Persepolis Essay

In the graphic novel Persepolis, the author’s use of dichotomies such as Westernization v. Traditionalism, Right v. Wrong, and Islamic v. Secularism all develop the theme of division in Iran surrounding the Islamic Revolution and the time period that follows, all the way to today.

Secularism v. Religion is important to the theme and development of Persepolis and of Iran because the division is caused through the Islamic revolution and the ongoing protests against the hijab, the rights of women, and the changing unpopular laws in Islamic Iran. After the end of the Islamic Revolution in Iran, many women decided to not wear the hijab, due to it being uncomfortable and them being unused to it- despite becoming a law by the new government. On

Furthermore, on page 5 of Persepolis, it shows two sides of Iranian demonstrations following the revolution; for and against the hijab. This additionally shows the discord between the two groups, with the tension between religious people and secularists. Overall, this conflict shows the growing tensions even after the revolution was over, and that the clash

Traditionalism is a valuable theme in Persepolis- and modern Iran- because of the conflict between traditionalist Islamic education and the banning of western clothing, and to democratize Iran and westernize through religious freedom, cultural protection, liberalization and an westernized education system. Throughout the book of Persepolis- and even today in modern Iran- a conflict between westernization and traditionalism is shown, with the Islamic fundamentalists in the government pushing against those across the country who support a westernize government system, with one such example being presented in the Iranian education system. On page 73, the Iranian government shuts down all of the universities and closes all bilingual schools, in an attempt to keep Islamic education and stop “westernized education” and “western ways of thinking”, and to prevent the children of Iran being lead astray from Islam. The closing of bilingual schools and the shut-down of universities shows the Iranian government’s traditionalism, with the decision to block expanded education to promote Islam proving that the Islamic government cares more about traditionalist Islamic methods of thought than the modernization of the country. Additionally, on the pages 94-101, we see the extent to which the Iranian government goes to ensure loyalty to the revolution and allegiance to the nation. We see that the schools enforce the young girls to commit self-flagellation by beating