The Veil and Persepolis Essay - 859 Words

In Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi the main character, Marjane, lives in Iran and is required, by fear of punishment, to wear a veil that only leaves her face uncovered. Having to wear a veil is portrayed as an insult to women’s rights. However in the article â€Å"Why We Wear the Haijab,† by Sumayyah Hussein, Sumayya Syed says the veil â€Å"‘liberates you from the media’† (p118) It is also seen as a form of protection from judgment and western influences. The women interviewed in the article tell of the benefits of wearing the veil and see it as an honor instead of an insult, like in Persepolis. The veil is part of Iran’s culture. To de-emphasize a women’s body and to gain respect as a person, the veil is worn to protect from the judgments forced†¦show more content†¦When required to wear the veil Marjane was exceeding in school, had a close relationship to god, and was actively concerned about the political standings in Iran. She had a lot of friends at school, where she wore the veil, and was happy and well adapted. The veil protected Marjane from being negatively influenced and distracted. At fourteen Marjane is sent to Austria to study, where she loses herself and strays away from her culture. She is exposed to things that, in her culture, are forbidden and looked down upon. When not wearing the veil she almost instantly gives into peer pressure. She fits in and has friends, but learns quickly that they won’t be there for her in her time of need. In â€Å"Why We Wear the Hijab† Hana Tariq points out that â€Å"‘people who are friend with you because of the way you look aren’t real friends.’†(p118) wearing the veil helps create a uniform removing any judgment made based on material objects or appearance. She rejects the veil and all the morals that go along with it. In Iran the veil helped protect Marjane from distractions in the media, the same distractions that exist in Austria. The longer the media influenced her, the harder it was for her to gain respect from peers and adults alike. When Marjane hits rock bottom in she moves back to Iran and lives with her parents. She struggles with her identity because she is still a victim of western influence, butShow MoreRelatedPersepolis: perceptions of the veil1546 Words   |  7 Pagesï » ¿Persepolis; Perceptions of the veil [Satrapi, (b) p52] â€Å"And say to the believing woman that they should lower their gaze and guard their modesty...that they should draw their veils over their bosoms and not display their beauty...† SÃ… «rah 24:31 The autobiographical novel â€Å"Persepolis† depicts the early stages of its author, Marjane Satrapi’s life. It shows her growing up in Iran, to her studies in Vienna, and her return. In an interview in 2008, she stated that she composedRead More The Veil in Marjane Satrapi’s Persepolis Essay1296 Words   |  6 PagesMarjane Satrapi’s Persepolis introduces the Islamic veil as an attempt by the Iranian government to control women. Islamic radicals promised safety and security for those who abided by their rules. Rebels who refused to wear the headscarf were threatened with beating, rape or death. These modern women who fought against religious oppression met the minimal requirements of the government rules to safely live in the hostile environment. 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Not only does it conceal a person’s physical appearance, but it contributes to stifling one’s individuality. In Marjane Satrapi’s graphic novel Persepolis, Marjane, the main character, lives in Iran and is required, by fear of punishment, to wear a veil that only leaves her face uncovered. The veilRead MoreOppression on Women in Margaret Atwoods the Handmaids Tale and Marjane Satrapi’s Persepolis966 Words   |  4 PagesOppression on Women in Margaret Atwoods The Handmaids Tale and Marjane Satrapi’s Persepolis Persepolis, by Marjane Satrapi, is memoir of a little girl growing in Iran. She refers to a secular pre revolutionary time through contrast, the oppressive characteristics of the fundamentalist government upon women in particular. 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In secularizedRead MoreAnalysis Of Persepolis And The Sub Themes1399 Words   |  6 PagesThe personal nature of the story from the perspective of Marjane is one of the overarching themes within the book Persepolis, and the sub themes that will be displayed are revolution, imperialism, nationalism, religion, and social class. These themes can be related back to the main theme because of how they share traits between the book and the image themselves. The image shows Tehran, Iran after the election of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, which was very controversial (AFP/GETTY, Online). Many people thoughtRead MoreThe Molding Hand of Oppression: Forming an Identity in Persepolis1348 Words   |  6 PagesMolding Hand of Oppression: Forming an Identity in Persepolis Every person is unique. However, there are many similar parts that go into creating every person’s identity. Of course, there is the biology, the genetics. Then there are outside forces, the nurturing of a person. When trying to form an identity, there are numerous outside factors that contribute, such as gender, culture, and environment. For Marji, the protagonist of the Persepolis series, being an Iranian woman is absolutely a factorRead MoreEssay about Handmaids Tale vs Persepolis971 Words   |  4 PagesDavid Miller Oppression on Women in Margaret Atwoods The Handmaids Tale and Marjane Satrapi’s Persepolis Marjane Satrapi, in Persepolis writes about a memoir of a little girl growing in Iran. She refers to a secular pre-revolutionary time through contrast, the oppressive characteristics of the fundamentalist government upon women in specifics. In comparison, her work is very similar to Margaret Atwood’s, A Handmaid’s Tale, in which the central character, Offred, reflects upon her former life’sRead MorePersepolis, By Marjane Satrapi, And Things Fall Apart1333 Words   |  6 Pagessometimes lead to misconceptions and stereotypes. Two novels, Persepolis, By Marjane Satrapi, and Things Fall Apart, By Chinua Achebe, take their works and shatter the stereotypical views of their cultures (Native Africans and Iranians) made by the western world. They show you that what you always hear about one culture or individual may not always be accurate, and the only way to learn about one’s culture is to learn the facts. Persepolis is a graphic novel written by Marjane Satrapi. The novel is