Revolution And Social Protest In Marjane Satrapi's Persepolis

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Although in Marjane Satrapi's (narrator and character in Persepolis) depicts the growth of a totalitarian state through different subjective responses, which includes both Marjane the child and Marjane the adult, Persepolis also confronts power head-on, by challenging the righteousness of the regime through these subjective responses by dramatizing how it hurts the people who must live under it. This brings up the topic of revolution and social protest, which throughout this story, there are examples of revolutions and social protest. One example was of Cultural Revolution. The Cultural Revolution was when all bilingual schools were closed down because they were symbols of capitalism. “Everywhere in the streets there were demonstrations for and against the veil.” (Satrapi, pg. 5) The year of the revolution Marjane and her friends took action by demonstrating in the garden of Marjane’s house. Marjane’s parents demonstrated to get rid of the king. “Things started to degenerate. The army shot at them. “And they threw stones at the army.” (Satrapi, pg. 18) The revolution affected the way many people lived. “We had demonstrated on the very day we shouldn’t have: on Black Friday. That day there was some killed in one of the neighborhoods that a rumor spread that Israeli soldiers were responsible for this slaughter.” (Satrapi, pg. 39) There was also a small sign of rebellion which was more of supervision because if noticeable the police can put a stop to it. But what about things they can’t see? Small signs of rebellion could be seen when they threw parties; drank alcohol, etc. even though they're not supposed to. Also, Marjane would wear what she wanted and did not dress according the proper ways of the Muslim women. An example coul... ... middle of paper ... ...her and father were afraid that a worse punishment will befall her as the regime got stricter, she still stood up for what she believed in and regardless of the punishment that could have followed from it, she continued down the path that she believed she belonged on. I believe the women in both the novel and documentary did what they were supposed to do, and they changed the way their religion and country was and if it wasn’t for them, it might still be how it was then. These two stories are of sacrifice, unity and transcendence, as both of them showed the strength and perseverance of the women of Liberia and the fight and passion of Marjane in Persepolis. It truly was inspiring, uplifting, and most of all motivating, and it is a compelling testimony of how activism, cultural differences and rebellion can alter the history of nations and the people who live there.

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