Women's Roles In Persepolis, By Marjane Satrapi

During childhood, children rely on the opinions and viewpoints around them to make decisions. Adults influence children whether they mean to or not. When surrounded by these influences, children trouble themselves with right or wrong. In the documentary Persepolis, directed by Marjane Satrapi (2007), young Marji overhears several conversations between her parents and family friends. Therefore, her beliefs depend on the emotions and words spoken between the adults. In Persepolis, women play the primary role in influencing Marji’s life. From beginning to end, women teach Marji the differences between right and wrong. Two female figures remain a constant influence in Marji’s life. Her mother, Mrs. Satrapi, and grandmother both leave lasting influences

Satrapi continued encouraging Marji’s unique style and ideas. Her mother did not want Marji hidden from the world, rather she wanted her to open to new ideas and opinions. In Persepolis, Mrs. Satrapi sewed Marji a leather jacket to wear out in public. Rather than tell her the right and wrongs, or what could happen, she taught Marji to think for herself and discover the consequences or rewards. After purchasing music from a strange vendor on the street, two women (fundamentalists) stopped her, berating her for her “western decadence” and “punk” style (Satrapi 2007). Only thirteen-years-old, Marji was labeled a “slut,” because her veil revealed too much and her creative jacket mocked their religious policies. Yet, Marji found a way to get away from the women by compulsively lying to them, a trait she learned from her mother. Only when Marji’s life was being threatened did she finally stop encouraging and send her to Vienna so she can freely express her opinions without Iran’s rules and regulations. A clear line, drawn between these fundamentalist women and Marji’s resistant family, creates two separate influences on Marji. Should she follow the rules, or respect her own personal values and

While family members encourage her uniqueness and individuality, schoolteachers and other women hinder her ideals and force her to comply with the rules. Throughout the movie, Marji reacts to these different influences in challenging ways. She stood up for what she believed in, but did she actually win? The religious females who believe in the new government practically force Marji to leave Iran whereas she wanted to live in Iran, but keep her freedoms and ideologies. Towards the movie’s end, each woman hold influence in Marji’s life. She stays true to herself, like her mother and grandmother want, yet she holds herself back in public. She learns to abide by the rules enough so she could continue her life in Iran. In the end, her mother and grandmother’s influence win out and she leaves Iran to express her ideologies. Yet, during her time in Iran, she has learned and understand the difficulties and war occurring. Marji can see the division that runs through her country and fights to remain true to herself. The other female religious leaders taught her the rules and forced to act careful in public and create a lasting influence on her. The time to rebel and fight back are not near; now, Marji should