Naomi Grace G.

Ordonio
BSED II ENG

Contemporary World and Popular Literature FINALS:

Novel: (Graphic) Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi

1. Having read Persepolis, explain in your own words how you feel about this
graphic novel and also why you think the author wrote this book. Give
reasons and cite examples in your answer.

Finishing my first graphic novel was a fun experience. You could

understand more the emotion of the characters as it were shown in the
illustrations. Even the mood of the scene is more vivid and identifiable. The
author also herself decided to write Persepolis with illustrations to further
express the emotions and messages she wants us to understand and
empathize on. These messages are deeper and more meaningful than we
think. I was enlightened and my eyes were opened about how Iranians live
their lives. They are always cautious about almost everything, there are a lot
of things that you can not do or have. Even music or band merchandisings or
even just makeup or nail polish are prohibited. They are like the real-life
Abnegation faction from the famous trilogy series Divergent.

Sometimes we do not feel content on what we have here in the

Philippines and we even criticize our politicians without knowing that there are
people who experience so much worse than our personal concerns. Our
country may not be perfect, but the thing that I am most grateful of in here is
freedom. We have the right to speak our thoughts. We are free to do
everything we want. Unlike in Iran, as what the author have described, is the
complete opposite of the situation here. Imagine suddenly hearing a loud
bang realizing they are being bombed and that there is war again, women
always wearing veils outside despite their discomfort, men being forced to
serve the military. It is too sad that there are lots of people being tortured and
executed for the crimes that they did not even do, and there a lot of worse
things that is too much to bear which is why Satrapi wants us to be aware of
these happenings in her beloved country to honor and give tribute to the
martyrs who only have fought to make Iran a better place. "I also don't want
those Iranians who lost their lives in prisons defending freedom, who died in
the war against Iraq, who suffered under various repressive regimes, or who
were forced to leave their families and flee their homeland to be forgotten."
and she did. She did a great job to introduce Iran to us. It was absolutely an
eye opener and lesson for everyone. Be content and always fight for what we
believe in.
2. Which is your favorite chapter in the novel and why? Cite examples and
explain.

My favorite chapter in Persepolis is 'Skiing'. It might not be the most

desirable, interesting or even a relevant chapter but it is realistic and I like its
authenticity--the theme or message of this chapter. It was about the time
when Marjane went home from Vienna weeks later after all she's been
through; her boyfriend cheated on her, she was kicked out in her apartment,
and she even lived in the streets. Furthermore, her family and the people
around her noticed that she is not okay--she was just watching television all
day, not going outside, not meeting friends, not wanting to do everything.
Even if she did all those half-heartedly, she still did not feel okay. She thought
if she goes home, everything will fall into place and she will forget what she
have been through. She became depressed. When her parents went to
Caspian sea, she decided to commit suicide, but she could not cut herself or
copy those suicide scenes from the television series that she have watched
so she just swallowed her anti-depressant pills all at once, yet she still
survived. After all that, she realized that 'she was not made to die.'

There are times when we feel like we do not have the desire to
continue living because we feel like we are not living properly, we are just
merely surviving. Even so, at the end of the day, God still shows us that He
still has plans in store for us, comforting and encouraging us to continue
moving forward because everything will get better through His timing. It is not
the end, you are just halfway in the middle before you get to your finish line.
Leave it all to God and trust Him and His plans for you. He will not leave you
and He will fight your battle. You just have to let Him. Let Him be your Savior.
Confess your sins and He will forgive you no matter what. If you do this,
someday you'll be with Him when you die, having the Eternal life.

If I were to be given a chance to add something to the chapter, this

would be it. However, all people think differently. Marjane did get up and got
her life back on track again. She did an overall physical makeover, and I
believe a mental one, too. She found a new hobby to the point that she made
it her job already--being an aerobics instructor. 'Strong and invincible like this,
I was going to meet my new destiny.' She said at the last part of the chapter.
Honestly, my favorite part in every film or series that I watch is the
protagonist's character development. For example, the protagonist was weak
before and then she experienced a huge struggle that made her stronger than
ever. Like Marjane. That was exactly why this chapter is my favorite. Marjane
is like a flower, even if she was stepped on multiple times, she will grow back
on, being stronger and more beautiful than the other flowers in the garden,
physically and emotionally.