The graphic novel Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi gives a touching glimpse into the hardships faced by Iranians after the Revolution. One scene that particularly stood out to me was when Marjane visits her Uncle Anoosh in prison, showcasing both the violence and repression of the regime and Marjane's love and dedication to her family. I selected this scene as it truly highlighted the melancholy nature of their circumstances. This powerful scene underscores the human toll of the Revolution and highlights the difficulties faced by Iranians. Through the use of vivid imagery and impactful words, this scene offers a deeper understanding of the characters and their experiences, and the symbols used in the scene serve to emphasize the significance of the events being portrayed. In this essay, I will delve into the scene where Marjane visits her Uncle Anoosh in prison, examining what it reveals about the characters, the symbols used, and their importance in the larger context of post-Revolutionary Iran. Marjane's relationship with Uncle Anoosh is central to understanding the moving scene where she visits him in prison. …show more content…
The imposing setting of the prison symbolizes the government's tyrannical grip on the population and the physical state of Uncle Anoosh, who has been subjected to inhumane treatment and torture, testifies to the regime's cruelty. The psychological impact of the prison on Uncle Anoosh is palpable in his broken spirit and body, showcasing the devastating toll of the regime's oppressive tactics. The guards, depicted with callous indifference, serve as a reminder of the repression and mistreatment faced by political prisoners during this time. Through the use of powerful imagery and words, the scene conveys the depth of the struggles faced by the Iranian people, serving as a moving testament to the violence and repression they
As restrictions eased, the detainees were allowed paper, pens and pencils to draw. Through creative expression many of the prisoners were able to find their individual identity once again. After living so long in a facility designed to tear away every last shred of individuality and freedom of self expression, prisoners were filled with so much pent up emotion. When I first encountered Adayfi’s artwork it struck me that despite its elegant simplicity, it seemed to convey so much emotion. One particular piece stuck out to me, one that was split into two halves.
Uncle Anoosh, a political prisoner, fell victim to the brutal regime and was unjustly incarcerated by the state. Marjane had a deep emotional attachment to him, as he was a cherished mentor and guide in her life. His imprisonment in Persepolis not only reflects the violent and oppressive nature of the government but also portrays the devastating consequences of the Revolution on the daily lives of Iranians and the ones they hold
Our group analyzed allusions to the Cinema Rex fire and the keys to paradise within Marjane Satrapi’s graphic novel, Persepolis. Researching these allusions, shed light on the relationship Satrapi creates with her audience in order for her to accomplish her purpose. Satrapi tailors the story by adding the allusions to help the audience understand Iranian culture. Satrapi’s purposes are stated clearly within the introduction of the graphic novel. One of her purposes is to stop the judgment of Iran as being fundamentalist and terrorists because she “knows that this image is far from the truth” and believes that “an entire nation should not be judged by the wrongdoings of a few extremists.”
Marjane Satrapi uses a variety of graphic techniques, specifically on pages 61 and 137, to describe the way that Iran’s oppressive environment has forced Marji’s young, optimistic mind to think in a way that is painfully realistic. Throughout the book, Satrapi’s style of drawing is signature and
The scene effectively conveys the government's violence and oppression, as well as the victims' resistance, through its use of powerful symbols and imagery. The stark contrast between black and white underscores the naïveté of the victims and the harsh reality of the state. Uncle Anoosh's indefatigable spirit symbolizes his determination in the face of oppression. The scene stresses the widespread destruction caused by the Revolution on everyday life in Iran. Marjane's visit to her Uncle Anoosh in prison serves as a poignant reminder of the challenges of brutality, repression, and resistance in post-Revolutionary
An impenetrable way through perseverance and resistance in the book “Persepolis” has sent a powerful message to audiences everywhere. This graphic novel is a story of small Marji, who had to face formidable obstacles through her childhood. Living in Iran surrounded by war and thousands of deaths, inspired the little girl to fight for her rights. On page 102 of the book, we can see a powerful juxtaposition, where both of the panels have a profound effect on the reader. Looking at the elements of a graphic novel, Satrapi uses caption, movement and mood in both of the panels in order to enhance the significance on the narrative.
Without God as a guiding presence in her life, Marji began to rebel against the ever-encroaching fundamentalist institution as much as possible. Under the pretense of religion, Iran strictly enforced new laws against social gatherings and all items of decadence, “They found records and video-cassettes at their place. A deck of cards, a chess set, in other words, everything that’s banned… It earned him seventy-five lashes”(105). This sudden loss of mediums to enjoy one’s self and prevalence of excessive punishment enforcing the declared moral code (132) were invitations to rebel for Marji.
This point of view makes sense because memoirs could be taken as a one sided opinion. However, a memoir’s purpose is not to submit one side over the other, but just the author’s personal accounts. This memoir can be used to see how the Iranian Revolution affected a family against the new regime and new laws. Although it does follow a girl and family against the Revolution, it still informs the reader of all the historic events that were affecting the whole country.
Initially, Marjane loves Anoosh. He is a source of comfort and support who helps Marjane make sense of the world around her. However, as the revolution progresses, Anoosh is arrested and executed — leaving Marjane confused and grieving. This relationship helps the reader envision how the Iranian Revolution’s political upheaval could destroy families and leave people feeling isolated. In The Complete Persepolis, its simple illustrations assist in conveying the emotions its characters experience.
The story begins with the life of marjane and ends with her life. But in the background, the novel involves the war in Iran. Iran is always at war which includes the Iranian revolution and the struggle of people after the revolution. Though these are not implied does not affect their significance. They have a very important function of shaping the actions of the characters of novel which have long lasting effects.
The graphic novel, Persepolis that is written by Satrapi depicts the coming of age story of Marjane and her experiences during and after the Iranian war. Through Marjane’s experiences, the character frequently encounters the hardship and conflict of growing up. However, these hardships are major factors that shape Marjane as a character and establish the context of the novel. Within this novel, Satrapi uses graphic novel conventions and literary devices to convey the conflict of Marjane; with herself, with man (in the form of her teachers), and with the society that is revealed in Persepolis.
The readers can see the transition of cultural background by noticing details within the image, for example, character’s clothing and how they dress themselves up. The transition of clothing and fashion represent cultural backgrounds that create struggles for Marjane and her search in self identity. The necessity of Iranian girls wearing veils indicates the regime taking over Iranian society further effect Marjane’s belief towards her identity. The first part of the book presents the background history of this graphic novel by saying, “In 1979 a revolution took over place.
Everything can be viewed from two perspectives; A fist fight, a murder, bullying, just to name a few situations. This is still the case with Iran and it’s people. Iran and its neighboring countries are often portrayed negatively as terrorist, or failed nations. This is not always the truth, however, and one can learn that through Marjane’s coming of age story, Persepolis. The personal nature of the story is told through Marjane’s loss of innocence, her opinions on religion, and her observation of the prominent gender roles.
After the Iranian Revolution, it became compulsory for women to wear the veil as the Islamic dress code and all women were removed from government positions, leading to increasing oppression and inequality in Iran. The use of black and white on the first page of the book creates a very clear image that a lot of people are unhappy with the new rules that are introduced by the government. The use of images shows us the oppression of freedom in a way that it would be hard to imagine with words. The first panel shows Marjane in a somber mood, crossing her arms to show her defensive thinking against the veil and the world. In the following panel, the girl’s expressions range from neutral to dislike or discomfort, which shows the general thoughts from people on how they think of the veil.
Effects on the Memoir Persepolis Marjane Satrapi’s novel Persepolis describes experiences during the Islamic Regime that leave people suffering, dying, and fighting for a better government. Marjane Satrapi uses a comic layout to illustrate what is difficult to say in words. Her panel design depicts images of her, her family, and friends as well as how people in the community are reacting to the different events of the revolution. The use of panel design assists the memoir by making Satrapi’s purpose of portraying information more successful. Throughout the novel Persepolis, Marjane Satrapi uses panel design to advance the reader 's’ knowledge of the many situations occurring in Iran that cause distress to many individuals rebelling against the regime.