I love graphic novels, so when I first picked up Persepolis from the bookstore, I was very interested to know what it would be about. It turns out that it was totally different from any graphic novel I've ever read. I'm used to Japanese and American graphic novels, which have varying topics and styles of their own. This graphic novel was by an Iranian woman and had a strong hint of historical fiction and memoir mixed in with it. The only graphic novel of its kind, I would think. It is definitely very unique.
Much of the story is very believable as it is based on the author's life as she grew up in Iran. The readers are very willing to view through Marjane's eyes and experience what she encounters. She has a very compelling story to tell. Every person she meets in her life is just as valuable to her as they are to the readers. Readers are able to relate to her feelings of hate, anger, rebellion, and amusement as she encounters repression from her government in many aspects of her life. She is a strong character that is a great example of a child who comes of age as she learns more about her government and her country and how they affect the people around her.
Persepolis opens one's eyes to a history of a people most think are terrorists, or something of the like. It gives readers great details of Iranian life during the reign of the Shah, the Islamic Revolution, and the war between Iran and Iraq. The most important aspect of the history of Iran that comes across is the repression the Iranian people experienced. Satrapi explains how woman were made to wear veils to prevent themselves from being raped, how people who opposed the government were placed in jail without judgment or evidence, and how people imposed the governments rules and took advantage of their powers. For adolescents and adults alike, this story would be moving and powerful and very eye opening.
As a graphic novel, Persepolis has many visuals that accompany quite a bit of text. Satrapi's illustrations are powerful at times and give emphasis to the feelings that are shared within the text. The images provide a view of a world many people in America have never seen. The images fill readers with many emotions and even make us laugh. Satrapi's viewpoints are illustrated clearly so we may understand even without words. I'm sure adolescents would definitely enjoy reading a graphic novel rather than a novel titled Persepolis, as many adolescents are visual learners. Satrapi's visual aids are very helpful in comprehending the words that are stated.
Persepolis is a graphic novel of its own kind. I'm sure I may never see another like it for a long time. Though I have a love for graphic novels and may like to create some of my own someday, I don't know if I could grasp the skill of using images to accompany text in such a perfect way. I would love to learn to do that. As a reader, I would recommend this story to any who enjoy graphic novels and would like to learn about a land different from their own.
Works Cited
Satrapi, Marjane. Persepolis. New York: Pantheon, 2003. Print.
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