Persepolis

Over the past few weeks we have been working hard on getting through a unique, informational, and reward text dealing with Iran and specifically the Iranian revolution. The main character, and author, is Marji Satrapi. She tells her inspirational story through this graphic novel. This fun but meaningful memoir teaches the reader a lot about Iranian history. In the beginning of the novel Marji explains her understanding of Iranian past and a little about how her nation came to be. Her parents were very knowledgeable on this topic and explained how Persia was once ruled by Cyrus the Great. This leader made the Persian Empire the strongest nation of the time, even more powerful than the Greeks. As this empire stayed strong a new string of leaders came to power, The Shah. In 1935 Reza Shah renamed Persia Iran. Now Reza was in control of this strong nation and perhaps made his biggest mistake by misusing his power. As this corrupt dictator instated laws that made Iran's citizens oppressed and angry, they knew a change was necessary. This change would come in the presence of Mohammed Mossadeq. As he took control Iran made drastic changes. The most important of these changes was the nationalization of oil. This exclusiveness to Iran upset the Western world, specifically the United States. With a strong oil trading partner of theirs discontinuing its exports, the United States wanted change. Then the CIA, an American organization, organized a coup against Mossadeq. As he was overthrown America arranged for the Shah to be back in power. Once again, Iran's people will be oppressed. I believe the United States had incentive to make change in Iran because of the oil but went about it in a terrible way. This thoughtless attack on Iran's government forever shaped Iran, and its citizens, and its foreign connections with countries like the United States. Now the Shah was changing Iran dramatically. With fundamentalist laws and perspective in place there was a schism in Iran. As a national dress code and a theocracy in place there was an obvious uprising of resistance of those who wanted a secular government. Finally there was the inevitable Islamic Revolution. Dramatic movements were being made during this time including the US embassy being taken hostage for 444 days. There was a veritible string of hope for this hostage's survival and release. We read articles about the hostages and hostage takers in class that made this event more personal for me. Now one year later another change came as Iraq invaded Iran. This invasion left Iran in panic and turmoil. After two years of bombings, attacks, and political battles Iran withdrew troops. Iranians were in a brief time of peace when Iran retaliated with its own invasion. In 1987 after long years of war, trade embargos on Iran and Iraq damaging an economy, and much unrest by the citizens, the fighting ended in a stalemate and there was a peace agreement in 1990 after more than a million casualties, these heroes of war would forever be remembered as martyrs.

Marji did a great job in telling her story and keeping her work historical and informational within a memorable novel. We also learn a lot about her and the changes she made during this time period. As Marji discusses the happenings around her she also inserts her personal opinions and beliefs making the story much more personal. In the dramatic time period she lived in changes her family and friends she is affected as well specifically in her opinions of her family, country, and herself. She always knew her family was different. Whether it is were her parents protesting the veil, having clandestine discussions, attending decedent celebrations, or leaving their home for long hours, they were always up to something. Marji and her parents had a very strong connection and Marji told them everything when she was young. As she grew up she became more rebellious. I think this has to do with her parents as well sing that they are rebels in themselves protesting Iran’s laws and dictators. The family stayed close during times of war and Marji had a very strong bond with them by the end of the book, and this bond was broken when Margi had to leave and go to Vienna. When Marji was growing up she didn’t have a strong understanding of politics like many other proletariats. This was changes through the years as politics started affecting her. Now she took a look at her country with the guide of her parents’ knowledge and she soon began to realize how corrupt the government and people in Iran were. In this look into the world she also changed herself. At one point she lacked the knowledge and understanding to participate in this uprising of resistance but eventually she sees her part in her changing country and tries to institute change with her parents, and is just as strong willed as them.

The book ends when she leaves Iran and heads to Europe, without her parents. They at first promise that they will move to Vienna with her in a few months but slowly give that up and promise frequent visits. Marji points this out and would be able to make that prediction because she wrote this novel in the following years. I believe that after she moved out of Iran she started her life over again living with her mom’s best friend. I am sure she kept in touch with her parents and they visited her. They would finally move back together after the war ended and probably all live in Iran again. This process would change the relationship between Marji and her family but for the better. When she wrote this novel she obviously kept her parents in mind and had respect for all that they had done for her. In her writing this novel she gave a reservoir of knowledge and insight to the historical changes in Iran, told about a memorable part of her life, and put a face to the statistics of Iran we hear about on the news. This understanding of what somebody’s life must be like in Iran makes the reader draw the connections between this person and all the news of Iran we hear constantly.