Persepolis and Courage Essay - 653 Words

Persepolis and Courage Marjane Satrapi’s memoir Persepolis is considered a â€Å"coming of age† story based on her experiences growing up in Iran during the Islamic Revolution. This graphic novel explores the life she lead in Tehran which encompassed the overthrow of the Shah’s regime, the triumph of the Islamic Revolution and the devastating effects of war with Iraq. Undergoing life with such a chaotic environment, it took Satrapi courage to act and live as her â€Å"authentic self† and explore what it meant to her to be authentic. Similar to Aristotle, May and Medinas Persepolis examines the concept of courage, through the view of innocence; through Satrapi’s childhood. Firstly, Aristotle discusses the idea of the courage of the†¦show more content†¦Her courage to dress the way that she does and go out in public is a significant moment in which she progresses towards her authentic self. This scenario coincides with May’s statement that â€Å"we are left the responsibility to choose mindfully and have the courage to remain constantly embroiled in the struggle between daring to amplify our inner thoughts or being directed by the external cacophony of seemingly solid imperatives in the world of others† (Medina 289). Satrapi has a choice, and so do we, every day. We make the choice to amplify our thoughts and we must strive to do so otherwise we’ll be drawn into this ambient noise. Furthermore, May discusses three conceptual branches of courage: physical courage, social courage and moral courage. These concepts are evident throughout the graphic novel as Satrapi’s childhood curiosity delves her further into the understanding of the situation she is around. Yet, her child naivetà © blocks her ability to fully comprehend the decisions others are making around her. Her social courage comes from her audacious responses towards her teachers and her moral courage comes from her curiosity and guilt she has as she grows up when she speaks to â€Å"god† 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,Show MoreRelated##jane Satrapis Persepolis And Letter From Birmingham Jail : Character Analysis871 Words   |  4 Pagesa disadvantage even if it endangers yourself is the most admirable thing to do. This argument is demonstrated in both Marjane Satrapi’s Persepolis and in Martin Luther King Jr.’s â€Å"Letter From Birmingham Jail†. King and Satrapi both honored their people by fighting for the oppressed, and working towards a government that recognizes rights for all. Both Persepolis and â€Å"Letter from Birmingham Jail† address government oppressing the dissenting minority, and how bravery, respect for others, and protectingRead MorePersepolis Reflection Paper1578 Words   |  7 PagesDuring our â€Å"Interactive Oral Dis cussion† regarding Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi the class discussed many topics. As a group, we began by talking about the genre of the graphic novel. The artistic style and technique used by Satrapi was addressed specifically. I mentioned that I appreciated the mono color, by using black and white it effected the readers by making the text more serious. Another comment was added; the use of minimal color was effective. 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Starting with â€Å"The Complete Persepolis† the book is about Satrapi’s experience as she transitions from a young woman into adulthood in Rasht, Iran and Vienna, Australia during and after the Islamic and culture revolution between the periods of 1979-1995. The first publishedRead MoreThe Women Behind The Veil2291 Words   |  10 PagesIran’s contemporary culture. For this purpose, the veil, which is worn by Iran women, is often identified as a symbol of obedience, respect or modesty which is otherwise an example of an oppressed patriarchal society. Author Marjane Satrapi’s novel Persepolis, exposes the regime behind this oppression of the Iran woman and compares western cultural expectations to that of Iranian culture. Yet, even behind the confinements of the veil many women are finding ways to rebel against the Iranian society’sRead MoreThe Women Behind The Veil2301 Words   |  10 PagesIran’s contemporary culture. For this purpose, the veil, which is worn by Iran women, is often identified as a symbol of obedience, respect or modesty which is otherwise an example of an oppressed patriarchal society. Author Marjane Satrapi’s novel Persepolis, exposes the regime behind this oppression of the Iran woman and compares western cultural expectations to that of Iranian culture. Yet, even behind the confinements of the veil many women are finding ways to rebel against the Iranian society oppressionRead MorePersepolis : Marjane Satrapi s Persepolis1756 Words   |  8 PagesPersepolis is a graphic novel by Marjane Satrapi, this graphic novel was based on the eyes of a Ten year old that experiences all types of emotions before and after the Islamic revolution, the oppression from the leaders. This novel gives us a brief on the history of Iran and their leaders, to the Embassy being taken over, via how they weren’t allowed to party . They also experience prohibition just like the United States in the 1920-1933 and like many countries they didn’t have any freedom. In the