Persepolis

In humanities class, I read the book Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi. This book is a memoir of Ms. Satrapi’s experience growing up in Iran during the 1980s
Persepolis and Iranian History
This book is a memoir and has historical content linked with the events of the book. According to the book, Iran was first settled in 2,000 B.C by Indo-European invaders. They settled on the Iranian Plateau. Then in 700 BC, the place were the Indo-European invaders had settled became the nation were the Medes had settled. The nation was destroyed by Cyrus the Great, and called his newly conquered home Persia. Persia would become subject to Arabian and Mongolian Invasions.
Then in 1925, Reza Shah Polavi becomes the emperor, and changes the name of the nation from Persia to Iran. WWII starts in 1939, and Iran becomes a targeted to become allies with the U.S.A, U.S.S.R., and Britain, as oil is discovered. However, Reza Shah keeps the nation neutral. A few years later, Reza Shah’s son, who would be called The Shah, comes into power. The Shah is replaced by one Prime Minister Mossedeq. When oil is discovered in Iran in 1945, Mossedeq nationalizes the oil companies. This leads to the clandestine coup d’état, or take over, made by the CIA of America. The Shah returns to power, only to be controlled by the western countries. The western countries had turned Iran into a westernized state. This change would be called the white revolution.
In 1978, the Shah puts Iran into a martial state, or when the laws have harsh punishments. This resulted to the inevitable Islamic Revolution of 1979. The Revolution was caused by the event of the Iranian citizens’ rights being taken away. Eventually, the Shah is overthrown. Ayatollah Khomeini, after being exiled for speaking against the Shah, had returned to Iran and becomes the leader. He turned Iran into an Islamic Republic. This resulted in the removal of all western related things. The reason was to remove the “decadent” ideals from Iranian Society. The conditions for living in Iran were so bad that it was worse than it was during the Shah’s Regime. This veritable decline had happened due to the disappearance of westernization in Iran. Iran’s Economy was well enough due to the westernization of Iran.
Iraq, upset by Iran for being a thorn at its side, invaded. Iran had funded rebellion in Iraq. Iraq also had its sights on Iran’s oil, hoping to make a profit from the war. Iraq had implemented all of its technology on Iran, resulting to the early wins in the war. However, Iran was rallied enough to hold its ground.
Marji’s Tale
Marji, the protagonist, grew up with the revolution. Thanks to her parents, she grew up with Marxist views. She thought of herself as the last profit of Islam (she was very religious), and created a book based on her Marxist views. The book commented on how she was upset by the social classes. Her Marxist views also caused her to constantly try to participate in demonstrations of the revolution. However, her parents deny her any way to participate.
During this time, she looks to her god, whom she says looks like Karl Marx, the father of Marxism/Communism/Socialism. I think that she thinks of Karl Marx as a role model and takes his ideals.
She sees martyrs and prisoners as heroes. Her parents are neither, so they are clearly upset. When she learns of her uncle, great uncle, and grandfather, she becomes very proud, as they are heroes. Her grandfather was thrown in prison for being opposing the Shah’s views because her grandfather was a communist. Her great uncle was killed and turned into a martyr for liberating a small part of Iran. Her uncle was thrown in prison for helping her great uncle. She is especially proud of her uncle, whom told her his story. His views of the proletariat being in charge, the workers having power are often brought up. Her Marxist views obviously turn him into a hero. She becomes secular as she loses faith in her god when her uncle dies, during the Islamic Regime
During the Islamic Regime, her dreams become shattered as the Islamic Republic has oppressed her rights. As a result, she participates in a demonstration with her family. She is nearly beaten and her family takes a vacation to Europe. When her family comes back, she learns that Iran was at war with Iraq.
She expresses a large amount of patriotism. She is constantly rooting for her country to win the war. She leaps for joy when Iran attacks Baghdad. She weeps for when her country is attacked back. She is worried when her father does not express any patriotism. She is proud to talk about the vast reservoir of troops at Iran’s disposal. However, her teenage life steers her away. The regime becomes more oppressive. With the embargo making it harder to find food, life becomes harder for Marji’s family. It becomes so oppressive that Marji’s parents send her away to Austria, where her education and her life won’t be hindered by the regime.
What might happen next.
I think after the book, Marji will demonstrate from Austria. She probably will continue fighting against the regime. When Khomeini is replaced by a more liberal leader, she relaxes. Then when Mahmoud Armadinejad comes to power, she starts to protest again. She then creates Persepolis to let the world now of the oppression that Iran has withstood the past century.