Changing Perspectives
In the novel “Persepolis”, the author captures the unique reality of a totalitarian government while also revealing a universal truth:society conditions us.
First, the author represents the unique experiences of growing up in a totalitarian government by giving glimpses of Marji’s actions in school .Majri refuses to stop wearing jewelry even though she knows it is banned in Iran.In an argument between Marji and her principal, her principle says, “I’ve told you a hundred times that it is strictly forbidden to wear jewelry and jeans. What are you doing with that bracelet? Give it to me right now.” Which Majri then responds too with,” Over my dead body! It was a gift from my mom.” This reveals Marji’s rebellion against the norm of her society. Society has conditioned girls into thinking they are lesser than those who don’t wear jewelry.The author’s use of “over my dead body”. Shows the readers Marji refusal to hide herself and conform to someone else’s definition of acceptable. Her society shaped her into a strong leader with a stubborn but sensible mindset. If Majri didn’t fight for her freedom who would? After this incident at her school she had gotten herself expelled. When they finally found a new school, she got into a heated debate with her teacher. The teacher was saying how there weren’t any “political prisoners” under the regime. Marji responded with “my uncle was imprisoned by the Shah’s regime, but it was the islamic regime that ordered his execution” “you say that we don’t have political prisoners anymore. But we’re gone from 3,000 prisoners under the Shah to to 300,000 under your regime. How dare you lie to us like that.” Once Majri was done taking her teacher responded with ”oh, Satrapi”. In effort to keep her from taking anymore. After this happened Marji’s parents got a call later that night from her teacher explaining what happened. The Satrapi grew scared for their daughter. They told Marji she would be transferred out of that school and sent to Austria. Since Majri stood up for herself and the victims of the revolution, she is now being torn apart from her family. She is being sent away from her home and family because her parents are scared of how her society will react with Marji bold and unpopular beliefs. Marji Society condition her mother into a constant state of fear now Marji is paying the price for it.
Marji shows the unique time and place she lives in through the clothes she wears and the manner in which she speaks. Near the end of the novel Marji is stopped by the “guardians of the revolution”. It’s clear she starts to panic. The guardians of the revolution were secret police. Their job was to report and correct women who were “dressed immodest”. When Marji was stopped she was in violation of their modesty standards. She had on a Michael Jackson pin, tight jeans, Nike shoes, a jacket,while hair poked out of her vail. A quote from one of the guardians states, “Lower your scarf, you little whore!” “Aren’t you ashamed to wear tight jeans like these?” When she was stopped by these people she was only a preteen. Like all teens she expresses herself through her clothing. What she was wearing showed her personality. To be criticized for it speaks volumes as to what her society has become. This quote also shows the place and time she lives in by the harsh reality that she was called a “whore” because bits of her hair could be seen.Another moment in the novel where the author reveals the unique time and place she lives in on page 5 when it is stated”A German journalist took a photo of my mother. It was published in all European newspapers. My mother was really scared. She dyed her hair and wore dark sunglasses for a long time.” This is from when Marji’s mom went to a rally against veils. In this quote, the author uses Marji’s mom’s fear to express the unique place they live in. What is to stop someone from hurting her or her family after she publicly opposed a popular opinion? The veils are supported by the government and are enforced by them. If someone were to find her from the newspaper article there would be nothing she could do to protect herself. America has the freedom of speech. We are free to express our opinion without the fear of persecution or harsh judgement from our government. Which is something Iran just doesn’t have. Marji looks up to her mother, seeing the fear her mom experienced made Marji able to spot injustice. Which is clearly shown in multiple parts of the novel. When her mom conformed to society and hid her beliefs to insure their safety Marji recognized her society’s corrupt way of thinking.
Overall, the novel both allows us to learn about the differences between Iran and America and also it relates to the universal truth that society conditions us. The book remains relevant to people all around our current world because there are still people who are controlled by their government. It’s important to recognize when the government is taking too much control over our day to day lives.It’s also important to recognize when society has take things too far and to have freedom of individuality.