Persepolis discussion

Marjane Satrapi’s recollection of her childhood past in Iran in her novel is one of both uniqueness and awareness. She finds a way to tell her own story of living through the reality of the Islamic regime, while also bringing attention to the political and social issues of the era. These issues include the controversy of the mandatory veil wearing, as well as the oppressive feeling that affects citizens during the reign of the Islamic Revolution.

As a current first-year college student, I initially went into reading this book with a few different preconceptions. First, I thought that it was a bit odd that I had been given what looked like a graphic novel to read. Secondly, I assumed that I knew exactly what some of the symbols of the Islamic culture represented. For example, it is typical of those in Western culture to perceive the veil, or hijab, as strictly a symbol of oppression, which as I learned was simply not the case. These preconceptions were strongly challenged soon after reading, in which I then began to appreciate the novel’s unique formatting.

Although it is not typical, the graphic-novel-type style of Persepolis leaves the reader able to easily visualize the scenes and actions of events such as the protests regarding the hijab to the forceful authority that the Islamic regime obtains. This format leaves for a more meaningful understanding of both Satrapi’s experiences and the era of the Islamic Revolution as a whole; this was something I was not strongly (if at all) familiar with. For other students similar to me or those fairly unfamiliar with the described context (especially those in Western cultures), this novel draws the much-needed attention to the tension of Iran - which are issues that are prevalent even in today’s society, such as with political interests in issues like Iranian nuclear deal. Persepolis allows discussion to spark regarding both the previous and current eras. This is also seen heavily with the controversy over the hijab. This novel brings to light that in fact the hijab is not a symbol of oppression, but rather it is the control of the regime that symbolizes the oppression that citizens encounter. By distinguishing a typical belief of Western cultures, Persepolis has allowed for more understanding and benefits to arise from Satrapi’s shared story.

The novel brings light to the fact there are multiple perspectives when it comes to the hijab and its role in both religion and society, and it does not favor the extremes. In Satrapi’s case, it is the extreme of something being mandatory. Although Satrapi and her family vocally choose not to wear the veil, the realization that the regime and its control on the citizens of Iran is the largest contributor to oppression is evident throughout her memoir.

This novel is one that is both enjoyable and eye-opening. Personally, I think this novel sparks a discussion that is necessary to understand and learn from each others’ differences. And by taking the time to explore diverse cultures and people, we all may learn that we are all more alike than we previously assumed.