The Veil: Marjane's Journey to Individuality

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Recommended: An essay on symbolism of the veil

A veil is an article of clothing that is intended to cover some part of the head, face, or physical feature that may hold some significance. It is especially associated with women and sacred objects. Not only does it conceal a person’s physical appearance, but it contributes to stifling one’s individuality. In Marjane Satrapi’s graphic novel Persepolis, Marjane, the main character, lives in Iran and is required, by fear of punishment, to wear a veil that only leaves her face uncovered. The veil becomes an important symbol and throughout the novel, the reader can see the lasting impact the veil has on Satrapi. It begins as something foreign and detestable to young Marjane; a simple piece of clothing that deprived her of her free will, into something that integrated into her everyday life and helped shaped her individuality as an Iranian woman. Initially, Marjane sought to fight against the veil, as having to wear the veil was portrayed by not only Marjane, but the different women around her as an insult to women’s individualism. Marjane expresses her rebellion against the veil by writing, “You showed your opposition to the Regime by letting a few strands of hair show” (Satrapi 75). The progressive women in Persepolis, women fighting against the veil, did not find it necessary to cover up to gain respect, as they could not conceive the sexual appeal of hair to men; “Respect must be earned regardless of one’s appearance and it is not earned through a dress code alone” ( “Why We Wear the Hijab”). At the beginning of the novel, Marjane introduces herself by showing her partial form and the solemn look of her veiled friends. By making all her veiled friends have the same expression; Satrapi emphasized how each of her friends was i...

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...imensions for Satrapi, and it is the multitude of these dimensions that allows her to grow and become an individual. By imbedding the veil with her own distinct meanings, Satrapi maintains her individuality.

Works Cited

Satrapi, Marjane. Persepolis. New York, NY: Pantheon Books, 2003. Print.
Hochschild, Arlie. "A review of sex role reseach." JSTOR. N.p., n.d. Web. 6 Dec. 2013.
"Mishal Husain and the veil: what the Daily Mail was really trying to say." theguardian.com. Guardian News and Media, 8 Oct. 2013. Web. 6 Dec. 2013. .
"Meanings of the Veil: Representations of Veiling in Persepolis." Serendip Studio. N.p., n.d. Web. 6 Dec. 2013.

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