Marjane Satrapi's graphic novel, Persepolis, is not only a story of a childhood, but the story of a people and a nation. Her consistent wit and humor in the face of traumatic violence drew me in as a reader, opening my mind to more dry political subjects. Her novel is indeed an incredibly affective teaching tool for teens and adults alike.As a young girl, Marjane is a good student who only begins to rebel when her formerly secular school becomes strictly religious. She can't help but point out the irony of religious rules and punishments. Her parents, who share and encourage her liberal political views, are very proud of the strong woman their daughter has become. But Marjane's strength under Iran's new fundamentalist regime, where women are discouraged from having a voice, becomes her weakness, and her parents begin to fear for her safety.
I loved this graphic novel and I hope that everyone is able to read it at some point during their lifetimes. Persepolis is a coming of age story, focusing as much on self identity as on cultural identity. It is a healthy read.
I also loved this graphic novel, and think it is something that almost everyone would be able to get into in some aspect! I, too, was drawn in by her consistent wit and humor in the face of trauma, a sense of almost sarcasm that, to me, kind of makes the story seem more "real" and approachable.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you about the effect of the wit and humor in the book. There is something also about the fairly simplistic but powerful graphics of the book that gives it a personal tone.
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