“Persepolis” by Marjane Satrapi

The novel, Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi, provides unique content and portrays a message throughout the revolutionary Iran era. The graphic novel depicts the author’s childhood by way of her adult years during the Islamic Revolution. The outstanding way she portrays light and dark shading on the pictures to show Marji’s mood and state of thoughts. Satrapi’s style of artwork portrays a new element of literature from her nuanced ideas in a rebellious way revealing the ugly truth and beautiful lie. The black and white colors play a large part on how Satrapi portrays her emotions towards her art. Her art displays how she feels about the values of her personal life. She makes use of dialogue when totally necessary as properly as using photos to illustrate her language. Satrapi’s illustrations are black and white, providing an example that Iran is a strict, straight forward nation. They have strict dress codes, black veils, and make it clear what is proper and incorrect. In Persepolis, page seventy, there is a full turning point in the book. Marji’s life falls apart as she discovers her Uncle Anoosh has been executed.

Later Marji loses her faith in God. Satrapi depicted what Marji was feeling in a single frame on page seventy one particular. “And so I was lost, without having any bearings… what could be worse than that?” (71) Although most of the many backgrounds of panels are square and black and white, if a darker topic is brought up some are completely black. This visually shows emptiness and self doubt amongst Marji. The veil vs freedom In the novel on page five, there is a picture shown with a group of ladies chanting for the veil, and a group of ladies fighting for freedom. As observed in the illustrated text the group of ladies chanting for the veil are covered in all black, expressing a dark and hateful expression rather than the ladies covered in all white are portraying a lot more of a peaceful loving expression. The ladies in black also have their eyes shut, which shows how Satrapi depicts her feelings towards seeing these women blind to the truth. Their eyes are closed in view of the reality that they are blind to the truth due to society and it’s forceful blindfold. Rather than the girls fighting for freedom, with their eyes wide open and completely aware of verity. An illustrated text reads, “I really do not know what to believe about the veil. Deep down I was really religious but as a family we have been extremely modern day and avant-garde.” (six)

On the left side it shows her with her hair out. The background is dark however the photo consists of white components, such as a ruler, some sort of hammer or tool and a bunch of grinding objects and the background is black. The tools and grinders show her mentality. She is pondering. She is drawing and painting pictures in her mind that not even society can stop her from undertaking. On the proper side it shows her covered from head to toe with a veil. Her background is white showing that society is telling her what they practice it is stunning yet the veil is black. In the background is a bunch of scribbles which is her mind set and it does not know how it feels. These photos reveal the ugly truth and the lovely lie.

Moreover, Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi, offers special content and portrays a message for the duration of the revolutionary Iran era. The graphic novel depicts the author’s childhood via her adult years during the Islamic Revolution. The remarkable way she portrays light and dark shading on the photos to show Marji’s mood and state of mind. Satrapi’s style of artwork portrays a new element of literature from her nuanced concepts in a rebellious way revealing the ugly truth and lovely lie.