Freedom In Persepolis

Ernesto “Che” Guevara, an international revolutionary figure, once said, “Passion is needed for any great work, and for the revolution, passion and audacity are required in big doses”. Deaddiction and bravery is required to take action for your believes and drastic actions may be taken. Persepolis is an illustrated autobiography childhood novel of Marjane Satrapi, in which the author tells her story of growing up during the Iranian Revolution that started in the late 1970’s and the challenges she faces with life and family. Satrapi’s story shows the power and importance and of the true meaning of family. It depicts that teaching the fundamental values of fairness and equality is very important in the formation of a young life. Marjane grows

Marjane believes that fighting for her country is the right thing to do. Not only are her parents proud that she wants to be involved with her country’s equality, but they are also concerned for safety during the Revolution. In the chapter the “The Dowry”, Marjane is expelled from school for not handing over her bracelet and mistakenly knocking down the teacher, and then gets in trouble for mocking another teacher. Her parents receive a phone call from the school, talking about Marjane’s behavior. Her father is proud of Marjane for telling off her religion teacher. However, her mother is not fond of her daughter’s behavior. Marjane’s mother is very concerned that her behavior can get her daughter into serious trouble, or worse, executed. Her mother continues to tell Marjane the horrors that could happen to her. She tells the story of one young girl: “So a guardian of the Revolution marries her…and takes her virginity before executing her, do you understand what that means? If someone so much as touches a hair on your head, I’ll kill him” (145). The author shows the reader that standing up for beliefs is the right thing to do, but only at a certain time and place; even if Marjane is right, in her country, the consequences are deadly. Marjane’s parents always are willing to protect their daughter even if it has to scare

Her family is politically active and involved in their country’s quest for freedom and democracy. They believe in expressing their ideas publicly. Majane’s parents tell her many stories about her relatives who are activists who pursue democracy for all Iranians. Her parents encourage Marjane to express herself freely, while at the same time allowing her to live a normal childhood despite the Revolution. At one point in the story, Marjane’s parents travel to Turkey for vacation. Marjane asks her parents for a denim jacket and Kim Wilde Poster, which they smuggle back into the country (126-129). At the time, these items are considered Western and illegal to possess. However, her parents want their daughter to be exposed to different ideas and cultures. Another example of how her family influences her to be herself is in “The Dowry”; her parents decide to send Majane to Austria to be safe and have a better education. Marjane becomes fearful about leaving her family; she feels she’s too young to be on her own, but Marjane’s mother responds by stating, “You’re fourteen and I know how I brought you up. Above all I trust your education” (147). This shows the reader how her parents think of Marjane as a strong, smart young lady for her age. Her parents believe that their daughter is destined for greatness and trust her to travel alone