Persepolis A Feminist Perspective Essay - 867 Words

Marjane Satrapi says in multiple interviews that she does not subscribe to feminism; instead, she describes herself as a humanist. However, her graphic novel memoir, Persepolis, has several themes at its core that convey feminist ideals. Throughout the novel, Marjane constantly expresses frustration with Iran’s strict regulations on women. She also grows up with strong female relationships in her family; these women help shape Marjane into the woman she is today, a woman who won’t stand for inequality. Marjane has two influential female role models: her mother and her grandmother. Both women are outspoken, independent, and progressive. They always encourage Marjane to be herself and to never lose touch with who she is and where she comes†¦show more content†¦When she sends Marjane away from Iran, she assures her: â€Å"I know how I brought you up. Above all, I trust your education† (147). Marjane’s mother doesn’t want her daughter to live i n such an oppressive time. When the veils become mandatory, Marjane’s mother wishes to take her to an opposition demonstration: â€Å"She should start learning to defend her rights as a woman right now!† (76) In growing up with such strong female role models, Marjane learns to express her opinion and always stand by her beliefs. They taught her to stand up for herself as a woman, and in doing so, introduced her to a feminist perspective on life. In Persepolis, the Islamic state makes the wearing of veils compulsory, under the assertion that it is a symbol of both Iranian culture and Islamic religious law. While Marjane accepts the veil as part of her life, she rebels against the ideology it represents. When Iran begins to enforce stricter dress codes to ensure modesty, Marjane sees that the veil is a form of controlling the female population, a form of suppression. She rejects the double standard that allows Iranian men more freedom: â€Å"You don’t hesitate to comment on us, but our brothers present here have all shapes and sizes of haircuts and clothes. Sometimes, they wear clothes so tight that we can see everything† (299). Marjane must experience the misogynistic nature of the fundamentalist IslamicShow MoreRelated Persepolis: Changing Western Perceptions of Muslim Women Essay1756 Words   |  8 PagesMarjane Satrapi’s graphic novel, Persepolis, makes important strides toward altering how Western audiences perceive Iranian women. Satrapi endeavors to display the intersection of the lives of some Westerners with her life as an Iranian, who spent some time in the West. Satrapi, dissatisfied with representations she saw of Iranian women in France, decided to challenge them. In her words, â€Å"From the time I came to France in 1994, I was always telling stories about life in Iran to my friends. 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ThisRead MoreLiterary Criticism : The Free Encyclopedia 7351 Words   |  30 PagesLowry (1989) Sophie s World, by Jostein Gaarder (1991) English Music, by Peter Ackroyd (1992)[39] The Gods Laugh on Mondays, by Reza Khoshnazar (1995) About a Boy, by Nick Hornby (1998) The Perks of Being a Wallflower, by Stephen Chbosky (1999)[40] Persepolis, by Marjane Satrapi (2000)[41] 21st century[edit] The Secret Life of Bees, by Sue Monk Kidd (2002)[42] The Kite Runner, by Khaled Hosseini (2003)[43] The Fortress of Solitude, by Jonathan Lethem (2003) [44] Never Let Me Go, by Kazuo Ishiguro (2005)[30]