Research Paper On Persepolis

Persepolis, by Marjane Satrapi is an autobiographical graphic novel about a young girl during the Islamic revolution. This bright, juvenile girl, Mj, sharing her experience in this complicated period of time as she grasps to understand what’s happening around her. Iran has just gotten rid of the Shah, but with only a short period of joy a new unwanted leader comes into place. The Ayatollah Khomeini, a religious fundamentalist convinces the poor and uneducated people that leader is where is he meant to be and he rules with manipulation and cruelty. As for Mj and her family they can do nothing but try and still live their lives. They attend a party at her uncle’s house because without fun all the danger happening “wouldn’t be psychologically

Mj tells her story, but it is of her revolt, her juvenile take on rebellion. Where as in these panels there is more shown on the little acts adults do to not let the regime get to them. As Mj says, “We had everything. Well everything that was forbidden.” (106), she gets to see how her family rebels and proves to themselves they still stand for what they believe in. While everyone in the house is against this fundamental ruling, they all still wear the black, long clothing required, expect her father. He proves his individuality against the regime by wearing a tie. A westernized piece of clothing that is forbidden, that Mj’s father wears on the entire page as a little reminder of rebellion. The first panel in the last set, the black background only surrounds their happiness. The contrast of her family’s smiling faces and the darkness of the power outage symbolizes their discrete rebellion. The next panel is her uncle making lemonade out of lemons, or in this case wine out of grapes. The regime took away his job of making wine, but they cannot take away his power to make it anyway. The third is Mj’s uncle’s house cleaner participating in their rebellion. Although she seems hesitant about secretly crushing grapes, she is a participant in being against the