Persepolis Reading Analysis

(Page 53/54 of Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi)

            The book Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi divulges in the daily life of a young Islamic revolutionist in Iran. Marjane Satrapi composed this text and she is mainly known for her multiple volumes of Persepolis. The audience she is intended to branch out and influence is not assumed to know much about her troubles. Marjane Satrapi gives a wide array of knowledge to inform those who do not know of typical life in Iran. Marjane informs the reader of the different styles of cloth they use, such as the veil, and the differences between typical American and Iran life.

            The two pages I have picked to interpret, deal with primary torture methods involved in the prisons of Iran. Marjane’s parents had an old friend from prison named Mohsen, whom of which was tortured so much they assumed he was dead (Satrapi, 50). Mohsen explains in detail the kind of tortures he had to endure in prison life (Satrapi, 52). Mohsen explains to the family that the prison guards were believed to be torturers from the C.I.A and real scientists that knew every nerve in one’s body. The author hopes to bring to light the cruelness and brutality of some men. One would be tortured until death if they wouldn’t give the torturers the knowledge they were looking for. The author may even been trying to scare the reader by showing them a little glimpse of what many of her beloved peers had to endure. The author’s intent is made clear through the dialogue her parents have with their friend. Marjane could have made it so her character had nightmares about torture. However, instead she made it so a real character had come to inform her family of real tortures that happened to people she knew. Many of these actions were presumably used only during wartime, however Marjane made it apparent to the reader that many people who revolt in Iran are tortured. It show’s the viciousness of many men and makes one analyze the world around them.

            The tone and style of this text is a very serious tone with an informational background. Marjane does a great job showing the horrors of her home as child. Although there are some humorous texts and a bit of satire, the overall tone of this book is a very serious tone. Throughout many parts of the book there are discussions of violence and revolution showing the dangers of Iran during rebellion. The style of this book is an informal academic one, for it is in a graphic novel and can be academic for it teaches one many knowledgeable aspects of Iran. While Marjane is trying to convey a serious message of a revolution, she does a great job of keeping the reader intrigued and constantly supplying new knowledge so the reader is never confused on what a certain item is. Through cultural differences comes change in daily life of that people, Marjane shows the reader just how different it is across the world. 

Persepolis 2

The book Persepolis, by Marjane Satrapi, discusses the regime and how it became more repressive in Iran. This book follows the life of a middle-class teenage girl in Iran having to live her teenage years as a youth in revolt. Persepolis portrays stories of a young woman being executed at the age of 18, of innocent brave men risking their lives for the one’s they hold dearest to them, and many more intriguing memories of the author. The final chapters of the book discuss the tragedies of living in Iran in such a crucial time. At any given moment one family could we wiped out, such as a Jewish family in the book, the Baba-Levys. Marji was racing home after shopping to discover her family was almost massacred by a missal, and instead it was her neighbor’s house. This book brings to light the radical differences between the country of Iran and the United States of America. Just because people from the United States of America have a different lifestyle does that make it a better place to live in? One reason America and Iran have a feud is because of this very question.

            I personally have never had to deal with these kinds of dangerous predicaments the author Marjane Satrapi is discussing in her book. I am blessed to live in a time and country where I can feel safe and don’t have to worry about coming home to my house being hit by a missile. In America, we have the freedom of speech, freedom to express oneself, and many more rights not available in many other countries. Living here, I take for granted my every day freedom’s that people have died to uphold and people would literally die to have. Having read Persepolis, it has opened my mind to the world around me and how it is has been made more apparent that not every one on this globe is equal. Why is it that I have the right to say and do what I want, but on the other-side of the globe someone could be murdered by the very government sought to protect them for doing the same action I did? One quote that really stuck with me was “To die a martyr is to inject blood into the veins of society” (115). Basically, this quote states that if one dies for their country, they are doing a great service for that country. If this is true, what did the young girl in this story, Niloufar, die for? Marji believed her to be a real martyr who died for nothing. Marji rejects this quote and for good reasoning. She believes she can make a positive difference through education and she will avenge her friend by standing up for what she believes in. 

The Twelve Imams.

Ryan Lubell

Profressor Stacey Knapp

English 1A

March 12, 2013

Prophecy of the Twelfth Imam

            To understand the context of the Twelve Imams, one must first know what the phrase “The Twelve Imams” translates to. The Twelve Imams in Arabic translates to: twelve spiritual leaders who generally lead others in prayer. In the Islamic world the Imam of a community is known to enforce the laws of the Shariah. The Shariah is the religious laws and the basic fundamentals of principle set to Islam. The two primary sources of Shariah law derive from the Quran and the Islamic prophet Muhammad. The Twelfth imam, also known as the guided one, was said to be the son of the 11^th imam and is thought by certain followers of Islam to still lie in recluse, waiting to reemerge the spearhead of an apparently upcoming religious judgment day.

            Muhammad al-Mahdi, son of al-Hasan al-‘Askari, and Nagris, was born in Samarra’ on Friday, 15^th in Sha’ban (August) 255 AH. Muhammad al-Mahdi is said to be the living prophet of the Iranian culture. He is believed to still be alive and it is held by the faithful that he will bring the world justice once he returns on judgment day. Muhammad al-Mahdi is viewed to be the son of the 11^th prophet and is held in the same esteem as the holy prophet himself. It is perceived among Muslims that when al-Mahdi returns he, with direct insight from Muhammad would enforce the laws of Islam and:  “through his deputy the Imam would answer the demands and questions of the Shi'ah” (Islam Guidance). To the Muslims of Iran Muhammad al-Mahdi is the future savior to the Iranian Islamic culture and they believe one day he will return and be their messiah. Upon his return, it is believed that “the future will see a day when human society will be replete with justice and when all will live in peace and tranquility, when human beings will be fully possessed of virtue and perfection” (Islam Guidance). Ever since Muhammad became of this earth, man has thrived for perfection and peace, and if this were never possible it would not have been imprinted in the backbone of human nature. Just like if there were no water there would not be any thirst, if there were no pleasure there would not be any pain, Iranians believe that because the will of peace and tranquility lives on, there is a possibility that one day their savior will come down and bring justice and peace to everyone. To the religious Iranian There is only one savior, al-Mahdi Muhammad, and that after him: ”there will be no one in the future”(Islam Guidance) The return of al-Mahdi, to the religious Iranian, is an establishment of an everlasting society that firmly rests upon a strong moral, lawful, and peaceful social pillar that will be enforced by al-Mahdi’s benevolent Islamic hegemony.

Islamic belief is very similar to Catholic belief in that its members both believe in a sort of “judgment day.” It is believed in both religions that one day in the future the prophet of their religion will arise from a location removed from earth, and bring justice and tranquility to the world. To support Imam Mahdi's claim, Twelver Shi'as along with some other Muslim sects quote the following Hadith: "I and `Ali are the fathers of this nation; whoever knows us very well also knows Allah, and whoever denies us also denies Allah, the Unique, the Mighty. And from `Ali's descendants are my grandsons al-Hasan and al-Husayn, who are the masters of the youths of Paradise, and from al-Husayn's descendants shall be nine: whoever obeys them obeys me, and whoever disobeys them also disobeys me; the ninth among them is their Qa'im and Mahdi."[Al-Islam, 10]. It is more common than not to meet a person who believes that one day a savior will come and judge those who have sinned and reward those with faith. For many people, al-Mahdi represents more than just a religious man of great wisdom, power and drive, but also an idea that for many Iranians conveys a notion of striving for all that is just, moral and positive. With such attractive attributes, it is no wonder that Iran, with its relatively turbulent and fractured history embraces this apparent bringer of peace and united utopia.

WORKS CITED:

"12th Imam." Popular Issues - AllAboutPopularIssues.org. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 Mar. 2013.                                                           <http://www.allaboutpopularissues.org/12th-imam.htm>.

"Al-Muraja'at." Al-Islam.org by the Ahlul Bayt DILP - Home. N.p., n.d. Web. 9 Apr. 2013. <http://www.al-islam.org/murajaat/62.htm>.

Bakash, Shaul “Iran” American Historical Review (1991): 1479-496. Web.

"Biography of Imam Mohammad al-Mahdi - Islam Guidance." Sibtayn. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 Mar. 2013.             < http://www.sibtayn.com/en/?Itemid=467>.

"The Panjtan Society Youth Group."Panjtan.org. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Mar. 2013.                <http://www.panjtan.org.au/psyg/node/110>.

Persepolis

            The book “Persepolis” by Marijane Satrapi is a graphic novel following the life of the author’s memory of growing up in Iran as a little girl. This story closely follows the unique life of a little girl growing up in a country with rapid social changes. Each chapter seems to present a new lesson on the vastly differing ideologies present in Iran at the time. As this young girl grows up living through new experiences, and as she notices and ponders upon how her way of life she once knew was changing at a pace quite fast for a little girl, I developed a few opinions of my own.

Religious institutionalism slowly started to rise as she grew up and it was having a huge impact of her way of life. In the first chapter the author introduces veils in school, where little girls have to have their head hidden with a piece of cloth as a sign of respect to a patriarchal God. However in my opinion, wearing a veil is the opposite of showing respect to God or to men, what could be more disrespectful then hiding your true self. Furthermore, it is quite sexist to make a whole segment of a nations population to wear a certain cloth because of their gender. This young girl talks about revolution and revolt and how she yearns to be a part of it. The parents of this girl are dedicated protestors of the government in Iran, for they are educated and oppose the communist government that has taken over their government. This young girl speaks of religion and how she was “already sure [she] was the last prophet” (6). The author of this book had a wild imagination but above all believed in herself like no one else would. I find this unique characteristic of this child to be respectable if nothing else. How are others going to believe in you if you don’t even believe in yourself? There had never been a female prophet, but this young girl with optimism ignored everyone and wished for the best. If I was in this young girls place, I don’t know if I would have had the courage and bravery to stand up to my own countries social institution like she did. Everyone hopes that they would do the right thing in the time of justice, but truth is many people wouldn’t sacrifice their lives for the greater good or their own true opinion. I respect this young girl because she stood up for what she believed in for the good of the community. I personally never had the opportunity to stand up for what I truly believe in. I was lucky enough to be born a fortunate life and I am very grateful for that. However, so many of us are not that lucky and have to deal with what this girl did at such a young age and it is quite inspiring. If everyone could have the same courageousness as this girl, I believe the world would be a way better place. There are many important life lessons to take away from this book but a vital one is to be a strong individual who does not sacrifice their beliefs.