Rough Draft

Rough Draft

What is a book if it fails to make a connection with its readers? What is a book if it fails to trigger a memory? Persepolis is a wonderful tale about a rebellious girl who has seen the devastating effects of oppression and war. Many readers can relate some aspects of their life to Persepolis and identify themselves with several characters. Likewise, as I was reading this book, I could not help but notice the life events that the author (and the main character) and I share.  Marjane and I both had influences in our lives that helped shaped us as adults. Moreover, we also share several events and situations, but our reactions and interpretations lead us to different paths. Although I do not agree nor identify myself with the author on some contexts, I have found some incidents filled with memory triggers. Marjane Satrapi had a dynamic childhood; she had seen a war, its consequences, oppression, and the social caste system. At a very young, Marjane had a basic idea of what was fair and what was not. She had a rebellious streak that did not stop her from speaking  against the authority—even though it put her in the path of danger at times. 

 In the chapter “The Sheep,” Marjane loses someone she loved dearly. As I sat reading this chapter, I could not help but think of my beloved father. Even though the situations were not completely similar to each other, a painful memory was triggered, nonetheless. Marjane meets her uncle Annosh for the first time and immediately adores him for his bravery (54). He not only tells her stories, but he also so gives her political knowledge (54-60, 62). He soon becomes her favorite uncle and a person of influence. Then one day, Marjane world comes crashing down on her when her father informs her that the authority has “arrested Annosh (68) and has declared death penalty for him. What is more, he also tells her that “Annosh has the right to only one visitor and it’s [her] he wants to see (68).” Marjane, who was devastated after the execution of Annosh, lost her faith in her religion; when God came to visit her, she told Him “Shut up you! Get out of my life!!! I never want to see you again! Get out! (70).” When I read this chapter, my mind immediately went back to year 1999. I was about to turn eight years old when my father fell sick. Even though he did not go through what Uncle Annosh went through, the emotions were the same – betrayed. Like Marjane, I came home from school one day to find my father nowhere to seen. After asking my grandmother what had happened, I soon learned that my “father was invited by God to the heaven because he was a very good man.” I immediately knew that something was amiss; Tragedy is always in the air when an adult tells a child that a loved one has “gone on a vacation” or has been “invited to the heaven.” I soon learned that my father had passed away—just two weeks before I was to turn eight. I felt betrayed by God. Why would He do something like that to a child, I thought. Why would He take away something so precious? I cried and cried and cried, but my questions were left unanswered. However, I never lost my faith in Him. I soon realized that life is full of challenges, and what does not kill you makes you stronger. In addition, Uncle Annosh asked for Marjane before his execution (68). My father never did, for he never wanted me to see him suffering. He wanted me to keep the healthy memories of him. Moreover he is also an influential person in my life just like Annosh was an influential person in Marjane’s life. My father cultivated me into a confident person that I am today. He also passed us the values he highly regarded, such as importance of an education, honesty, integrity, kindness, and humbleness towards every person. I look up to him because he led such a life, that, when he died, the people mourned him and while he was alive, they longed for his company (Ali ibn Abi Talib).  

            At the age of six, Marjane’s thought process was a bit advance compared to most children her age.  She took notice of the social system and felt ashamed of it. In addition, she also felt embarrassed because her family owned a Cadillac when most families in Iran were barely scraping by (6). She also did not like the fact that their maid, Mehri, was not allowed to eat dinner with the family because she was a maid. The “reason for [her] shame… [was] the difference between social classes (33).” She reasoned that it was not an individual’s fault “that [they] were born were [they] were born (37)” ; although her parents had promised Mehri’s parents that they will “take care of her (34)” , they did not even let her be part of the family. She also found it despicable when a boy, who had promised his love to Mehri, refused to see her once he found that she was just a maid (37). When my family and I lived in Pakistan, we also had maids. However, unlike Marjane’s parents, my parents treated them with respected and thought of them as part of the family. In addition, they also expected my siblings and I to treat them like older siblings because they were older than us. We were never allowed to order them around, and if we disrespected them in any way, we paid the price. I believe that this is what Marjane wanted her parents to do—treat Mehri with respect and make her part of the family.

            Marjane was an outspoken child who was not afraid to voice out her opinion. She stood up to the authority in any way she could. For example, Marjane snuck out with Mehri, the maid, to attend a demonstration, even though her mother, an authoritative figure, forbade them to (38). She also revolted by smoking (117), listening to rock music (131), and adorning western clothes (131). At school, she stood up against her teachers when she did not agree with them and asking them provocative questions, such as “How dare you lie to us like that?” (144). Like Marjane, I also rebelled when I was young. However, my rebellious started and ended with clothes and ended within few years. I wore clothes that my religion and culture did not allow; but, I never revolted as much as Marjane did because I never had a cause to rebel against. Marjane was a rebellious child with a cause. She stood up against anyone who stopped her from doing something. She revolted against the government because the government was enforcing a religion and a dress code on her. She rebelled against the teachers at her school because they enforced the laws that were set up by the government. However, her rebellious side finally caught up with her when her parents made a drastic decision to send Marjane to Austria to preserve her safety and protect her from the war and violence that overtook the country of Iran (148).  They decided to send Marjane to Austria because they loved her dearly and wanted her to be safe. Furthermore, since they understood the importance of  an education, they wanted Marjane to be in a place where she can gain a high quality one that will broaden her mind (147). Marjane handled the situation very maturely. Although she was upset (149), she did not show it for she wanted her parents to be happy

            Marjane Satrapi not only presented her autobiography, but she also provided the readers with a rich history. She gave her perspective about the war and the head scarf; however, she failed to look at other individuals’ perspective. Marjane stated that any woman who sported an abaya or fully covered herself was considered a “fundamentalist” (75); whereas, any women who decided to show few strands of her hair was considered “modern (75).” A woman should not and cannot be judged by what she wears. Many Muslim women show their hair, but at heart are more religious then the woman who decides not to show her hair. A head scarf does not show how modern or old-fashion a woman. Maysan Hayder states in her article, “ Veiled Intentions: Don’t Judge a Muslim Girl by Her Covering,” that although she “follow[s] [her] religion’s standard of modesty and appearance (404),” she still “sports a few well-disguised piercings (404).”Even though Maysan covers her hair completely, she  is a feminist and a “modern woman”—not a fundamentalist. A fundamentalist and a modern person cannot be spotted by their clothes but by their state of mind and thinking process. Furthermore, in Arab society, only the richest women were allowed to cover themselves fully (Hayder 405). Being completely covered was a sign of wealth; however, in Marjane’s mind, it is a sign of a fundamentalist.  

Marjane’s life was influence by many forces such as her religion, economic status, and loved ones. Likewise, the things that shaped Marjane, also shaped me – but, in a different way. We both hate the social-system, but we both cannot do anything about it. Both of our families have the same financial situation, but we sometimes feel ashamed of it when we the poor and the less fortunate. On the other hand, we both share the same religion and wear a headscarf; however, we do not place the same value. Marjane did not like the headscarf because it was forced upon her. I, on the other hand, chose to wear a headscarf without any external influence. She finds the religion suffocating, whereas I do not.  In addition, we also interpret the meaning of headscarf differently.

           

           

Work Citation

Satrapi, Marjane. Persepolis. New York: Pantheon Books, 2004. Print.

Hayder, Maysan. (n.d.) “Veiled Intentions: Don’t Judge a Muslim Girl by Her Covering.” 403-408. Print.