1. Theme and ideas summary
Persepolis
Theme and ideas summary

2. The Veil Themes The oppression of women Societal change
Religious values (p.9)
Issues
The veil, a religious symbol, is forced upon women as a sign of respect for Islam. Young children do not understand. Women are segregated by their convictions.
Society is changing – fear begins to mount (mother dyes her hair when identified protesting).
What we learnt
Influence of parental values on children – “I was born with religion.” (p.6)
Role of education in forming / changing ideas
Three rules:” Behave well, Speak well, Act well” – but the idea of well seems flexible depending on context.
Marjane’s reflections are often single person character frames that highlight her confusion and sense of isolation.

3. The Bicycle
Themes
- Show to readers that how Marjane has changed alongside with the cultural revolution from Iran
- Marjane has emphasized on how unshakable her faith was from her own perspective (P. 10)
Issues
- Marjane changed from wanting to be a prophet to a revolutionary due to the revolution in Iran
- Instead of the god, author introduce Marx and Descartes who have opposite approach to things
What we learn
- Through changes of Marjane, she has demonstrated how much a revolution has affected a child
- Devices have been used such as organization of frames and panels and size of frames on P. 15

4. The Water Cell Themes p.22 Issues What we learn
Power - Influential education in propagating an idea (about religious/politics)
Power/Religion - Republican ideal
Conflict - Suppression on communists; and demonstrations
Societal change? - Influence of family relations
Issues
Marjane was “brain-washed” by education at school that the King of the country was chosen by god. Her father told by her father about the real story about the king. She was told that the original emperor of the country was her granpa’s father. His son (Marjane’s grandpa) was overthrown by the father of shah, who was a low-ranking officer; and was persuaded by the influential British (their real intention was to obtain the natural resources in the country.) She was also informed that her grandpa became a communist by self-learning. Since communism was highly-banned by the country (due to the strong republican ideal), he was sent to prison. Marjane also tried to experience the suffrage that his grandpa has gone through when he was in the cell full of water, by staying in the bath for a long time.
What we learn
Infleunce of education on the way of thinking of the people - “He did so! It’s written on the first page of our schoolbook” (p.19)
Republican ideal - “At the time, the republican ideal was popular in the region” (p.20)
Role of family relation - “Grandpa was a prince? Yes, among others. But that’s not the question” (p.22)
Government’s suppresion on communism - “So he became a communist…..So he was often sent to prison” (p.24)
p.22

5. Persepolis Themes Issues What we learn
Conflict - revolution (demonstration against the Shah)
Issues
Conflict between the Shah and the people - People tries to overthrow the Shah (demonstration)
People died from the conflict are honored as a martyr
Photo taking of the demonstration is strictly forbidden
Grandma tells Marjane why conflict between Shah and the people occurs
What we learn
Marjane is still young, she doesn’t fully understand the situation
People will be arrested if they take photos of the demonstration

6. The Letter Themes: Differences between the “Social Classes”
Issues: Marjane introduces her 18 year old maid Mehri
in order to show the consequences of social classes
What we learnt: - The importance of Social Class within the society that they live in
- Relationship restricted due to social class
- The people with low social identity seem to be pressured and
controlled by the one with high social ranking
Message: The title is quite important for the chapter because this chapter focuses mainly on the letters sent between Mehri and Hossein, the neighbour’s son. The case that Marjane is writing the letters relates to the idea of different social classes. However, when Marjane’s father discovered that Mehri was in love with Hossein, he immediately told him about it. Where Hossein broke any contact with Mehri because they were not in the same social class

7. The Party
Themes
Societal Change - Relief from the revolution (celebration, change of education materials)
Power- The shift of power from the Shah to the people
Conflict- Between the kids (Marjane and Ramin)
Issues
There are a lot of massacres happen after the “black friday” showing the Shah’s reign is comming to an end
The Shah than act as the people’s will moving the country to democracy, but he then fails choose an prime minister
Then the people got madder and demonstrations become more violence, so the Shah stepped down
The Shaq then went to Egypt as the US government won’t let the Shah to stay
Marjane’s father then say “as long as there is oil in the middle east we will never have peace.”
At school, Marjane’s teacher tells them to tear out the picture of the Shah, Marjane is confused
While playing in the streets, a boy tells Marjane and a friend that Ramin’s father is the Shah’s secret police, and that he had killed a million people, so Marjane and her friends tried to punish him with nails, but was stopped by her mother, where her mother thought her to forgive Ramin
What we learn
The Shah falls
Conflict will continue as oil is still in middle east
Marjane is naive and violent

8. The Heroes Themes Issues What we learn - Power and Authority
- Two prisoner whom had released from the prison recently describe their brutal experiences behind bars.
- Marjane was confused by the cruelty of the world.
- Referencing from Marjane, the authority has so much power these serious issues became invisible under their censorships.
What we learn
- When someone says that someone is on the trip, “most” of the time it means they were dead.
- Brutality within the Authoritarian
- Demonstrating brutality with the symbol of an Iron, which Marjane describes as “I never imagine that you could use that as an appliance of torture.”
- In the frame that tortures going on, a white background to contrast dark shadows, this element highlights the painfulness within the frame.

9. Moscow Themes Issues What we learn Power - authority issues
Faith - ‘rebels’ fighting for what they believe in
Issues
Marjane’s internal conflict about her father not being a ‘hero’
Anosh told Marjane about his uncle Fereydoon. How his friends proclaimed the independence of the Iranian province of Azerbaijan and how Fereydoon elected himself as minister of justice
What we learn
Symbolism - The swan Anoosh made out of bread when he was in the prison
Symbolism swan’s meaning continuous the theme of the story Ugly Duckling - meaning swans as a symbolism encourage Marjane to have faith and persistence in her pursuit of freedom/peace
Foreshadowing for what might happen to the ‘rebels’
People’s rough path towards civilization
Marjane’s own definition of ‘hero’ - people who contributes without asking for anything in return

10. The Sheep Themes Issues
power - The power of the islamic republic to control over Iran and execute certain people
religion
conflict - between dad and marjane, Russian spies and islamic conflict
Issues
- The tragedy event of Anoosh, being arrested and executed. The islamic republic force many people leave Iran. It is also that at first, Marjane’s family decided to tell her that Anoosh was on a trip, which makes it ironic because later on they tell and want Marjane to see his uncle for the one last chance.
What we learn:
- Within the force of islamic republic during that time, many people were forced to leave Iran for a better living condition.
- It is interesting to know that at the end of the story, Marjane yelled at God, this imply that Marjane do not believe in God like she used to be.

11. The Trip Themes Issues What we learn Women / Feminism Societal Change
Conflict ( The Demonstration)
Issues
The fundamentalist had occupied the US embassy and Universities were closed up for two years. Women were forced to wear the veil in public. Peoples’ dressing started became an ideological sign or fundamentalist and the modern. The Demonstration then started, people started to attack the fundamentalist and the war began while Marjane’s family were traveling.
What we learn
Public schools / education is adherence to political agendas.
Women were blamed that their hair would emanates rays that excited men.
Marjane’s dream went up in smoke.

12. The F-14 Themes Societal change Power Issues
Iran are under attacked, Iraqi pilots agreed to fight back using the F-14s, only if the government broadcast the national anthem. However the F-14s, symbolize the only power to threaten the government, take the lives of the pilots.
The fear is increasing in the society when the lives of their family members are under the risk of bombing.
Marjane wanted his father to participate in war initially but changed her mind after talking with Pardisse which her father is dead in the mission.
What we learn
The value of family members within the society (greater than the will to overpower the government)
Patriotism of the local Iranians (represented by the pilots) toward their own homeland, who are willing to defend them even the land is taken by the revolutionists
Marjane’s values are changing her values as she experience more and become less naive

13. The Jewels Themes - Societal Change Conflict / Contradictions Issues -
Jewels symbolizes the conflict between Iranians after being bombed, it is caused by the greed and selfishness of each person. After being bombed, the grocery store were nearly empty. Marjane’s mom scold others for their selfish behaviour of getting more than they need, yet she tells Marjane to get more rice.
What we learn -
During a crisis, people will think for themselves first, from the chapter we see Marjane’s mom telling others to only take what they need, but she also needs to ensure she has benefited herself.

14. The Key Themes Manipulation by greater power
Social class discrimination
Issues: Iraq was at war, the government is recruiting males from schools by giving them a plastic gold ‘key’, saying that the key can bring them to heaven/ paradise. An act of how the government brain-wash the people
What we learn
The Chapter show how the government and extremist manipulate the lower social class.
The key is a symbol of social class discrimination, as the key is used to fool and pick up poor/ lower class boys and put them in the front line. Little did they know many have died in the war already.
“They (the government) told them that if they were lucky enough to die this key would get them into heaven.” Said by Marjane’s maid.
Lower class people are desperate to get a better live.

15. The Wine Themes Societal Change Issues
- Tehran is now the bomber’s target, and so everytime when bombing occurs Marjane’s family have to turn into the basement. Also, Marjane’s family needs to hide from their neighbors as they are devoted to the new regime, or else Marjane and her family will be denounced.
- Alcohol is forbidden but still present during parties, the siren rings and everyone goes back home, including Marjane’s father. Unfortunately a fundamentalist stops him and follows Marjane’s father all the way back home. Marjane’s grandmother notices it and so she dumps all the alcoholic items. Actually giving several bucks to the fundamentalist can let the whole thing comes to an end.
What we learn
After the bombing, Marjane and her family will be making sure that everyone of them is alive -> strong relationship
Hiding from neighbors -> due to the new regime -> Symbol of Defiance (opposition)/ Decadence (cultural decline)

16. The Cigarette Theme: Conflict, Societal Change
‘To Die a Martyr is to inject blood into the veins of the society’ -> strikes Marjane and motivates her to rebel agains her mother-> smokes uncle’s cigarette that’s been stolen 2 weeks ago (symbolizes that she’s grown up, revolting the regime)
Issues:
war has been on going for 2 years
marjane decided to skip grammar class, lied to her mom and went to Kansas on Jordan avenue with her older friends.
Iranian Army has retaken Khorramshahr
Iranian wants to conquer Karbala (holy city) -> goes deeper into war
Marjane rebelling her mother’s dictatorship and smokes uncle’s cigarette -> revolting the regime and she thinks that’s she’s grown up
What we learn
how the situation of war triggers and motivates marjane’s rebellion independent thinking

17. The Passport Themes Conflict Issues
Without his son, Taher loses strength. As a unit Marjane’s family are strong in times of conflict.
Destruction of chemical warfare - ‘veritable human guinea pigs’
Passport is the key to freedom and political asylum
Niloufar (a communist girl) is excuted - the passport maker, Khosro, flees. The frame shows him happy in Sweden.
Taher dies and ironically his passport arrives the next day.
What we learn
Freedom can be bought
The two stories, of Nilourfar and Khosro and Taher illustrate different outcomes / opporunties

18. Kim Wilde
Themes
Women and feminism - Women’s Branch of the Guardian’s of the Revolution
Censorship
Issues
Censorship of music and popular culture from America
Expectations of women
What we learn
With the opening of the boarders, American culture begins to enter Iran
Kim Wilde sung song - Kids in America (American values and liberty)
“Lower your scarf, you little whore”

19. The Shabbat Themes Religion - people’s different belief
Power - how war is putting innocent people under dangerous positions
Issues
Iran began firing missiles at Tehran
Marjane finally realized how much danger her and her family were actually in
Marjane’s family stayed because her parents believed that her future was linked to her french education
A missile landed on her neighborhood, right near her place
Unluckily, Marjane’s neighbor were all killed because they were at home and were celebrating a jewish festival named ‘ The Shabbat’
What we learn
Conveyed historical context
Revealed the basic setting for the time being
City being attacked
People are unprotected
Inability of the government
Symbolism - the shabbat.
Ironic The shabbat is suppose to be the Jewish day of resting Jews will come together to celebrate the creation of heaven
Contrast between reality & the ideal world

20. The Dowry Themes Social and political conflict - Marjane rebels
Gender - women
Issues
Marjane is expelled from school for hitting her Principal. She speaks against the regime in class. Her parents are concerned for her safety, but the are proud of her conviction.
Marjane finds out the Niloufar was raped before she was executed to comply with Islamic law.
Marjane goes to Vienna for school.
What we learn
‘I was 14 and a rebel. Nothing scared me anymore.’
‘There is nothing worse than bitterness and vengeance… Always keep your dignity and be true true to yourself.’ (Advice by Marjane’s grandma)