“How westernisation is portrayed by symbols in Persepolis?”

Persepolis Rationale

Marjane Satrapi tries to show the different faces of the Iranian society through the various characters in her debut novel ‘Persepolis’. By highlighting the divergent cultural groups and classes in her novel, she tries to highlight the heterogeneous class and social structure prevalent in the Iranian society. For example when she says that “our maid did not eat with us” and “because my father had a Cadillac”, she is directly referring to the class and social structure in her society which unfortunately exists in all other societies – whether secular or fundamentalist.

By depicting the predominance of western values and culture in her own family she creates a distinct class structure in the opening parts of the novel itself. One hand there is a ‘veil’ of fundamentalism in the society which has been thrust upon by the religious and fundamentalist groups in the country. On the other hand there are ‘decadent’ groups like Satrapi’s families that should prescribe to the dictatorial fundamentalist regime.

Supporting examples: • Her conversations with intellectuals and revolutionists o Her conversations with Anoush and his death. • Her changing stages about religion, the king and politics o Affected by the information she was told by her parents ▪ Her grandfather being royalty ▪ They go to private parties

o They consume alcohol and attend parties even though it is forbidden in that society

• The forbidden marriage o Margi’s dad had to tell the neighbour to call off the relationship

By depicting the various classes and subclasses prevalent in the Iranian society, Satrapi draws the attention of the reader on the problems of fundamentalism and short sightedness of the fundamentalist leaders as it is them, who create