Persepolis: The Story of a Childhood

The social groups marginalized, excluded, or silenced within Persepolis 12th Grade

As a coming-of-age story, Persepolis highlights the many victories and hardships that come with growing up during a time of conflict. Satrapi integrates diverse characters in her novel to shed light on how different social groups endured during the Iranian Revolution; such comparisons let the audience understand and empathize with those whom they may not directly relate to. By focusing heavily on children, the audience becomes aware of ways in which the Iranian government aimed to carve the way for future generations by enforcing their ideologies onto them. Hence, the silencing of the upper-middle-class, modernist children and the marginalization of uneducated, lower-class children aid to diminish threats to the regime and exploit characters due to their vulnerability.

By using education as a form of indoctrination, the dominant regime in Persepolis spreads altered knowledge, creating a fraudulent foundation for all future knowledge of affluent children as a means to prevent individual thought and rebellion. Marji, who serves as both the narrator and protagonist of the novel, represents the upper end of the large middle class; she was born into a modernist family and is therefore conscious of the fundamentalist approach her...

Join Now to View Premium Content

GradeSaver provides access to 2312 study guide PDFs and quizzes, 10989 literature essays, 2751 sample college application essays, 911 lesson plans, and ad-free surfing in this premium content, “Members Only” section of the site! Membership includes a 10% discount on all editing orders.

Join Now

Already a member? Log in