Jacob Marzullo

IB English HL

12/12/23

Dr. Malashewski

Core Concept 2: Culture

In the graphic novel Persepolis, Marjane Satrapi gives us a glimpse into her own life growing up

in Iran under the Islamic Regime by sharing stories of her childhood. The novel uses history, culture,

religion, and politics to help readers understand how political strife impacted people in Iran when the

country elected an Islamic government in 1979. The story describes how the Islamic government used

politics and religion to repress individuality and free choice. Satrapi uses this story to share her

perspective of what it was like growing up in an unstable political environment. By telling her story,

Satrapi allows readers to experience Iranian culture and religious practices during different political

regimes. She helps readers understand how individuals had to quickly adapt to changing societal

expectations. The story addresses ideological differences between the Shiite Islamic Regime and

progressive westernized Iran. The rules set up by opposing governments in Iran are constantly changing

and this impacts people, especially if they do not agree with the political party that is in power. The book

uses the veil as a symbol to show the separation of Iranian society under the Islamic Regime.

Throughout the novel, the veil is used as a symbol to represent the different political ideologies

under the Islamic Regime versus Modernized Iran. The veil has a special significance for each political

party, but it is also polarizing. Under Modern Islam, the veil symbolizes the repression of women who

have no choice over how they can dress. Under the Islamic Regime, the veil represents traditional

religious values that have been accepted for centuries. The veil is sometimes used by women as an

outward symbol to show political support for an Islamic government. At other times, the veil is used as a

reminder of the political repression that has caused society to move away from the progressive West.
 When Satrapi shares her experience of having to wear a veil for the first time as a young woman

under the Islamic Regime she feels like she is being repressed. Satrapi was forced to conform to new

political ideologies and accept religious traditions she had never experienced before. For her, the veil has

a deeper meaning because it is not just a head covering, but it is a symbolic reminder of the end of the

country she grew up in. She misses the Iranian lifestyle that she experienced in the 1970s and 1980s, and

she is sad about the impact that the Islamic Revolution has had on her understanding of society. We see

this in the beginning of the book, where Marji talks about the first implementation of the veil: “We didn't

really like to wear the veil, mainly because we didn't understand why we had to.” (Satrapi 3). Some

people welcomed the regime change, but Satrapi’s family did not like it at all and chose to fight back by

ignoring certain rules. Refusing to wear the veil represented political opposition to the regime, a fight to

free women from oppression, and resistance to political oppression. These themes are repeated throughout

the book because they are very important to Satrapi.

The veil has a large influence on Satrapi’s identity because it symbolizes her personal beliefs and

religious values. She supports religious freedom and believes that she can call herself a Muslim without

having to cover herself up for others. Sometimes she questions her spirituality because she has been told

that she is not seen as a religious person unless she is wearing a veil. She even has conversations with

God about her concerns over being a good Muslim. Originally, Satrapi felt that she had a strong

relationship with God, but she is also aware that society does not see her that way unless she complies

with certain religious requirements. This makes her feel inadequate and so she is constantly battling her

sense of identity. Satrapi eventually adopts a new identity because she is forced to adapt to society’s

expectations of her. But we also see her trying to maintain her true identity when she tries to buy cassette

tapes or refuses to take off her jewelry, “With all that jewelry you steal from us, you must be making a

pile of money!” (Satrapi 143). Even though she wears a veil, she cannot control her desire to be herself.

Satrapi realizes that she is unable to express herself because of the new ideologies of the Islamic Regime.

The veil is a unique way to utilize both a physical and metaphorical meaning. Not only does it

represent the shift in Iranian society, but it also serves as a representation of the shifts in Marji’s personal
life. Satrapi uses the importance of the veil to convey her feelings of repression and help the reader

understand the internal struggles and political conflicts that Iran experienced during the Islamic Regime's

rule.