Akanksha Madhu Kiran

Date: 12/06/23

Prompt:

Research paper on the two works ‘The Handmaid’s Tale’ and ‘Persepolis’

The two works ‘The Handmaid’s Tale’ written by Margaret Atwood and ‘Persepolis’

written by Satrapi Marjane have more similarities than people assume. Although one is a graphic

novel, both of these works are similar in their central themes which is political struggle and

authority. The lead characters ‘Offred’ and ‘Marjane’ try to resist and oppose the meaningless

laws and restrictions set by the authoritative government. The characters take small steps towards

resisting these powerful authorities. The authors of these two literary works show the

importance of resistance, awareness of authority and how it would influence people and their

daily lives.

In the graphic novel ‘Persepolis’ written by Marjane Satari the Islamic revolution

initially brings hope for political change, but it also leads to the rise of a new form of

authoritarian rule, which has a profound impact on Marji's life . An article edited by Jelena

Krstovic called

"Persepolis, An Introduction to." states that "Persepolis'' powerfully depicts such themes as

Satrapi's cultural isolation and adolescent rebellion, as well as her complicated relationships with
her family and extended community. Satrapi’s cultural isolation includes the idea of her being a

priest and later losing belief in god because of the execution of her beloved uncle Anoosh and

the confusion of why she was separated from her bilingual friends by the government. The

educational system under the control of the government undergoes significant changes after the

revolution. Students were forced to follow the new rules set by the revolutionaries which stated

that the students who were bilingual must be separated and girls were forced to wear veils. The

children were also taught that the king was chosen by god and he could do no wrong as stated in

the lines of the book ‘As for me, I love the king, he was chosen by god’ . This seems to be very

strategic as they are attempting to influence the minds of the younger generation according to

their own beliefs so that they don’t go revolting against their authority . Satrapi draws the veil as

part of the identity of these Muslim women in her graphic novel. The women were forced to

wear the veil to prevent their hair from being shown. In the article named "Persepolis, An

Introduction to" it has been stated that “Satrapi's mother is threatened on the street by

fundamentalist men and, days later, wearing. The veil is made compulsory for all women.” This

shows how much power and authority the revolutionists have as only after a few days a huge

impact of wearing a veil was implemented.

The government imposes strict dress codes, bans Western music and literature, and

monitors the behavior of the citizens. This represents the authority's attempt to control society.

When Satrapi is planning on making rules when she becomes a prophet she mentions that she

wants no elderly to suffer but when her grandmother asks how she is going to implement this she

mentioned that it would simply be forbidden. This shows how the authoritative people used to

give reasons for their actions. Children believe and act as what they see so the revolution used to
never give the people a real reason to follow their rules but they are just told to do so. These

were explained in the graphic novel “Calm down Ebi, she’s just a child who repeats what she

hears!” Marjane’s uncle Anoosh was executed for his political beliefs. This shows how rigid the

revolution was and the dangers of opposing the authorities. The authority of the revolution was

so powerful that they even bombed the streets and killed the jews as stated in the lines of the

article "Persepolis, An Introduction to" “When Satrapi's street is bombed and her Jewish

neighbors are killed, a completely black panel proclaims “No scream in the world could have

relieved my suffering and my anger.” The young woman who emerges from this experience is

too angry to be afraid.” This arouses anger in most women including Satrapi and makes them

feel helpless.

“The Handmaid’s Tale” written by Margaret Atwood shows how most authoritative

people tend to portray themselves the best way possible rather than the truth. In the article

written by Caminero-Santangelo, Marta the lines “ The narrator (whom I will refer to as

"Offred" for lack of a better name acknowledges the possibility that the footage she is shown is

"Faked." but she nevertheless hopes to "read beneath it" (105)”. She mentions that the media

always shows or displays things that the government or public need to see and hides things that

depict that the republic is manipulating and using them. Here she mentions that Offred wishes

people to ‘read beneath it’ meaning to understand the backstory and the cause or reason for an

issue being publicized. The Republic of Gilead publicized instances which would install fear in

people and would make the people follow the rules set by them. This shows how powerful the

republic of gilead has grown and their tactics in managing the domain. In the book, Offred

hesitates to call the room she lives in as her own. Which depicts that she positions herself outside
the domain of the republic of gilead. After a couple of scenes when the commander arrives next

to her room, Offred calls it her own place which shows that she is getting accustomed to the laws

set by the republic. She feels like she gains some kind of authority over the room she sleeps in

because that is the only place that she has control over her actions. As mentioned in the article

written by Caminero-Santangelo, Marta "My room, then, There has to be some space, finally,

that I claim as mine" Offred finally gets to call a place as hers. Offred lacks the feeling of

authority and hence she calls the room as hers. Additionally she sways her hips at the guards as a

sign of authority and control over them. She wanted that slight control over them as she does not

have much authority or control over others. She wanted to make herself feel important like an

object that cannot be obtained easily.This was mentioned in the lines of the book, “Then I find

I'm not ashamed after all. I enjoy the power; power of a dog bone, passive but there.” There

were only some circumstances in which the handmaids and other class people had control over.

However, the authority given to the handmaids is completely different from what is

given to the people of higher class. As mentioned by Der-Ohannesian, Nadia in the article

“Commanders and Wives who own and use the Handmaids' bodies for reproduction of the

elite.” Handmaids who were under the control(authority) of the commander and his wife were

forced to follow the restrictions imposed and must fulfill their duty of reproduction. In the

article written by Der-Ohannesian “The authoritarian state discourages Handmaids from

establishing empathetic relationships with one another and with individuals from other classes.”

The different classes of people were not allowed to interact which means the authority of the

government was influencing every meeting or conversation. This prevents the growth of

organizations and revolts against the Republic. The Republic employs various means to correct
the behavior of individuals to favor their rule. They execute people in public by hanging people

against a huge wall and ringing the bell to publicize the reason why they were hanged/executed

to create awareness and install fear in other citizens. In the article written by Der-Ohannesian,

Nadia it is also mentioned that “ To look and be looked at triggers desire in women, mostly

Handmaids, which is potentially harmful for the governing elites as it entails an affirmation of

the self which is incompatible with the selflessness required of a Handmaid” this means the

republic handmaid’s desires were triggered if they see a person or if a person sees them so they

decided to force the handmaids to wear a veil so that they do not make any impulse decisions and

are restricted to see the rule of the republic.

In the article written by Caminero-Santangelo, Marta it is also mentioned that “Offred

notes her own desire to steal a knife (126), but never actually engages in this form of resistance,

there is a sense that even a stolen knife, ultimately, would belong in the same category as a stolen

packet of sugar (118)-infinitesimally small against the enormous and diffused power system.”

These lines tell us that the republic of gilead has grown so much and has established an

extinguishable system of law. Nothing could be done to change the system as it is too late to

make a difference. Even if Offred did offer some kind of slight resistance it is not enough to

overpower such a system. For example: Offred applying butter on herself instead of moisturizer

is a form of resistance to keep reminding herself of being controlled. This was mentioned in the

lines of ‘The Handmaid’s Tale” by Margaret Atwood “I rub the butter over my face, work it into

the skin of my hands. There's no longer any hand lotion or face cream, not for us”. Moisturizer

was a privilege to the wives. In the article written by Caminero-Santangelo, Marta it has also

been mentioned that “Offred's recollection of actresses from "before" invokes the same strategy:
They wore blouses with buttons down the front that suggested the possibilities of the word

undone.” It means that women could be undone and the women seemed to be able to choose as

in the lines “ We seemed to be able to choose, then" (33). What women could once choose was

not only whether to be undone, but also which option from among the possibilities. However

under the control of the Republic of Gilead they were restricted to do so.

Furthermore, the secure compounds in the handmaid’s Tale depicts that the republic has

distanced the citizens of Gilead from the outside world and the information about the other

governments so that they cannot influence the people under the control of the republic of gilead.

Even if the rules set by the Republic of Gilead were strict only those people of higher authority

used to slightly break the laws. For example, Serena Joy smoking black market cigarettes and

even the commander engaging in conversations with the handmaids. Even the doctor tries to

convince Offred to involve in a secret relationship with him to reproduce a child unknowingly

and it seems that many handmaids do end up going in this path to fulfill their aims in life. If

people don’t make any change or they don’t stand up for themselves at the correct time it would

become too late to make any changes in the government. Just like how Serena joy in the

handmaid’s Tale did not take action initially and later on she feels guilty for her actions. When

an individual relates to a particular resistance movement then they consider the person taking

action towards the political struggle as an inspiration or treated with respect and admiration.

Some works like these have the notion that authority is problematic and that people with

authority try to cover themselves in a self-protective mask. Authority is definitely problematic

but if the responsibility is managed right then it is beneficial. If there is no one to control the

system or govern the territory there would be chaos in the entire domain. If the authority is in the
right hands then it is beneficial that is why voting exists today. The authors suggest that authority

is problematic to create awareness among readers of the importance of realizing the changes

being made in the governing body. The Republic of Gilead manipulated people into believing

them and Margaret Atwood described this to teach the readers that they should always be aware

of what is happening and they must stand up for themselves.

To conclude, both “The Handmaid’s Tale” written by Margaret Atwood and the graphic

novel “Persepolis” by Marjane Satari are trying to convey the same point. Both works depict

societies under authoritarian rule. In "The Handmaid's Tale," the Republic of Gilead is a regime

that controls every aspect of women's lives. In "Persepolis," Iran undergoes a transformation to

an Islamic Republic, resulting in increased government control and restrictions on personal

freedoms. Despite the rigid laws, Offred and Marjane in both works resist and oppose the

established order. Offred in "The Handmaid's Tale" seeks moments of rebellion against the

system. Marjane in "Persepolis" challenges societal norms and confronts authority figures in her

own way. If this political struggle and resistance was widespread and of greater power than the

authoritative government, they could overpower the government and establish a new one with

fair laws set.

Works Cited

Der-Ohannesian, Nadia. "FEMALE NEGOTIATIONS OF AFFECT IN DOMESTIC AND

PUBLIC SPACE IN THE TELEVISION SERIES THE HANDMAID'S TALE." Ilha do

Desterro 74.1 (2021): 577-88. ProQuest. Web. 28 Nov. 2023.

Caminero-Santangelo, Marta. "Moving Beyond ‘the Blank White Spaces’: Atwood’s Gilead,

Postmodernism, and Strategic Resistance." Contemporary Literary Criticism , edited by

Rebecca Parks, vol. 520, Gale, 2023, pp. 52-62. Gale Literature Criticism ,

link.gale.com/apps/doc/CWPYWP396475899/GLS?u=umd_umbc&sid=bookmark-GLS

&xid=4af06c25. Accessed 29 Nov. 2023. Originally published in Studies in Canadian

Literature , vol. 19, no. 1, 1994, pp. 20-42.

"Persepolis, An Introduction to." Children's Literature Review , edited by Jelena Krstovic, vol.

185, Gale, 2013. Gale Literature Criticism , link-gale-com.proxy-

bc.researchport.umd.edu/apps/doc/XFLIBP940413803/GLS?u=umd

_umbc&sid=bookmark-GLS&xid=b7699a40. Accessed 2 Dec. 2023.

Atwood, Margaret. The Handmaid’s Tale . 1st Anchor Books ed., Anchor Books, 1998.

EBSCOhost , search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?

direct=true&AuthType=ip,url,uid&db=cat01476a&AN

=umdbc.003073469&site=eds-live.
Satrapi, Marjane. Persepolis . 1st American paperback ed., Pantheon Books, 2003. EBSCOhost ,

search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&AuthType=ip,url,uid&db=cat01476a&AN=umdbc.0

04907485&site=eds-live&scope=site.