Does the use of graphic novel help Satrapi propel her idea? Persepolis the Story of a Childhood by

Graphic images affect how any reader sees or reads an image. In a book where a character gets beat up, a bloody image will affect the reader more than an image where there is no blood. Marjane Satrapi’s use of graphic images in her book, “Persepolis”, affect how the reader sees social classes, loss of innocence and gender roles in Iranian culture. One might think a situation is not a big deal, but when a graphic image portrays the situation, a reader truly sees the importance of the situation.

In conclusion, the graphic novel Persepolis is a bildungsroman, which develops the character of Marjane Satrapi through the vehicle of courage in developing the conflict of individual vs. society. This relates to the readings of May,

Although books full of words are more efficient in delivering and describing what the author feels, sometimes pictures can give a deep meaning depending on how they are organized. The Veil by Marjane Satrapi’s is a graphic novel that’s organized in a particular way, to deliver a certain message through the pictures. Marjane includes different sizes and frames that serve what she is thinking and feeling. Choosing certain sizes, frames and colours isn’t arbitrary. As each box increases in size, it means that she wants to emphasize the message behind that box, or show her relation to that particular text. Contrast is also one of the main elements that Marjane uses in her graphic novel. For example, on page five, there is a big picture of

On pages 3 and 4, Marjane gives us the years for, when the revolution began, when children were required to wear a veil and her date of birth. The dates, enable the reader to get a sense the time period and the historical background of Iran. Timelines are imperative to understanding her life story. Next, Satrapi demonstrates pathos through illustrations and the speech bubbles. The emotions of the characters can be shown through their facial expressions and actions they take.

Satrapi describes many other women throughout the novel who had an influence on her life and character as well. When she was young her maid, Mehri, fell in love with a neighbor but because she was not in his social class, the love was “impossible” as Marji’s father put it (37). This causes Marji to realize the despair social classes bring which leads Marji to her first demonstration and major act of rebellion (34-39). Marjane

When Marji continues to rebel at her new school her parents are worried and tell her what happened to Niloufar, a communist girl they all met when trying to get a fake passport. Marji’s parents tell her that Niloufar was essentially raped and then executed. On page 146 we see Marji thinking about this and how it shapes her ideas on heroism. Satrapi utilizes a thought bubble so we can see that Marji is thinking about Niloufar and her death. Marji realizes that “Niloufar was a real martyr” and hero, but unlike she was taught to think, her death did not help society (61). This is the point where Marji realizes that heroes suffer a lot, and sometimes it is for nothing. Niloufar’s death made Marji realize that being a hero or knowing heroes isn’t a happy thing as it involves pain and suffering. The graphic techniques that Satrapi employs show Marji thoughts on the darker side of being a hero. Emanata is utilized with the lines on the pillow showing Marji’s weight. This, combined with Marji’s blank expression, show that she is kept up thinking about these new realizations. We also see Niloufar in the middleground acting more like an icon, as she is not really there. Instead she is drawn to show that Marji is thinking about her. The most effective technique used in the panel is the graphic weight. The background of the panel is all black

Along with the narration in the first frames, Satrapi chooses to draw a self portrait to better interact with the text. By doing so, she blends the first and third person points of view in her memoir, allowing the text to be more effective at showcasing her personal physical and emotional growth throughout her childhood, and demonstrate how her thoughts and ideas developed throughout the story. If Satrapi only presented words to describe her childhood,the growth she experienced would not be as apparent to the reader. In this regard, as the story progresses, the reader is able to see a visual representation of Satrapi’s growth through the pictures. At the beginning of the

Marjane Satrapi’s early experiences have helped to form a unique perspective acknowledged throughout Persepolis. Throughout the novel, Satrapi uses graphic images to allow her readers to visualize various dramatic events that she (once) witnessed. Informal diction and simple graphics force her audience to perceive Persepolis from the same child-like perspective the author (once) had. More so, special attention is drawn to contrasting colors as a symbol of (internal) conflict. The clash between black and white graphics represents a much deeper meaning regarding Satrapi’s faith and understanding. Such a symbol of conflict enables the readers to empathize

Western culture has often misperceived the east and the way that their society functions. In Marjane Satrapi’s Persepolis, Satrapi uses graphic novels as a way to demonstrate to the western culture how the east has been misrepresented. The use of media helps to depict to the west how their views of the east may have been unfairly formed in the past. The media has only revealed limited knowledge that only shows partial perspectives because it is difficult to get perspectives of the minorities although they are the ones who hold the most truth. In other words the use of graphic novels and a child’s perspective give the west a new idea on how it is that society in the east functions. This style of writing brings the connection between the two

Marji’s thoughts and words throughout the graphic novel give insight to the character she is developing into. After her neighborhood is hit by a missile Marji runs out of the store she was in. As she runs out of the store Marji thinks to herself “If someone had timed me, I think i would have beat the world speed record”(Satrapi 138). Despite the war and fear she feels, Marji is still a child and thinks like one. She avoids the war and continues to act as though any day is like another. Marji goes shopping for jeans with her friend instead of worrying about

In Satrapi’s book Persepolis, a graphic novel, each panel has a deeper meaning without needing paragraphs of words to tell the reader. The panel on the thirteenth page in the middle has a deeper meaning showing the significance this panel holds. In the middle pane0,l it depicts the connection Marji makes between Marx and God stating,” It was funny to see how much Marx and God looked like each other. Though Marx’s hair was a bit curlier” (Satrapi 13).

A graphic novel consists of both a narrative and its accompanying illustrations, which are capable of providing insight through a collection of images. Marjane Satrapi’s autobiographical novel, Persepolis (2003), is a collection of her comic-strip memoirs, written and illustrated by Satrapi herself. Persepolis tells the story of Marjane’s growing up and coming of age in Iran’s capital, Tehran, during the Islamic Revolution. It is a story filled with noticeable moments, all of which are supported by the artwork Satrapi has decided to include. Further analysis of Satrapi’s artistic decisions reveals her choice to include symbols that often represent Marjane’s emotions. Objects such as mirrors and the use of body language in certain characters,

The title of the graphic novel I choose to read during the summer is called Persepolis. Persepolis follows the life of Marjane Satrapi as she lives in revolutionary Iran. The plot of the story is Marjane’s growth and development as a free minded woman in a close minded country that is trying to restrict her freedom to be proud as a woman. Marjane’s life is best portrayed through the use of splash panels and pages, captions, and open panels.

The graphic novel portrays Marjane Satrapi as an opinionated, imaginative, and curious young girl. The plot details her as an average ten year-old girl in the midst of a revolution. Her reaction to the environment in which she lives in

Each author has their own special technique that they use in their work that makes their novel unique. Symbolism is a common technique that is used by authors all over the world. It is an artistic style, consisting of images and indirect thoughts to express a certain idea or emotion. “Authors use symbolism to add depth and meaning to a story.” (Blogger p1) When a symbolic feature is put into a story, the readers begin to think about the literal meaning and then compare it to the symbolic meaning that could be interpreted from the text. Symbolism displayed throughout the novel Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi portrays different views of the novel; historical, childlike views. The novel takes place in Iran during the 1980’s which marked the beginning of political and religious confusion throughout the country. Marjane Satrapi lives with a family who supports revolutionaries and attends political protests where she obtains knowledge about the world and the social and political problems that are occurring around her. Since she was introduced to these situations at such a young age, she grew up as a strong and independent woman, wanting to make the world a better place. The author, Marjane Satrapi tells the story and adds in the symbolic aspects to share her stories of her growing up during one of the largest revolutions in Iran’s history and to share her views, feelings and opinions throughout that time period. The symbolic use of color throughout the novel, the veil the women