PERSEPOLIS

PERSEPOLIS: FROM MY POINT OF VIEW

The book, Persepolis,is an extremely interesting book, clearly depicting Iran during 1970's to the 1980's. The book basically talks about the wars in Iran, The troubles that many go through, and the resilience of one family to persevere through all of what was going around, even during the worst of times.The book starts off by explaining, briefly, the start of the Islamic Revolution in 1979, and the effects that included separation of boys and girls in school and girls being forced to wear the rather illusive veil ( not cool if you ask me )! In the middle of all this, is a little girl, barely ten years old, of whom the book is all about. Her name is Marjane Satrapi. In my opinion, she is a rather undecided and rebellious girl even as she grows up throughout the book. Throughout Persepolis, which is somehow a view of the Iranian Revolution and other wars that took place after of little Marjane, Satrapi witnesses and experiences quite a lot physically ( she was arrested and almost tortured for breaking some of the rules that were imposed on the people of Iran ), emotionally ( by seeing the death of many of her friends  and family) and even spiritually as her relationship with God changes throughout the book. 

( SATRAPI AS SHE STARTS "NARRATING" HER STORY IN PERSEPOLIS ) 

And that is what I want to talk about in this entire book ( Crazy right? A whole book that I have spent so much time telling you how awesome it is, and all I want to write is about a person's relationship with God?) Sure there is a lot that goes on in the book, some sad, some happy, and some just weird. But Satrapi's relationship with God significantly changes in the book, as stated earlier. It might not be a topic of a lot of interest ( I should know ) but it is one worth examining. First of all, as she says in the book, Satrapi is born with religion, basically meaning that she was born into a family that was very serious about its religion Islam. For many reasons, mostly relating to social equality, Satrapi suddenly decides to become a prophet ( a weird ambition for a kid if you ask me ). Whatever exactly pushed her into becoming a prophet is not that clear but she is very serious about it. To be preciseshe wanted to be the last prophet.

( A page of the book clearly explaining what has been mentioned above. It reveals that Satrapi was born with religion and lists down all the possibilities that made her want to become a prophet )

You might be asking where God gets into this whole thing. Apparently, her relationship with God was pretty well. She talks to God every night, a sign of a good relationship. Either by prayer or if God actually appeared to her, it is clear that they had long night conversations. Their relationship is quite awesome if you ask me. What intrigues me the most, is the  in the book where the teacher asks Satrapi  who she wants to be. She obviously laughed at and she obviously lies to her parents about the whole thing. But when God asks he about that during their night conversations, she tells Him," No, No! I will be a prophet but they mustn't know." This is real proof that there was complete trust between the both of them, or at least Satrapi had enough trust in God.

( WHEN SATRAPI IS ASKED WHO SHE WANTS TO BE. IT ALSO SHOWS THE TEACHER'S REACTIONS AND ACTIONS AFTER HEARING SATRAPI'S RESPONSE )

( WHEN GOD ASKS MARJI ABOUT HER RESPONSE EARLIER IN THE DAY )

For sure this was a rather good relationship if you ask me. However things were about to turn for the worst in the chapters MOSCOW and THE SHEEP. ( This is where this relationship takes a a very nasty turn ) In the chapter MOSCOW, Marji is disappointed at her father for not being the hero she always thought he was. In the previous chapter, Marji is bragged to by her friends about their fathers. About how they sacrifice their lives in the war, about how much they do for the country of Iran in relation to the war and all that was going on in Iran. She was rather disappointed, since the dad only took pictures and did not do any crazy things like blowing himself up all for the sake of the country, or get himself imprisoned like the other fathers. Luckily, for her at least, she was told about her long lost uncle, Anoosh! Anoosh had been through everything; and I do everything. He had been in prison for going against the Shah. He had been tortured. Hehad been in exile. He ha lived a rather not so cool life. He had even divorced. So by everything, I do mean everything. Finally, Marji had found the hero in the family she was looking for. And she was excited, obviously. Immediately her Uncle Anoosh arrived, he is attacked by questions from Marji. At night they talk away into the night. Anoosh gives her a brief history of his life as one of the many stories they talk about at night. For sure, Marji was happy with one of her relatives, at least.

( AS MARJI IS TOLD ABOUT ANOOSH )

( AS MARJI AND ANOOSH CHAT AWAY INTO THE NIGHT )

( ANOOSH EXPLAINS ALL THE ORDEALS HE HAS GONE THROUGH )

So things are rather going well for Marji in that chapter. But things just become sad in the chapter THE SHEEP. First of all a boy she really likes tells her that he is moving to the US to start a better life ( I mean, who wouldn't? ). This really crushed Marji's heart as she really liked this boy. And if that is not bad enough, as Marji's family was getting back from the airport from escorting the family to which that boy belonged, the family got a very disturbing call. Mohsen Shakiba, one of their very good friends had been found dead, drowned in his bathtub. That was rather sad and sudden. Then tomake things even worse, it was Siamak Jari's turn. Siamak was a very close friend to Mohsen, Anoosh and Marji's family. His sister was ruthlessly executed in his place. Well that is sad now isn't it? Or so I thought. Anoosh ( Yes, the same Anoosh that is Marji's uncle ) was arrested. Of course Marji's parents tried to hide it from her, but it did not really work. She soon found out and visited Anoosh in prison for the last time. Why do I say last time? Well it doesn't take a genius to realize what happened to Anoosh. During that time in Iran, people were not just left to rot in jail. Anoosh was executed shortly after. This broke little Marji's heart. All she had to remember him was a swan made out bread that Anoosh made for her while awaiting execution. Quite sad indeed!

( MARJI LEARNS OF HER FRIEND'S DEPARTURE FROM IRAN )

( MARJI'S FAMILY LEARNS OF MOHSEN'S DEATH )

( SIAMAK'S SISTER IS EXECUTED )

( MARJI LEARNS OF ANOOSH'S IMPRISONMENT AND VISITS HIM FOR THE LAST TIME )

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Finally, after all that happened, God finally shows up to Marji. Yeah, your thought are the same as mine. Marji was extremely angry and disappointed. She simply told God to get out of her life! And that was it; a rather drastic turn for a very good relationship if you ask me. From long night conversations to a get-out-of-my-life statement, this relationship really did not last long.

Even I cannot guess if they made up, as God's presence is not shown throughout the rest of the book.

Did Marji and her good friend God make up? Now that is for anyone to find out.

Or you can just read the sequel! ( Just saying )

( THE END OF A VERY GOOD RELATIONSHIP )