Persepolis 2
Imagine being a teenage girl in a war torn sexist country. Your only salvation is to leave to a far away land. Marjane Strapi wrote the novel Persepolis 2 as an autobiography. Marjane describes her life as an Iranian teenager living in Vienna. The novel goes in to depth describing the kind of people that Marjane met while she was in Austria. The reader then gets a look at Marjane’s life when she moves back to Iran. A poignant picture is painted of the differences between society in Iran as compared to Europe. Marjane has many great conversations in the novel with her parents and her grandmother about the war that tore Iran apart while she was in Austria. The novel describes what Iran was like after the war with Iraq and the Iranian revolution. We get a glimpse of Tehran and how it looked after the war. There are splendid examples of Iranian culture and the strict laws that were bestowed upon women. The book is eccentric and a lively read for anyone above the age of fifteen whom desires to learn about the Iranian revolution while reading a graphic novel.
Marjane Strapi’s scenes in the book brilliantly describe what life is like in Iran. The novel is keen, easy to understand, and thought provoking. It is comically graphic with many funny scenes depicting the struggles of women in Iranian culture. A spirited quote from the novel that represents this is, "Yes…but…when you run, your behind makes movements that are…how you say…obscene!" Marjane then responded, "Well then don’t look at my ass!" This depicts how men dominate Iranian society while providing a humorous context. The graphics are marvelous and make the book captivating. Many scenes in the novel masterfully illustrate the trials and tribulations teenagers’ face including sex, drugs, peer pressure, and change.
Readers will enjoy Persepolis 2. It is the story of Marjane Strapi’s life, a teenager during the Iranian Revolution. Teenagers and adults will relate to this superb first-rate and insightful novel. Persepolis 2 is a must read.
Book’s Rating: J J J J Book Review
Memoir
Adolescence
Revolution
Journey
Austria
Nostalgia
East
- "Yes…but…when you run, your behind makes movements that are…how do you say…obscene."… "Well then don’t look at my ass!"(147)
- "How much? How much?"… "Fuck you! Son of a bitch!"(166)
- "We have two babies! We have to stock up on powdered mil and diapers."(167)
- "A first marriage is a dry run for the second. You’ll be more satisfied the next time. In the meantime, if you’re crying so much, maybe it mean that you still love him! There’s no reason you have to tell him everything right away."(179)
- "If a guy kills ten women in the presence of fifteen others, no one can condemn him because in a murder case, we women, we can’t even testify!"(183)
- "Is religion defending our physical integrity or is it just opposed to fashion?"(143)
- "It was like a bad American movie. One of those films where the surprised man wraps himself in a sheet and out of modesty says: ‘Wait, I can explain everything.’"(78)
- "Ah, there you are! I lost my brooch. I’m sure that you’re the one who took it."(79)
- "Anyway, her parents clearly don’t care about her, or they wouldn’t have sent her alone."(42)
- "Her Tyrolean Austrian father wore pants made of leather, Her Tyrolean Italian mother had a mustache. Only her sister reminded me of Heidi."(17)
- "An eccentric, a puck, two orphans, and a third-worlder, we made quite a group of friends."(13)
- "It had been four years since I’d seen such a well-stocked store."(6)
- "But what in the world can this mean? She hates fruit yogurt."(25)
- "It’s true what they say about Iranians. They have no education."(23)
- It’s true what they about you, too. You were all prostitutes before becoming nuns!"(23)
"My shame at not having become someone, the shame of not having made my parents proud after all the sacrifices they had made for me."(90)
"The blood of our martyrs which has nourished the flowers of our republic."(142)
"We all end up having to accept ourselves"… "Yes…I know that better than anyone."(108)
"Everything’s fine, sir. I’m a little sick, I feel very tired."(72)
"I would commit suicide if my brother was going out with a cow like that." "Dad, you know what it’s like on Iran Air. They feed you at least fifty times."(93)
"There are going to be attacks! They’ll counter attack! They’ll come after us on our own territory!"(167)
"I explained to them that my design came from a fairy tale in which a princess’ love climbs into her room by using the long hair of his loved one and not being able to draw a woman without a veil, I had drawn a bearded man."(181)
"The customer is always right."(70)
"When a tooth is rotten, you have to pull it out!"(179)
"Hey-blue coat! Stop running."(147)
"That I’m the vegetable that I refused to become."(72)
"That does should have been enough to finish off an elephant."(119)
"To them, I had become a decadent Western woman."(116)
"Her too, she looked like a horse!"(51)
"It was like a bad America movie, one of those films where the surprised man wraps himself n a sheet out of modesty and says."(78)
"Your story is as muddled as you are."(117)
"The five days passed like the wind and the cigarettes didn’t get the better of me."(91) "Entering into a conversation about this subject scared me so much that I headed for my room like a boor without saying good night or good bye."(93)
"They all looked like the heroines of American TV series, ready to get married at the drop of a hat, if the opportunity presented itself."(105)
There once was a writer Marjane,
Who wrote comics while riding the plane.
Her insights divine
Though not those of mine
Her writing just made me feel sane.
Struggling makes the weary heart grow fonder.
Refraining from loves sensuous bed
Craving fantasies all women will ponder
Moderately willful to keep one’s head.
Bountiful in spirit to all in need
Constantly striving to reach one’s dreams.
Mankind bare witness, not to give in to greed
At times the urgency is extreme.
Without complaint or loss of temper,
Benevolent in action for those in need,
Stoically composed without whimper
Graciously giving without greed.
Pride, nor arrogance alas will abide.
Mankind’s dignity we keep in stride.
Teenage Tribulations
The trials and tribulations of teenager-dom are hard.
Finding ones way with friends, parents, school, graduation and college,
Weighs heavy on my mind.
Personal and Political beliefs
Blending with an ever-changing world.
Freedom, love, travel, they push me
Forward in time.
Like a train derailed
The trials and tribulations of teenager-dom
Are giving me an exhilarating ride.
Memoir
Adolescence
Revolution
Journey
Austria
Nostalgia
East
- "Yes…but…when you run, your behind makes movements that are…how do you say…obscene."… "Well then don’t look at my ass!"(147)
- "How much? How much?"… "Fuck you! Son of a bitch!"(166)
- "We have two babies! We have to stock up on powdered mil and diapers."(167)
- "A first marriage is a dry run for the second. You’ll be more satisfied the next time. In the meantime, if you’re crying so much, maybe it mean that you still love him! There’s no reason you have to tell him everything right away."(179)
- "If a guy kills ten women in the presence of fifteen others, no one can condemn him because in a murder case, we women, we can’t even testify!"(183)
- "Is religion defending our physical integrity or is it just opposed to fashion?"(143)
- "It was like a bad American movie. One of those films where the surprised man wraps himself in a sheet and out of modesty says: ‘Wait, I can explain everything.’"(78)
- "Ah, there you are! I lost my brooch. I’m sure that you’re the one who took it."(79)
- "Anyway, her parents clearly don’t care about her, or they wouldn’t have sent her alone."(42)
- "Her Tyrolean Austrian father wore pants made of leather, Her Tyrolean Italian mother had a mustache. Only her sister reminded me of Heidi."(17)
- "An eccentric, a puck, two orphans, and a third-worlder, we made quite a group of friends."(13)
- "It had been four years since I’d seen such a well-stocked store."(6)
- "But what in the world can this mean? She hates fruit yogurt."(25)
- "It’s true what they say about Iranians. They have no education."(23)
- It’s true what they about you, too. You were all prostitutes before becoming nuns!"(23)
An illustrator that is arrested for drawing a bearded man. Marjane and Gila, the magazine’s illustrator paid him a visit. He represents a typical Iranian man, arrogant, and controlling of his wife. Mandana, his wife, is constantly interrupted by Bahzad, which disgusts Marjane.
Marjane described her as funny. Shouka parties with her and is later caught by the government’s bearded men.
One of Marjane’s friends who has gorgeous green eyes. Niyoosha went to art school in Iran with Marjane. She frequently goes to parties. They get caught by the government’s bearded men and their parents have to pay to get them out of prison.
Marjane’s childhood friend. She goes to his apartment in Iran and is very surprised. He is in a wheelchair. He was a soldier during the Iranian revolution and he has suffered an injury. He represents a hopeful person who ends up moving to the United States. He hopes eventually, to have his arm and leg repaired.
They represent women who live in resentment of the Iranian government. They do this by dressing up like the American women they view on television. They are just like Momo and Marjane’s Austrian friends, except they are living in the Eastern world trying to figure out what it is like in the West.
Markus is Marjane’s first true love. He represents someone who takes advantage of her as an Iranian. For example, he has Marjane buy drugs for him so he will not get caught. Markus waits in the car while Marjane purchases the drugs. One day Marjane plans to go to Graz but misses her train. She swings by Markus’s house and finds him with another woman. This proves to Marjane that Markus is an immoral and untrustworthy person.
Marjane’s first boyfriend. Enique is half-Spanish and half-Austrian. Marjane’s most memorable experience with him is when he invites her to an Anarchist party. Marjane is disappointed, they end up playing hide and seek, and volleyball. Enique later admits to Marjane that he is gay. She is saddened, thinking that she is responsible for him becoming gay.
Marjane stays with Frau Doctor Heller while in Austria. Marjane’s mother had found a room for rent at Frau Doctor Heller’s. Marjane describes her, as a fat lady whom she despises and makes tea that tastes like horse piss. She represents an irresponsible person in Marjane’s eyes partly because she lets her dog poop on Marjane’s bed. Frau Doctor Heller accuses Marjane of being a prostitute and of stealing her broach. Marjane leaves Doctor Heller’s after she accuses her of this crime.
Julie’s mother. She is much more like Marjane than Julie. She represents an well-educated woman who knows a lot about politics. She is very similar to Marjane’s father in Iran.
Marjane’s friend, she is a foil of her in the novel. After Marjane is kicked out of the boarding house she stays with her. She talks about sleeping with men rather than focusing on her studies like Marjane. She represents a European woman whom Marjane at first admires. The night of Julie’s party Marjane begins to think differently.
Momo is one of Marjane’s friends whom she meets while living in Austria. He is morbid, fascinated by the concept of death and loves to hear stories about what Marjane experienced during the war in Iran. He never experiences the horrors of war and death itself. He is a Westerner that has no knowledge of the Eastern world in Marjane’s eyes.
Lucia is Marjane’s roommate. They meet at a boarding house in Vienna. At first, Marjane disapproves of the way that Lucia behaves. For example, Lucia uses her very loud hair drier while Marjane is trying to sleep. Over Christmas break Lucia knows that Marjane had no where to go. She invites her to spend some time with her and her family in Tyrol, in Southwestern Austria. Marjane experiences Austrian alpine culture and has one of the best experiences during her stay in Austria. Lucia becomes a true friend.
Marjane meets Reza at a party and they began to go out. When they were in public they were sad because they could not show each other affection. They decide to get married quickly so that they would have more freedom to do things together. After the marriage they had frequent arguments. They were assigned a final art project to do together. Marjane thought the project would improve their relationship. After they complete the project Marjane chooses to get a divorce from Reza and leaves for France. Reza represents an arrogant man. People think he is attractive. Marjane fell for Reza because of his looks.
Marjane’s grandma has the most impact of anyone on Marjane. She talks to her about how corrupt Iran was when she was little and how she wanted to live a life of freedom. When Marjane moves back to Tehran she is most excited about seeing her grandmother. Towards the end of the novel her grandma is upset at her for reporting a man whom she claimed was calling her abusive names, but really was not. Marjane’s grandma is a woman with a strong heart and tries to steer Marjane away from Iranian culture throughout her life.
Marjane’s mother. She comes into the story when she visits Marjane in Vienna. Mrs. Strapi says that she could hardly recognize Marjane since she has grown so much taller. Mrs. Strapi and Marjane are similar; this becomes apparent when they are in Vienna together. Mrs. Strapi is opposed to wearing her veil in Iran and favors the European culture to the Iranian.
Marjane’s father. He does not come into the book until Marjane has moved back to Tehran. He represents someone who is standing up for a new Iran. He tells Marjane stories about the war that she has missed while she has been in Austria. He also explains to her what Iran is like now and the things that she should be aware of. An example is the fact that you can not kiss someone in public unless you are married to them.
Marjane is the narrator of the story, as well as the author and the protagonist of the novel. In her first novel Marjane leaves Iran for Austria to escape the miseries of the war. She studies at a high school devoted to the French language in Vienna. She has many interesting experiences while in Vienna. She moves frequently to many different places. In Vienna Marjane meets different types of people and gains a firsthand experience of Western culture. Marjane also gets to experience what people in Europe think of Iranians and others from the Middle East. Marjane grows extremely homesick, after four years in Austria, she moves back to Iran. She loves seeing her parents again, but misses some parts of Western civilization. She feels that she does not have the freedom that she has had in Austria. She hates to wear a long veil in public and she considers Iranian men to be very arrogant. By the end of the novel she has had enough of the East and decides to move to France, where she will study in Strasbourg.
Alec Parry
Mrs. Sherwood
Period 2
19 February, 2011
Persepolis 2
Imagine being a teenage girl in a war torn sexist country. Your only salvation is to leave to a far away land. Marjane Strapi wrote the novel Persepolis 2 as an autobiography. Marjane describes her life as an Iranian teenager living in Vienna. The novel goes in to depth describing the kind of people that Marjane met while she was in Austria. The reader then gets a look at Marjane’s life when she moves back to Iran. A poignant picture is painted of the differences between society in Iran as compared to Europe. Marjane has many great conversations in the novel with her parents and her grandmother about the war that tore Iran apart while she was in Austria. The novel describes what Iran was like after the war with Iraq and the Iranian revolution. We get a glimpse of Tehran and how it looked after the war. There are splendid examples of Iranian culture and the strict laws that were bestowed upon women. The book is eccentric and a lively read for anyone above the age of fifteen whom desires to learn about the Iranian revolution while reading a graphic novel.
Marjane Strapi’s scenes in the book brilliantly describe what life is like in Iran. The novel is keen, easy to understand, and thought provoking. It is comically graphic with many funny scenes depicting the struggles of women in Iranian culture. A spirited quote from the novel that represents this is, "Yes…but…when you run, your behind makes movements that are…how you say…obscene!" Marjane then responded, "Well then don’t look at my ass!" This depicts how men dominate Iranian society while providing a humorous context. The graphics are marvelous and make the book captivating. Many scenes in the novel masterfully illustrate the trials and tribulations teenagers’ face including sex, drugs, peer pressure, and change.
Readers will enjoy Persepolis 2. It is the story of Marjane Strapi’s life, a teenager during the Iranian Revolution. Teenagers and adults will relate to this superb first-rate and insightful novel. Persepolis 2 is a must read.
Book’s Rating: J J J J Book Review
