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The Daily Insight

What happens in Persepolis

Author

Victoria Simmons

Published Mar 16, 2026

The graphic novel, Persepolis, by Marjane Satrapi follows her life from ages ten to fourteen during the Islamic Revolution. … Then Marji’s French school is changed to segregate the boys and girls. Marji decides she wants to be a prophet because she sees many problems with the world that she thinks she can fix.

What happened in the end of Persepolis?

At the end of Persepolis, Marjane divorces her husband and returns to Europe. … After a few years back in Iran, Marjane realizes that she has to leave again. Her parents and grandma want her to live her life to the fullest, and there is no way for an independent woman to do that in Iran.

How does Marjane lose her innocence?

Not only does Marji lose her innocence by wearing the veil, she also experiences several very fatal things. When they asked Siamak if he had heard any news of Ahmadi he responded by saying “Ahmadi… Ahmadi was assassinated as a member of the guerillas, he suffered as hell.

What is the story of Persepolis about?

About Persepolis In powerful black-and-white comic strip images, Satrapi tells the story of her life in Tehran from ages six to fourteen, years that saw the overthrow of the Shah’s regime, the triumph of the Islamic Revolution, and the devastating effects of war with Iraq.

Why did Satrapi move to France?

Satrapi married Reza, a veteran of the Iran–Iraq War, when she was 21, whom she later divorced. She then moved to Strasbourg, France. Her parents told her that Iran was no longer the place for her, and encouraged her to stay in Europe permanently.

What happens in the beginning of Persepolis?

The graphic novel, Persepolis, by Marjane Satrapi follows her life from ages ten to fourteen during the Islamic Revolution. It begins with all women being told to wear veils. Then Marji’s French school is changed to segregate the boys and girls.

Why does Marji's mother disguise herself?

Why does Marji’s mother disguise herself? She disguised herself because she was afraid of what would happen to her if someone knew it was her in the photo demonstrating.

What is Persepolis really about what themes big ideas does the story suggest?

Persepolis explores the intersection of religion and modernity, as well as the impact of religious repression on the religious feeling and practices of those who must endure it.

Why is Persepolis a banned book?

The CPS CEO responded on March 15: “Persepolis is included as a selection in the Literacy Content Framework for seventh grade. It was brought to our attention that it contains graphic language and images that are not appropriate for general use in the seventh grade curriculum.

How does Marjane change in Persepolis?

Marjane grows and grows from being a young tenager to a more mature and thoughtful teen. She later learned about forgiveness vs. justice from an experience with a friend that had a father who was in the Savak, an army that worked for the Shah. “It is not for you to do justice.

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How is loss of innocence shown in Persepolis?

Persepolis is a bildungsroman that captures Marjane’s nonconformity and loss of innocence as she journeys from youth to maturity. Throughout Persepolis, Marjane explains several moments in her life that caused her to lose innocence and become more mature; not just physically, but also mentally.

How is Persepolis a bildungsroman?

Persepolis is an example of a bildungsroman because throughout the book Marjane experiences different encounters that shape her into a mature young woman overtime. Loss of innocence is an example of a bildungsroman, and when Marjane lost her beloved Uncle Anoosh, she lost a piece of her innocence as well.

Did Marjane Satrapi have kids?

So instead of going to school and being emancipated, she is 20 and she already has five kids.

Did Marjane Satrapi ever see her parents again?

Persepolis 2 begins where Persepolis ends, with Satrapi living in Europe. The family friend with whom Satrapi was intended to live instead shuffles her to a boarding house, and her life gradually dissolves. She returns to her parents in Iran but feels out of place, and she eventually leaves again for Europe.

Where do Satrapis parents send her?

When she was 14, Satrapi’s parents sent her to Vienna, Austria to learn in a freer country.

What happens to Marjane's mom at the end of Persepolis?

Marji gives away a bunch of her stuff to her friends and says goodbye. Children, War, and Growing Up. Marjane Satrapi’s mother lived in Rasht, where Marji was born, before moving with her husband and Marji to Tehran.

Why does God return after a long absence?

Why does God return after a long absence? Because Marji had lost her faith & wanted to follow someone.

What does God symbolize in Persepolis?

One of the most important of these symbols and icons in Persepolis is the symbol of God. God represents faith and Marji’s belief in what is said to her and how she perceives it. When God is present Marji is undoubtful that everything is alright.

What is the climax of Persepolis 1?

Climax: The climax in the novel occurs when her father advises her not to help Mehri to marry the neighboring boy as she is not of their class.

Is Persepolis based on a true story?

Unlike so many other comics-turned-movies, this one is not only true to the spirit of the original work, but the author is actually one of the filmmakers, because (also unlike so many other comics) this one is based on a true story: her story.

What happens to anoosh in the chapter the sheep?

One day, Marji comes home from school to find Anoosh gone. Her parents tell her that Anoosh had to leave in a hurry. Then Marji’s dad comes clean: Anoosh was arrested.

Is Persepolis banned in USA?

Although it was certainly controversial in the Middle East, there were no publicly reported challenges or bans of the book in U.S. schools or libraries until March 2013, when Chicago Public Schools administrators abruptly pulled it from some classrooms. … Persepolis remains banned from CPS classrooms below grade 8.

Is Persepolis appropriate for middle school?

While “Persepolis” “may be appropriate” for junior and senior students, Byrd-Bennett said that CPS is reconsidering whether the book, because of “powerful images of torture,” should be used in the curriculum of eighth through 10th grades. …

How old should you be to read Persepolis?

There was also a great deal of symbolism in the panels, which you will definitely see if you read the book. Overall, I would give this book a 10 out of 10. I would recommend this to girls and boys who are 12 and older; this book deals with very mature subject matter, and does depict scenes of violence at times.

What is the message of the book Persepolis?

Throughout Marjane Satrapi’s autobiographical graphic novel, Persepolis, education is an important theme. The main messages are that education is essential for a person to have true freedom, but also that institutionalized education cannot always be trusted.

How is power shown in Persepolis?

Power of the Government In ‘Persepolis’, the government wields considerable power over its citizens, and places numerous restrictions on how individuals can live their lives. For example, when it bans alcohol Marji and her grandma have to flush all the family’s alcohol down the toilet before the house is inspected.

How is oppression shown in Persepolis?

The veil was the largest oppressive symbol in Persepolis. It stood for the Islamic revolution and the religious oppression that it was forcing upon the Iranian people. … The veil was also oppressive for the women in Iran. Marji’s mother experiences an even harder time when she chooses not to wear the veil.

How does the revolution affect Marjane?

Marjane grows up during her country’s revolution, and is forced to follow sexist laws: “In 1979 a revolution took place. … Because Marji is just 10 years old when this law is set, she doesn’t take it seriously, until it eventually becomes a ritual every woman must do, for fear of breaking the law and being killed.

How does Marji change in Persepolis 2?

At the same time, Marji undergoes significant physical changes in a growth spurt. She changes her hair, make-up, and clothes style as well. Trying to fit in, Marji now smokes and does drugs. When Julie and Armelle move away from Vienna, Marji sublets a room in a house.

What does Marjane want in Persepolis?

She writes, ”I wanted to be justice, love, and the wrath of god all in one. ” She had personal reasons for feeling this way. The social inequality in Iran was stark, and Marji saw it even at a young age.

Is Persepolis a coming of age story?

Persepolis is a coming of age story because Marjane, the main protagonist, experiences rebellion and violence as she transitions from childhood to adulthood which ultimately leads her to mature into an adult. … Marjane realizes that things will never be the same and feels lost.