Persepolis: The Story of a Childhood

This book traces the life of young girl growing up in turbulent times in Iran, beginning with life under the Shah, moving on to the revolution and continuing through the Iran / Iraq war. The girl narrates anecdotes from her own life that provide a thought-provoking window onto the way these events affected ordinary individuals. The choice of a comic strip to portray events of such significance and tragedy has some disadvantages, one being the limits it places on the possibilities of characterization. On the other hand, there are also numerous advantages. The illustrations can at times be quite powerful, the simplicity of the format is used effectively to highlight the stark brutality and poignancy of the events portrayed, and perhaps above all, the graphic novel format makes a story with such important themes accessible to people of all ages.

Ever Wondered what it was like to grow up as a child in Iran? In the book Persepolis, Marjane Satrapi wrote about the difficulties and anxiety she has growing up in Iran. I am going to talk about her being young in her childhood, reading books for her imagination, and her late teenage years. Marjane is confused about having to do things she would not like to do such as why she had to wear a veil. She was also confused what is going on with the war in Iran and the Shah. Furthermore, life is hard everywhere especially when there is war.
In the beginning of the book, Marjane is ten years old and living in Iran. Marjane and other students had to wear veils as part of the laws in Iran at school. Marjane Stated, "We didn't really like to wear the veil, especially since we didn't understand why we had to" (3). Marjane and her classmates acted like normal children do when they did not understand what was going on and made fun of wearing the veil. When a person is a child like Marjane, it is hard to have to follow rules like she did while she was in school. Being a younger child, Marjane wanted to be a prophet she loved God very much and believed in him. Other classmates thought she was crazy. One of Marjane's teachers asked "What do you want to be when you grow up?" Marjane Replied, "I'll be a prophet" (8). The children laughed at her. Furthermore, Marjane had difficulty understanding why she had to do things just like any child would have.
Marjane read a lot of books. She wrote, "to enlighten me they bought books" (12). While she read books she began to understand more of what was going on in Iran. For Marjane Reading was like playing outside, since she could not very much at that time. Reading books brings out Marjane's imagination; for example she wrote, "Despite everything, god came to see me from time to time. So you don't want to be a prophet anymore", God asked. "Let's talk about something else." Marjane Replied, God said "You think I look like Marx?" She replied, "I told you to talk about something else" (13). With her imagination, she thought she was really talking to God and he was replying back to her. Reading brought out Marjane's Imagination because, that was her escape from the world. Marjane did a really good job on describing her childhood and with the illustrations a person can imagine everything that was happening. Furthermore, books were a life saver for Marjane, that was her only way to be like a normal child.
As Marjane got older, she was willing to fight for what she believed in. When another child's father killed lots of people she wanted to show that kid a lesson, she stated, "In the name of the dead, million, we'll teach Ramin a good lesson. I have an idea" "My idea was to put nails between our fingers like American brass knuckles and to attack Ramin" (45). Marjane started to get more rebellious and even started up smoking. She even got expelled from school. As she was getting older the war was getting worse. In conclusion, life was not easy as growing up in Iran but she persevered and kept going.
Persepolis was an amazing story of Marjane's life. Marjane intended to show people that her childhood was not easy there was a lot of things going on with the War and the Shah. She also conveyed, that she was not perfect but she got through it. A reader can imagine what is going on with the illustrations. I believe she did a excellent job on illustrating exactly how she is feeling. I recommend this book to any reader interested in growing up in Iran.

Works Cited : Satrapi, Marjane. Persepolis. United States: Pantheon Books, 2003.

Set against the backdrop of the Iranian Revolution and the Iran-Iraq War, Persepolis tells the autobiographical tale of young Marji (Marjane Satrapi) in the unusual form of a graphic novel. The simple yet uniquely stylistic art has an appeal all its own, and the story is at once affecting, infuriating, and irreverently humorous, revealing the human side of Iran rarely glimpsed by most Westerners. Through Marji's eyes, readers gain the unique perspective of a child caught up in her country's sudden upheaval. At first, she is absorbed in the excitement of the largely Marxist revolution, staging spirited "protests" in her parents' yard. Her elation at the revolution's success, however, turns into horrified consternation as Iran is overtaken by religious fundamentalists who imprison a beloved uncle and drill Marji and her classmates in daily school-wide funeral rites in honor of the rising numbers of war martyrs. Things are worse for the denizens of the poorer neighborhoods; the 14-year-old son of the family's maid is given a plastic key at school, which he is told will get him into paradise if he is "lucky enough to die" on the battlefield. In spite of the surreal crescendo of tragedy that surrounds her and the repressive atmosphere that weighs upon her, Marji maintains an impertinent sense of humor. When the dour schoolmarm lectures her on the importance of covering women's hair in order to discourage immoral behavior, Marji retorts "If hair is as stimulating as you say, then you need to shave your mustache!"

Persepolis is an appealing, engrossing novel that presents a painful history and the irrevocable, spirited humanity of those who endured it. It provides a valuable counterpoint to the one-dimensional portrayal of Iran and its people that fill Western media.

This is a truley wonderful graphic novel.
Even though I'm only ten I must say this is an amazing book. I would love to meet Mrs. Satrapi. When my mom just bought the book I was very curious what it was about. Believe it or not I read it before her. Even though it's really an adults book which I think they will love (like my mom) I think kids might like it too.
This is a book about a little girl who lives with her parents and has god on her side, facing all the wars and deaths in Iran. It's hard, but she keeps believing that one day Iran will be in peace once again.
It truley tells the story of what happend, She tells the story with emotion, with her words and illustrations, what her words can't tell the illustrations will tell. Mrs. Satrapi will make you read it atleast twice. We now know what a little girl experienced during the revolution in Iran, not just like that, but with feelings!

This is an AMAZING story for Everyone!

Remember to catch Persepolis 2 & Embroideries!

An autobiographical account of a girl growing up in Iran. Through her own story she highlights how deeply screwed up the country is, and has become, and how ludicrous some of the religious laws and commands are, when you see them through the eyes of a child. Wear something on your head? It is too hot, stupid! That sort of thing.

She is not holding back, talking about how people feel when their 18 year old next door neighbour is executed as being a communist, after a leftist lead revolution allows them to take power, or when your uncle's sister is strangled to death because he was not home to kill, and things like that.

She points out other crazy things that we probably are not aware of, you can't have chess sets, in Persia? That is very freaky.

The art style is quite cartoony, which is somewhat jarring when she is talking about firing squads.

Definitely good.