Persepolis, a memoir, written in French as a graphic novel is a semi-humorous take on the author's experiences of growing up in revolutionary Iran.
Persepolis begins with the depiction of Marjane in 1980. She is 10 years old and part of a group of girls who are all wearing the veil. Almost hidden on the left hand side of the page, she is dour as are all the others who do not understand why they have to wear this veil. All complain that it is hot and some take off the veil and continue jumping rope without it.
In pre-Revolutionary Iran, Marjane had studied in a school that was sexually mixed. The "Cultural Revolution" closed all bilingual schools that were alleged to be manifestations of capitalism and so the schools became gender segregated. In 1980, Marjane had to transfer to an all-girls school.
Demonstrations occurred both for and against the Cultural Revolution, and in one of these demonstrations, published in major European newspapers; a picture is shown of Marjane's mother who looks defiant and rebellious. Afraid of results, Marjane's mother takes to dying her hair and wearing glasses.
Marjane cannot comprehend the veil. She sees her family that although being "very modern and avant-garde" are still religious. In fact, they brought her up with religion, and as a young child had believed that she would be "the last prophet." Although she knew (and fantasized) that the Prophets had questioned whether a female could join their ranks, she believed that she wanted to be one "because our maid did not eat with us. Because my father had a Cadillac. And, above all, because my grandmother's knees always ached." Using a fantasy holy book as her guide, she imitates the modes and mannerisms of the first prophet of her country, Zarathustra,...
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