity because of her gender. Ultimately, by the end of the novel, Marjane’s identity is treated as an object in need of religious structure, the Veil, which furthermore limits her opportunities as a woman. At the start of the novel, the Veil prohibits Marjane from expressing herself individually and enjoying the fun of childhood. During a child’s elementary years, being lawfully required to wear a religious item eliminates one’s ability …show more content…
In the years after the establishment of the obligatory Veil, Marjane’s mother is demeaned and called a whore in the streets for “bad hijabi,” and Marjane realizes that the Veil affects both one’s physical and personal identities as well. In an image from the novel, Marjane’s mother’s feelings are expressed (Page 74). Furthermore, Marjane notices the Veil's effect on women’s personal identities when she participates in protests against the Veil. Marjane recalled, “For the first time in my life, I saw violence with my own eyes,” (10. 75.). Men for the Veil attacked and demeaned the female protesters, showing that as long as the Veil is required, women will not be allowed to express their political, physically, or recreational identities anymore unless they wish to be harassed and scolded. As Marjane’s interests change as she becomes a teenager, she begins to become directly affected by the
Professor Leila Ahmed, active Islamic feminist, in her article “Reinventing the veil” published in the Financial Times assumes that there is a connection between “advancement” and veiling, which means that unveiled women are advanced and vice versa. In addition, she supports that it led to increasing rate of violence. She questions why women wear veil, that is considered as “symbol of patriarchy and women’s oppression”. However, research changed her position towards wearing veil. Firstly, she states that wearing veil was essential for women, because it could be beneficial and influence to how people treat women, in terms of job, marriage and free movement in public. Secondly, her assumption was explained while interviewing women, who stated
The main character Siham has mixed emotions towards her veil. Which then highly compares to how I feel about how I was raised. She both appreciates and disowns it, similar to how I shun and I praise my way of being raised. Siham was taught to keep herself covered from all men to gain respect and to maintain respect.
In Persepolis, Satrapi develops the central idea of Marji and her parents rebelling against the social injustices held by the Shah and the government. This is demonstrated in chapters “ The Trip”, “The Passport”, and “Kim Wilde”. Early in the revolution, females were forced to cover themselves up. They were told to wear their veils because it didn’t show a sign of western American style or sexual
In the graphic novel, Persepolis, the main character, Marjane, faces many coming of age moments. Each one of these change her in a way that impacts her view on the world around her as her and her family strive for a better life amongst a war that hinders their ability to follow their beliefs. Marjane learns to forgive, experiences pain and suffering, and changes her opinions on God and her own views on religion forever. Marjane’s life has been filled with hard times, but also glorious moments as well.
During our class discussions, the issue of identity in Marjane Satrapi’s novel, Persepolis (2004), became a contentious issue. The question was asked whether Persepolis might be understood to being in-dialogue with western ways of seeing and did the effects of modernization influence the identity of Marjane’s protagonist in Persepolis. How does the novel involve the issue of identity? I will extend the argument and, through the exploration of Marji’s changing ideologies, I will attempt to prove that Marji is caught between the traditional eastern culture and western modernization.
Muslims, Sikhs, and many other religious affiliations have often been targeted for hate crimes, racial slurs, and misfortunate events. We are all different in our own ways some are good and some are bad yet one event changes everything for everyone affiliated with the group. The book The Politics of the Veil by Joan Scott a renowned pioneer in gender studies gives a detailed and analytical book of about the French views towards the Muslim females in France during 2004. The author talks about why the French governments official embargo of wearing conspicuous signs is mainly towards the headscarves for Muslim girls under the age of eighteen in public schools. The main themes of book are gender inequality, sexism, and cultural inequality historical schools used in the book are history of below, woman’s history, cultural history, and political history. In this essay, I will talk about why Joan Scotts argument on why the French government’s ban on wearing conspicuous signs was
Throughout Persepolis, Marjane Satrapi displays the vital role that the women around her have in developing her character and becoming the woman she is today. Women such as her mother, her grandmother, her school teachers, the maid, the neighbors, and even the guardians of the revolution influenced Marjane and caused her to develop into an independent, educated, and ambitious woman. Throughout the novel, Marjane never completely conforms or lets go of her roots, this is primarily due to the women who have influenced her. Marjane’s mother was one of the most influential people in her life, her mother taught her to be strong and independent. By introducing her mother through the story of her mother getting photographed at a demonstration, Marjane presents her mother as being independent and rebellious (Satrapi 5).
When it comes to culture, different views can cause major conflicts, and these said conflicts occur in the novel Persepolis. The book is a memoir about Marjane Satrapi, also known as Marji, growing up in Iran under the Shah’s rule and the Islamic rule. Even with the many different cultures in Iran, she stuck up for what she believed in and rebelled against the things she thought were wrong. In Persepolis, Marjane’s growth is affected by various aspects of culture including religion, government, and social organization.
Marjane Satrapi in her memoir, “The Complete Persepolis” enlightens readers with the reality of living in Iran, as she tells her journey through her life of becoming a woman during the Islamic Revolution. Iran similar to other countries has made different prescribed roles for their women and men based on their cultures religious and traditional set of laws. Society to them was a depiction of what their people were expected to look, and act like when in public. When trying to understand the importance of gender along with their roles in society, it’s crucial to acknowledge outside factors, for instance things like culture and social class. The characters throughout her memoir illustrate how their
To begin with, Marjane has encountered with internal conflict caused by external conflict—since a child. For instance, Marjane claims, “ My faith was not unshakable.” (10) This example conveys Marjane’s easy influence to discard any of her beliefs due to the Islamic Revolution. In fact, the Islamic Revolution was a reason for a lot of Marjane’s internal conflict. For example, Marjane reveals, “I really didn't know what to think about the veil. Deep down I was very religious but as a family, we were very modern and avant-garde.”(6) This illustration represents Marjane’s confusion on her spirituality. Also, this demonstrates Marjane deciding if her modern lifestyle is appropriate even though it's different from her religion. To
The book, Persepolis, is a biographical story about of girl named Marjane that lives in Iran. Marjane and the children were marginalized at their school by the Islamic government and by their teachers. Marjane was also raised in an oppressive culture where a group is in position of power who controls the less powerful in cruel and in unfair ways. Also, a lot of women were marginalized after 1979 the Iranian Revolution. Marjane was living and growing up with a family that was a communist family.
The reason this veil is being rebelled against is because it had just became mandatory for women of all ages to wear, and follow, the Islamic religion, obiding by all rules put forth. It was known as the “Islamic Revolution.” Marjane thought this was all very different. At home, her and her parents are not highly religious, are they do not like the new Islamic rules. When the veil was put into effect, Marjane was just ten years old, in 1980.
Throughout Persepolis, Marjane Satrapi displays the vital role that the women around her have in developing her character and becoming the woman she is today. Women such as her mother, her grandmother, her school teachers, the maid, the neighbors, and even the guardians of the revolution influenced Marjane and caused her to develop into an independent, educated, and ambitious woman. Throughout the novel, Marjane never completely conforms or lets go of her roots, this is strongly due to the women who have influenced her.
Marjane Strapi had the choice to share her coming of age story in many ways but she decided to share her experience in a surprising way. Satrapi wrote her autobiography in a comic novel. Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi is a popular autobiography comic novel not only, because it is a primary source of historical events of Iran but also, because the book provides many life lessons and makes a person more open-minded of its surrounding. “ They were Guardians of the Revolution, The Women Branch…. [they] arrested women who were improperly veiled.”
However, she says otherwise. Being surrounded by other women who serve as her role-models she has learned to find the veil liberating and dignifying; it gives her a sense of strength and empowers her. She may be the only one in the building garbed the way she does but that does not stir any feelings of being worthless or low statured. In fact, this piece of cloth has taken a place in her heart such that she feels unique being the only one cloaking the way she does.