Marjane's Daughter Sparknotes

The author writes that the purpose of her book is to show that Iran is not a country of fundamentalists and terrorists, and that characterizations of the country by the West are inaccurate. Marjane's father explains the history of the Revolution to her: Reza Shah had been a foot soldier fighting against the King of Persia in order to install a republic. Marjane's grandfather had been a prince before Reza Shah came to power and, after had been the Prime Minister of Iran. Marjane tries to imagine what such torture would have felt like. Marjane's father is missing that afternoon and the family believes him dead. He returns late to tell an incredible story about a mob that commandeered a dead man's funeral in order to protest against the Shah.

Mehri tells Marjane all about their love for each other. The news about their relationship gets out and Marjane's father finds out.

When Mr. Satrapi finds that Marjane had written many of Mehri's love letters for her, because Mehri is illiterate, he explains that their love for each other is impermissible because social classes cannot mix. Defiant of her parents, Marjane takes Mehri to demonstrate at the marches. When Marjane's mother finds out, she slaps both her and Mehri for putting themselves in such a difficult situation. At school, Marjane and her friends try to beat up a boy that was in the Shah's secret police. Marjane is told that she must forgive those that torture. Marjane and her friends begin to play games in which they pretend the losers are tortured. Marjane feels badly for such games and her mother again tells her that she must forgive those that tortured. Many people, including some in Marjane's family, begin to move to the United States and to Europe to escape the new fundamentalist regime. Marjane's father does not want to leave Iran because he would lose his social status. Marjane finds out that her Uncle Anoosh has been arrested and is being held in captivity. Marjane goes to see her uncle and he tells her that she is the daughter he wished he could have

had. Soon, they learn that Anoosh has been executed on the false charges of being a Russian spy. Marjane banishes her God friend forever and feels empty and alone. When the car of Marjane's mother breaks down, a group of men assaults her because she is not wearing the required veil around her head. Women are then required to cover their heads in public and Marjane has to lie about how much she prays every day.

Marjane's parents allow her to attend a rally demonstrating against the new regime. Marjane is for the war because, as she explains, the Arabs had forced their religion and culture on the Persians 1400 years earlier. One of Marjane's friends has a father who is a part of the bombing but he is killed during the raid. A bombing on the border town of Abadan sends Marjane's friend Mali and her family to stay with them. One of Marjane's friends is given a key and Marjane's mother tries to tell the boy that this is nothing but nonsense that the schools are telling the children, but the boy seems oblivious. Marjane's cousin Shahab returns home from the front lines and tells Marjane about the horrible things that they do to children there. Marjane's aunt becomes scared, hands her child to Marjane, and runs off. On their way home, Marjane's family is stopped by the Guardians of the Revolution. Marjane and her grandmother run up to their apartment to dump out all the wine in the house. At home, Marjane's mother is upset that she skipped class and Marjane goes down to her basement where she smokes a cigarette that she had stolen from her

uncle. Marjane's Uncle Taher is very stressed about the war and about sending his son overseas to avoid serving in the military. A year later, the Iranian government reopens the borders and Marjane's parents are allowed to leave the country on a vacation. They leave for Turkey, and when they return, they bring Marjane many presents of Western culture. Marjane goes out wearing a jean jacket, sneakers, and a Michael Jackson button, but she is accosted by two women Guardians. Marjane does not tell her mother about the incident for fear that she will become stricter and not let her have such Western things. One day, Marjane goes out of the house to buy a pair of jeans. Marjane rushes home to find the house next to hers demolished. Fearing that the country is no longer safe for their daughter, the Satrapis decide to send Marjane to Austria to attend a French school there. Marjane spends one last night in the arms of her grandmother who advises her not to carry resentment or hatred towards anyone. At the customs gate, Marjane turns to see her parents leave.