English Language and Literature

Higher Level Essay

“Self-Identity in Persepolis”

Candidate Code:kyy918

Word Count: 1493

May 2024

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Line of inquiry: How does Marjane Satrapi use her memoir to explore the struggle of creating
her own identity in an oppressive Iranian regime in the graphic novel Persepolis?

Marjane Satrapi's graphic novel Persepolis (Satrapi, Marjane. The Complete Persepolis.),

which came out in 2000, explores the relationship between the development of Marji's identity

and the part that an oppressive government plays in forming this identity. Set against the

backdrop of the Islamic Revolution in Iran, which occurred in 1979 and led to the establishment

an Islamic republic in Iran. This revolution was significant because it changed Iran's political

environment ("The Iranian Revolution." Brookings). Within this context, Satrapi navigates

self-discovery within a society marked by strict ideological constraints. It is important to note

that Persepolis was divided into two books, and I will only focus on the first book on her

childhood in Iran. This essay will delve into the layers of Satrapi's narrative, evaluating how she

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depicts the struggle of dealing with her developing identity amidst an oppressive political

regime.

Satrapi's artistic medium, the graphic novel, which consists of Illustrations and textual

components working together to tell the story, manages to show the complexities of creating an

identity in a politically charged environment. Being categorized as a memoir, Persepolis is

crucial for examining the struggle of creating an identity in an oppressive regime, which relates

to the line of inquiry. The memoir format allows her to go beyond impersonal historical records,

to capture the universal challenges of self-discovery amid political constraints. Satrapi gives

insight into the challenges of growing up in a culture that stifles individuality. Illustrates the

pervasive sense of censorship, the widespread fear of arrest and oppression, and the rigid societal

norms that allow little personal freedom and self-expression. The contrast between personal

growth and external limitations forms a central motif in the text as Satrapi portrays her journey

of identity as an ongoing struggle between these two opposing forces. In depicting the regime's

effect on her identity, Satrapi sheds light on the challenges of developing one's identity in an

environment that enforces strict codes of behavior and thought. As Satrapi´s work is explored,

the aim is to understand the importance of how she depicts struggles of inquiry, through this

autobiographical lens, Satrapi explores her journey within the broader context of a political

uprise, providing readers with an authentic and relatable perspective of her identity in the context

of an authoritarian regime.

Satrapi uses the mandatory veil policy to highlight the struggle for personal autonomy in

a repressive society. The opening chapter of Persepolis shows the implementation of the

mandatory veil policy in Iran. After the 1979 Islamic Revolution, during which the Westernized

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monarch, called the Shah, is overthrown in favor of an Islamic Republic, the new government

became increasingly oppressive and made it obligatory for women and girls to wear a veil that

covers most of their faces. The girls at Marji´s school, including her friends, Golnaz, Mahshid,

Narine, and Minna, do not like the veil, particularly because they do not understand why they

must wear it. This highlights the children´s ignorance towards the purpose of the hijab. This is

seen in the panels below. At the same time, at school they play games pretending that they are

revolutionaries: ”Execution in the name of freedom!”” (1, Satrapi) In the first and second panels

that open the book, we see a group of girls sit in a row with their veils looking displeased; Marji

sits with them, but the frame partially cuts her. This is a visual representation of how Marji is

sitting with her classmates, but she is still an individual girl with her personality; this relates to

the idea of identity.. Satrapi employs symbolic visual elements, like the veil, to explore the

restrictions imposed on women in Iran at that time. as a symbol that challenges Marji, to achieve

personal autonomy in a society where the political structures do not guarantee one's identity and

freedom.

Fig 1, ” The Veil” ( Page 1) Panels 1-2

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 Religion is a big part of many identities because it shapes the way people live, and the IR

forces religious clothing upon Marji at a young age, leading to negative associations with Islam.

Marji did not understand the veil's significance because she lacked that level of maturity as a

child. According to Digiammarino, Peter. "Human Identity." “We each have a unique fingerprint,

personality, mix of experiences” By taking away her freedom of choosing what to wear, she

experiences a feeling of defeat at a very young age; this is evident in Fig 1 Panel 1, from Marji´s

displeased facial expression.

We see In Fig 2 when a young girl uses the veil as a skipping rope in the background,

which illustrates the naivety and innocence of children. It also shows how the people of Iran,

including Marji, were thrust upon change without understanding the significance of the changes

that would affect how they lived. The child's playful innocence against the scenery of an

oppressive government serves as a juxtaposition; this relates to the thesis of how the IR plays a

significant role in shaping Marji´s identity by altering the way she lives her life.

Fig 2, “The Veil” (Page 1) Panel 5

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 In chapter 5, “The Letter”, as Marji reads multiple books, and is getting educated, she

realizes that the biggest problem with the world is the divide between social classes. She

recognizes the divide firsthand when her maid, Mehri, falls in love with the boy next door, but is

forbidden to pursue him because she is a much lower class than him. This is an important

moment in Marji's identity because it shows her how the world can be unfair, and how social

divides affect not only opportunities but personal relationships. In panel 3, Fig 3. , she realizes

the hypocrisy of her own family, because her family has a maid; despite her parents being

progressive thinkers with Westernized ideas about the world, by employing a maid they are still

fostering traditional Iranian ideals regarding social classes. As can be seen in the panels below.

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 Fig 3: “The Letter” (Page 30) panels 6-8

After discovering that his maid is a relationship with their neighbor Marji's father puts an

end to this, and he explains that the reason for this is because in Iran, people must stay within

their own social class. By saying this, he is conforming to Iranian ideas and enforcing the idea

that people can't be in relationships with who they want.

The author, Satrapi, talks about these issues in the story, using her own experiences as a

microcosm to show the broader issues with how society treats people differently based on their

social class. Although this issue doesn´t directly affect Marji, it affects people close to her.

Which shows how one's identity is not isolated from the broader systemic inequalities present in

their society. This shows Marji developing an understanding of the social injustices that

ultimately contribute to the shaping of her identity.

Fig 4 «The Letter» ( Page 34) Panels 3-5

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 In "Persepolis," the closure of schools by the Islamic Republic restricts Marji's identity,

which reveales the its effect on individual expression. In chapter 10 “The Trip”, the dictatorship

present in Iran is starting to impose itself more forcefully on Iranians' daily lives. Examples

include, They've closed the schools, so Marji can't study chemistry like she wanted. As can be

seen in Fig 5 Panel 2, The U.S. embassy is also shut down, hindering Marji from being able to

visit other countries. These things make Marji feel trapped and change how she sees herself and

where she belongs.

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 Fig 5. “The Trip” Page 69 Panels 1-2

The government is being really strict about how women should act. Marji sees her mom

struggle and even face threats, and this makes her realize how tough it is for women. All of this

makes Marji feel unsafe and more aware of how things are unfair. As rules keep being imposed,

Marji has to figure out how to remain resilient and keep being herself in a country where the

government is making it difficult. Fear is a theme that not only shapes Marji's experiences but

also holds her back from fully embracing her identity. Marji's journey is marked by encounters

the fear of the oppressive regime. From witnessing her mother's struggles to facing threats, Marji

is constantly confronted with the harsh realities of living under an authoritarian regime, which

instills in her a deep-seated sense of vulnerability and apprehension.

Fig 6 “The Trip”page 71 panels 3-4

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 In Fig 6 Panels 6-7, we see that Marji´s mother has allowed her daughter to attend a

demonstration against fundamentalism. However, at the protest, the demonstrators get

attacked and Marji witnesses a woman getting stabbed and many others getting beat up.

The traumatic events Marji experiences during the demonstration against leaves an

impact on her identity. Witnessing such violence and danger at a young age can instill a

heightened awareness of the risks associated with activism. Marji's initial exposure to

activism through her mother's encouragement may now be accompanied by a sense of the

potential consequences involved.

Fig 7 “The Trip” page 73 Panels 6-7

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 Works Cited

"Developmental Trauma." Medium.com,

medium.com/beingwell/six-ways-developmental-trauma-shapes-adult-identity-4cf1613db

065. Accessed 1 Feb. 2024.

Digiammarino, Peter. "Human Identity." IntelliVen, 19 July 2020,

intelliven.com/human-identity-business-culture/. Accessed 22 Jan. 2024.

"The Iranian revolution." Brookings,

www.brookings.edu/articles/the-iranian-revolution-a-timeline-of-events/. Accessed 2

Feb. 2024.

Satrapi, Marjane. The Complete Persepolis. 2000. St. Albert, Ab, Sapl, 2013.

"Self Identity Problems." Mentalhelp.net,

www.mentalhelp.net/understanding-your-problem/self-identity/#:~:text=People%20are%

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20not%20born%20with,%2C%20generally%20self%2Dserving%20manner. Accessed 1

Feb. 2024.

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