The Complete Persepolis Literary Analysis

The Complete Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi presents the reader with various cultural elements that not only signify important aspects in Marjane’s life, but also help describe the setting that is Iran during the seventies. From music, to trends, to social norms, the elements of her life are vividly described in order to truly engage the reader. However, the veil is truly the object in the book that holds the most important significance as it is not only a fashion statement but also closely related to religion and one’s position in the face of the rebellion. The role of this motif changes over the course of the novel as it shows the changes in Marjane’s personality and the changes the country of Iran undergoes.

The first chapter is dedicated

On page 5 panel 1, Satrapi represents the demonstrations for and against the veil, with women wearing chadors on one side, and women without anything on the other side. Most women in Marjane’s family however do not wear the veil which creates a sort of bias as the reader is never truly presented with the motives of the other women. The veils represent a symbol of oppression, and fundamentalism. Satrapi shows the two types, of both men and women, and categorizes them as either fundamentalist or modern. Satrapi says that the way people dressed even “became an ideological sign” (75/1,2), and that “[women] showed [their] opposition to the regime by letting a few strands of hair show.” The veil becomes something so important in their everyday lives that it even starts to control the mental aspect of the women. Satrapi explains that instead of asking themselves “where is my freedom of thought? Where is my freedom of speech? My life, is it livable? And what’s going on in the political prisons?” (302/7), women are asking themselves if their trousers are long enough or if their veil is correctly placed. The constant fear the Iranian women like Marjane live in causes them to lose their sense of reflection. This not only demonstrates the power of the veil, but also reflects the power the government has on its people. It is concluded that “showing hair or putting on makeup logically became acts of rebellion.” (302/8). Refusal to wear the veil was seen as one’s denial to fit to the exact social norms, and therefore an act of