Marjane Satrapi's Persepolis

Differences amongst mankind do not arise because of various ethnic backgrounds, but rather conflicts between man and authority. Differences between society and the government occurred during the Islamic Revolution when Iran transitioned from a democracy to an Islamic Republic. As a result of the Revolution, Iranians participated in numerous protests to fight for their rights and involved themselves in many rebellious activities inspired by Western culture. In the graphic memoir Persepolis, Marjane Satrapi uses characterization and conflict to prove that Iranians have more in common with Westerners than their own government. This further explains why people should not be judged by the actions of their government, but by their character. Satrapi

In 1980, the Iranian government forced women to wear the veil. In response to this law, many Iranian women participated, “everywhere in the streets [where] there were demonstrations for and against the veil” (Satrapi 5 panel 1). These “demonstrations” were a form of rebellion implying there was a conflict between the government and its people. Furthermore, these protests were publicly performed “everywhere in the streets” so the reader can infer that Iranians felt very strongly about this issue. Additionally, based on the picture, revolutionary women were chanting, “freedom!” because they desperately wished to have the right to choose to wear the veil. Because they did not want to conform to their government’s laws, the reader is convinced not to stereotype people to their government. While other uprisings occur, Satrapi hears that Iran had reclaimed the city of Khorramshahr during the war on the radio. Since this event could end the war, she went to the basement to rationalize it. As she went downstairs, she realized that, “Iraq proposed a settlement, and Saudi Arabia was willing to pay for reconstruction, to restore peace in the area. But [the Iranian] government was against it” (Satrapi 114 panel 6-8). The fact that Iran’s populous longed for the war to end, “but” the Iranian government was “against” the proposition Iraq and Saudi Arabia proposed explains that it was the government- not the Iranians- which did not call for an armistice with the other Middle Eastern countries. This is also expressed visually through the imagery of the following panel. Satrapi drew the Fundamentalist men, with their beards, inward eyebrows, mouths wide open, and arms defiantly