Persepolis is a novel but reads like a historical memoir due to its strong focus on the coming of age of the main character, Marji in Iran. The title of the book Persepolis refers to the ancient capital of the Persian Empire which seems to be juxtaposed with the progressive contents of the book. Themes like religion and the position of women are written about very liberally when considering the setting of Iran. This piece might be seen as a reaction and critique of the status quo within Iran and the rest of the Middle East. The characters are heartbreakingly realistic, and the author manages to create more character depth than I thought possible with a comic book. The book touches on themes of war, oppressive government, diaspora, women’s rights, inequality and religion; which makes it more than just a pleasant read.
The sometimes-horrifying contents such as war are made easier to digest due to the comic book format. It makes it somewhat less shocking yet still painful. The book is told in at a rather fast pace for the time frame covered because of the format but this serves in pulling the reader in and keeping them engaged. There is great significance in the pictures used as they conveyed great emotion through bold and vivid illustrations. The pictures in the comic book serve in reinforcing the specific themes and developing the nature of the characters.
Marji grows up in Iran and is later forced to leave due to the political climate. Her family’s wealth affords her first, a private and prestigious education and later a higher education in Europe despite the instability of her home country. Although Marji is privileged enough to afford a good education she is still hindered because of her society’s views on women. For the most part, education serves as a means of escape, enlightenment and growth for Marji.
