Persepolis
Marjane Satrapi: Author 1
Summary 2
Authorial Choices 2
Themes 2
Symbolism 3
Motifs 3
Literary Devices 4
Marjane Satrapi: Author
● Background: Marjane Satrapi was born on November 22, 1969, in Rasht, Iran, and
raised in Tehran during a turbulent period marked by the Islamic Revolution and the
Iran-Iraq War. Her family was progressive and politically active, which exposed her
early on to social and political issues. Satrapi's family encouraged her to think
critically and introduced her to Western culture, which influenced her worldview.
● Education and Early Life: Satrapi spent her childhood in Iran, but as political
conditions worsened, her parents sent her to Austria in her teenage years to escape
the increasingly repressive atmosphere in Iran. Living abroad as a young immigrant,
she faced cultural dislocation and identity struggles, themes that would later feature
prominently in her work. After returning to Iran briefly, Satrapi eventually settled in
France.
● Career and Persepolis: Satrapi originally trained as an artist, but her debut graphic
novel, Persepolis, published in 2000, brought her international acclaim. The novel is
a graphic memoir about her experiences growing up during the Islamic Revolution
and her time in Europe. Persepolis uses black-and-white illustrations to tell a deeply
personal yet universally relatable story of resilience, identity, and the effects of
political turmoil on individual lives.
● Other Works: Following Persepolis, Satrapi continued to explore themes of identity,
culture, and politics in her subsequent graphic novels, including Embroideries and
Chicken with Plums. She later directed a film adaptation of Persepolis, which
premiered in 2007 and was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Animated
Feature.
● Legacy and Impact: Satrapi’s work, especially Persepolis, has been praised for its
honest portrayal of life in Iran, offering Western readers an alternative perspective on
Iranian culture and history. Her work bridges cultural divides and advocates for
empathy, understanding, and the resilience of the human spirit. Satrapi remains an
influential figure in graphic literature and continues to advocate for freedom of
expression and cultural understanding through her work.
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Summary
Persepolis is a layered work that uses the graphic novel format to address themes of
identity, freedom, and resilience. Through symbolism, motifs, and Satrapi's personal
storytelling, it captures the complex experience of growing up during a time of political and
social upheaval, offering readers a profound understanding of the human impact of historical
events.
Authorial Choices
● Medium: Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi is a graphic novel, which combines both text
and illustration. This choice makes it visually engaging, enabling readers to access
the story's emotional depth while also emphasizing its historical and cultural content.
● Perspective: The story is narrated from Satrapi's first-person perspective, providing
an autobiographical and intimate account of her experiences in Iran during and after
the Islamic Revolution.
● Use of Monochromatic Art: The entire novel is illustrated in black and white,
reinforcing the gravity of the subject matter, enhancing the tone of oppression and
conflict, and creating a stark, raw visual aesthetic that aligns with the themes.
● Nonlinear Storytelling: The narrative includes flashbacks and foreshadowing,
weaving together Satrapi’s personal growth with historical events, emphasizing how
larger socio-political dynamics affect individual lives.
● Child Narration: The first half of the novel is narrated from Satrapi's childhood
perspective, using simple language and childlike illustrations. This approach conveys
the innocence and confusion of a young girl facing complex and frightening realities.
Themes
● Identity and Personal Growth: The story explores Marjane's journey of
self-discovery, her struggle between modernity and tradition, and her development of
a unique identity amidst conflicting cultural and religious pressures.
● Oppression and Freedom: Satrapi highlights the struggles of living under a
repressive regime and the importance of freedom, portraying both the societal
restrictions imposed by the Islamic regime and her family's resistance to such
oppression.
● Impact of War and Political Conflict: The effects of the Iran-Iraq War and the
Islamic Revolution are central to the story. Satrapi conveys the human cost of political
upheaval, particularly through the lens of family suffering, exile, and loss.
● Gender and Feminism: Through her experiences with mandated veiling, societal
expectations, and familial influences, Satrapi critiques gender oppression, advocating
for women's rights and independence in the face of patriarchy.
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● Family and Heritage: Satrapi’s strong bond with her family, especially her
relationship with her parents and grandmother, provides her with emotional support
and a sense of heritage, underscoring the importance of familial resilience and moral
grounding.
Symbolism
● The Veil: The veil is a recurring symbol representing the restrictive control of the
Iranian regime. It symbolizes the forced loss of individuality and the repression of
women's rights.
● The Key: A key given to young boys as a “ticket to paradise” symbolizes the
manipulation of religious beliefs for political purposes, using children as expendable
assets for the state’s propaganda.
● Cigarettes: Smoking represents Marjane's rebellion and her attempts to assert
control over her own life. It signifies her coming-of-age and assertion of autonomy.
● Western Icons: Objects like denim jackets, posters, and music (e.g., punk rock)
represent Satrapi's exposure to Western culture and her internal conflict between
Iranian tradition and Western modernity.
● Home and Exile: Satrapi frequently draws upon the concept of "home" as both a
place of comfort and confinement. Exile represents freedom but also alienation,
showing the emotional and cultural dislocation that accompanies her departures from
Iran.
Motifs
● Contrasting Imagery: Satrapi uses contrasting images of innocence and violence,
such as scenes of children playing alongside scenes of bombings or protests, to
highlight the intrusion of political violence into everyday life.
● Religious Imagery and References: Marjane frequently engages with religious
motifs, particularly questioning and sometimes satirizing religious authorities and
symbols, reflecting her internal struggle with imposed beliefs.
● Education and Knowledge: Marjane's hunger for education and knowledge appears
throughout the story, symbolizing both her pursuit of personal empowerment and her
resistance to oppressive dogmas.
● Resistance: Acts of defiance, both small (such as wearing Western clothing) and
large (such as participating in protests), are recurring, underscoring a broader motif
of resistance against authoritarian rule.
● Darkness and Light: The use of black and white in the illustrations often serves to
create stark contrasts between moments of hope and despair, freedom and
oppression.
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Literary Devices
● Juxtaposition: Satrapi often juxtaposes serious, traumatic events with lighter,
humorous moments to emphasize the absurdity of life under an oppressive regime,
showing the resilience of the human spirit.
● Irony: There is heavy use of irony throughout Persepolis, particularly in how
government propaganda contrasts with reality. This irony highlights the regime’s
hypocrisy and the absurdity of its actions.
● Metaphor: Satrapi frequently uses metaphor, such as describing the key to paradise,
which reveals the tragic irony of sending children to war under false pretenses.
● Symbolic Illustrations: Images are often used symbolically to reinforce narrative
points, such as drawing literal walls around characters to convey feelings of
confinement or isolation.
● Allegory: The graphic novel as a whole can be seen as an allegory of resistance and
resilience, with Marjane’s story representing a broader experience of Iranian people
living under and defying authoritarianism.
● Dialogue and Colloquialism: The dialogue captures the vernacular of Iran’s streets,
especially in Marjane’s childhood, making the story accessible and authentic while
emphasizing the novel's unique cultural setting.
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