Persepolis Essay

Everyday changes around us, big or small, can have a major effect on who we become. Marji is the main character in the book Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi. Persepolis is a graphic novel set during the Islamic Revolution. The Islamic Revolution lasted for 13 months, from January 1978 to February 1979, in Iran, it ruined Iran's monarchy, resulted in women being forced to where veils, man and women were separated in schools, and women lost many more rights as well. Marji lives in Iran during the revolution. The book follows Marji through her life focusing on the revolution, her beliefs, the ups and downs of Marji's life as she grows up, and her character development. The character development in the book Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi has a major

When being introduced to these characters we learn about the difference in their belifes. Her parents believe in fighting back against the government and the injustices that they have caused. Where as Marji is a firm believer in god, having been raised around religion her whole life. She looks to him for guidance and speaks to him most nights. When speaking to him she shares how she will one day be a prophet, asks him about all the problems she sees in the world, and he speakers back to her reassuring these comments and hopes. She wants to become god, a prophet when she grows up to solve all the problems that she sees in the world. “I wanted to be justice, love and the wrath of God all in one” (pg. 9). Many people around her saw a problem with this and felt she was delusional or just ignored when she spoke on it. However Marji did not care what others thought. Since she was born she was a firm follower in religion and believed in God. She was very determined to stay true to herself and what she believed in no matter what others said or thought. “my faith was unshakable” (pg. 10). Marji says this at the end of chapter one, after she has gotten lots of criticism about who she wants to be and what she believes in. Stating that no matter what she will stay true to herself and what she believes

We see how the way she identifies with herself and religion changes. Once the revolution began her views about religion started to change. “The year of the revolution I had to take action. So I put my prophetic destiny aside for a while.”(pg. 10). Through this quote from chapter two we can see how Marji's perspective on religion and her beliefs are changing. She begins to see all that is happening with the revolution. She starts to form new views of her own. As said before her parents are very passionate about fighting back against the government during the revolution. Because of this they like to stay up to date on what is going on, so the news is very often played in their home. “‘Tomorrow there will be another demonstration’ ‘obviously we can’t let things like that happen’ ‘I want to go too’” (pg.) This quote is from Marji over hearing the news that her parents are watching on TV. That evening people set fire to a movie theater and many were injured and trapped inside. When this occurred rather than authorities rescuing the victims, they forced victims and citizens to go and rescue those stuck inside. Many were injured and killed from this incident. One of the things that was said as well was “a group of religious fanatics perpetrated the massacre.”(pg. 15), this upset Marji and is what lead to her wanting to do something about it. This developed a new opinion of Marjis and the way she saw her once strong