Persepolis by Satrapi in Collaboration with Vincent Paronnaud - Movie Review Example

Research paper Set in Iran, Persepolis presents phenomenal conflicts among the key characters and their society. Theposition of women in the chauvinist society remains limited to specific aspects of the society. This presents the most primary conflict in the novel as Marjane, strives to live her life by balancing the dictates of the society and her own wishes. Key among such conflicts in the life of Marjane is between her “inner” and “outer” self. The conflict exists owing to the social demands that require the girl child and women in the society to behave in a particular manner when in public space and behave in yet another manner when in their own privacies. Women forfeit most of their pleasures when in public space since the society does not allow the women to express themselves in particular manner when in public spaces as the discussion below portrays. The veil is the mantra of female privacy in the society. Women in the Islamic society must cover their hair and faces at times in black veils. Marjjane explains that the decision to wear a veil is not the girl’s to make. A girl child is born in the society and adopts he ways of life naturally. Women must cover themselves in the veils a feature that limits their freedom to wear particular clothes. The girls in the society cannot wear any other type of clothing and in case they do, they must conceal such clothes in the hijab and the veil that conceals the face. The veil conceals the inner self thus portraying an outer self the society considers appropriate especially in public places. Marjane likes rock music. Additionally, she does not like the veil that covers her face “We found ourselves veiled and separated from our friends.” (Satrapi 22). However, she must wear the veil and suppress her love for punk rock music while in public places. The hijab and the veil makes her blend seamlessly with the many other women in the society thus earns herself a sense of belonging. She makes it clear that she wears the veil just because the society expects all the women to do so especially when in public places. Once she gets home and in her privacy, Marjane reveals her “inner” self. She removes the veil and enjoys her favorite type of music. She feels free when in the privacy of her home. Iran is a hot country and wearing a black hijab and a black veil is a torture of its own kind. She therefore removes such torturous garments and enjoys her favorite music something she can do in the public space. Segregation of the sexes in the society is yet another social phenomenon that limits the freedoms for women in the society especially in schools and places of work “It is against this background of prejudice that most women have poor chances of finding employment, especially on full time basis” (Afshar 38). The sexes should not converge in social places most of which are always public. The women in the society just as any other group of women wish to mingle with the opposite gender. The situation is worse for the young people in their adolescence. In a move that limits the exposure of inner life in pubic is during a party organized by the youths in the society. Marjane with both her male and female friends are enjoying themselves in the party. The girls have removed their veils and let their hair hang freely. They drink alcohol and interact with the many other people at the party freely. Unfortunately, the police raid the party. The boys quickly take off as the girls pour the alcohol in toilets and cover their faces once again. This occurrence is a legal move that portrays the structure of the society. The government enforces laws that limit social interactions among different genders. This limits the expression of inner self since the youths would wish to mingle but the society does not permit them to (Chute 121). As explained earlier, the veil in the book is the representation of the level of suppression of the women in the Islamic state especially at a time of revolution. Women in the society undergo training to equip them with the skills necessary to enable them uphold the social values. The schools indoctrinate the girls to live according to the dictates of the society and to the pleasure of their male counterparts. Key among the lessons taught in the schools is the need to wear both the veil and the hijab. The unique code of attire for women makes the society condescending a feature that justifies the displeasure Marji expresses in the University. The woman feels that the society is unfair since it allows the men to enjoy the freedom of choice since they choose their attire while limiting women to wearing the black hijabs and the veil among other features of the headgear. Marji’s life in the conflict prone Iran portrays that the society limits the public space especially for the women. The women in the society do not visit specific areas of the society and do not interact with their male counterparts in public spaces. Women for example do not visit mosques, burial ceremonies and weddings among others. As such, women remain secluded in such occasions often mingling only when appropriate. While in such public places, women must adorn a specific attired acceptable by the society (Grassian 34). Such directives limit the freedoms of women in the society since they must cover their hair, faces and body in systematic attires. Such are monotonous ways in which the society limits the public space for women. In their private spaces, women change the attire and dress in clothes they consider comfortable. However, they cannot raise such publicly owing to the chauvinistic structure of the society. Marji on the other hand does this once in her university when she asks why men enjoy the freedom to choose their attire while the society limits women to specific dress code. Despite her bold actions, they do not bring any changes to the women in the society (Afshar 61). The social structure of the Iranian society enhances the manifestation of the chauvinistic structure. Marji depicts men in her novel differently. She portrays his father and uncle Anoosh as liberal minded people who appreciate the freedom of every child in the society. Such liberal mindsets she explains arise from the fact that her father and uncle received effective education coupled with spending some time in the western states. As such, they enjoy a degree of exposure that enables them to appreciate the ability of both the girl and the boy child in the family. Her portrayal of other men she interacts with is fundamentally different. Most men in the society are arrogant and egoistic, features she attributes to the social inclination and how the society brings up men to believe they are superior to women. In a conversation with her friend, Farnaz, the friend argues, “from men’s point of view… their dicks are irresistible” (Persepolis p.334). The veil in the novel remains an overriding factor that contrasts how women live in public spaces and private spaces. The women must conceal their hair among other parts of their bodies while in public. Such is a symbol for the many other interests and personality features that women must conceal when in public places. Marji therefore objects to the piety the male members of the society strive to enforce. Key among her most valued possessions are music albums by Michael Jackson and Kim Wilde. She also has several maiden posters, which she smuggled from the United States. These constitute her private pace, where she enjoys her music and relives her passions in life. In retrospect, expression of both “inner” and “outer” self in the early Iranian society helps develop the concept of both public and private space. The position and roles of both the women and girl children in the society limits their freedoms either in private or public space. The women remain in head veils and hijabs at all times while in places considered public. Marjane expresses her dislike for the attire. However, she must wear such in order to interact with the rest of the women. She frees herself from the attire once in her private space and enjoys her favorite music something she cannot do in public places. Writer’s memo Persepolis, is an interesting book that depicts a unique picture on the plight of women and girls in any Islamic society. I enjoy writing this paper owing to the insights it depicts about the Islamic societies. In doing this, I analyze the portrayal of both public and private space in the society as the women must dress and behave differently on both spaces. Among the favorite aspects of my paper is Marji’s attempt to fight for equality in the chauvinistic society. She questions women’s unique attire; this portrays her bold and courageous personality. Additionally, she makes sure to enjoy her hobbies and favorite music in her private space. This implies that the women had devised ways of enjoying their lives despite the restrictive social structure. The work is therefore complete for now but I would work on other themes such as marriage and wars in the society with the aim of investigating the position of both the women and girls in such circumstances. Works cited Afshar, Haleh. Women, State, and Ideology: Studies from Africa and Asia. Albany: State University of New York Press, 1987. Print. Chute, Hillary L. Graphic Women: Life Narrative and Contemporary Comics. New York: Columbia University Press, 2010. Print. Grassian, Daniel. Iranian and Diasporic Literature in the 21st Century: A Critical Study. Jefferson, North Carolina: McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers, 2013. Internet resource. Satrapi, Marjane, and Marjane Satrapi. The Complete Persepolis. New York: Pantheon Books, 2007. Print. Sciolino, Elaine. Persian Mirrors: The Elusive Face of Iran. New York: Simon and Schuster, 2000. Print. Read More