Persepolis

Satrapi, Marjane. 2003. Persepolis: the story of a childhood. New York: Pantheon. ISBN 0375422307

Plot Summary

An autobiographical tale of a young girl growing up in Iran in the midst of the Islamic Revolution and war with Iraq. Marjane tries to make sense of the confusing messages she gets from school, her parents, and the media, while secretly rebelling against the Islamic strictures of dress and behavior.

 

Critical Analysis

“Persepolis is a moving account, not only of a young girl's coming of age but also of her survival in modern Iran.” (CM)

I believe that an entire nation should not be judged by the wrongdoings of a few extremists. This is the message that Satrapi intends to deliver through her account of her childhood in Iran. The black and white drawings show a girl that one can easily identify with, a girl who plays make-believe and puts posters of rock stars on her walls. The details of the successive revolutions and wars can be somewhat confusing, but should pique the reader’s curiosity to find out more about the history of Iran and to question their assumptions about the Iranian people.

“Skillfully presenting a child's view of war and her own shifting ideals, she also shows quotidian life in Tehran and her family's pride and love for their country despite the tumultuous times.” (Publishers Weekly)

Review Citations

Bridle, Jane. 2003. "Persepolis: The Story of a Childhood (Book)." CM: Canadian Review of Materials 10, no. 2: N.PAG.

Zaleski, Jeff. 2003. "PERSEPOLIS: The Story of a Childhood (Book)." Publishers Weekly 250, no. 28: 58.