The life of young Marjane Satrapi through her own eyes- Persepolis

Ok, now let me ask you a few questions, if you were to describe your life, how would you do it?

What events would be more important to you? What events would you focus on, majorly?

What did you went through in your life event? These and many more questions were running around in Marjane Satrapi’s mind, while penning down her life history (or autobiography, as it is commonly called).

The beautiful journey of little Marjana Satrapi

The beautiful piece of work, has been published in four volumes 2000 and 2003, we can clearly see the world through her eyes. From her excited childhood days to growing up stage, in Iran, her battle to fit herself during her days in Europe to her troublesome days in returning back home.

Now, just take a moment to think. If you were to start narrating it in sequence, you might get vague ideas, as to what happened when, you might not be able to clearly remember, exactly what happened. Isn’t it true that pictures speak a lot, what words, also fail to say, many a times? What the author here, has tried to do is also the same. She has used images in such a nice way to communicate her messages along with texts, is very good. The cartoon format, used by her, also tries to transfer her messages in a different way.

Overview

She begins her publication, telling us the story when she was 10 years old. The year after the Iranian revolution took place; her family is shown to be non religious, Marji is asked to wear a veil (at all times) and only then leave house, the school she goes to is a girls – only school. She’s quite freeing spirited and insightful, but, at this tender age, it’s a bit difficult for her also to understand, what is going around her. She clearly gives us her perspectives of looking at things, be it her country, the glorious past and beautiful present of Persia... We can see it all.

Family comes first

She gets her family’s support at every step of her life (just like our families support us). Everyday violence was a regular thing. She has a uncle, whom she adores very much, uncle Anoosh, he is mostly out and when he returns, Maji comes to know of the fact that he has been fighting as rebel, all these years and also has been imprisoned. Later on Majri, narrates that the country, has started becoming more and more religious. One day, Majri’s mother went out and comes back home, terrified, because she wasn’t wearing any veil, so people started threatening her. Iraq and Tehran start throwing bombs at each other. Her family has to spend some time in a bomb shelter. It really is very terrifying and horrific, one of their neighboring Jewish family, passed away in the attack. Marji, now grown up, is trying to behave like a normal teenager. She is fond of hard rock music, American clothing, but her parents get scared after seeing her wearing one of the outfits. Worried about Marji’s disobedient life style, her parents decide that Marji will be going to Austria for attending a new school, all by her. She is being helped by her loving grandmother in packing her stuff, she also asks Marji never to forget her roots and remain the way she has been all this time.

While in Vienna (Germany), Marji lives with her family friends, Zozo and her little daughter Shirin, but she can’t possibly adjust to their lifestyle, so she plans of shifting to a boarding house, which is owned by nuns, there. One of the Nun’s says rude things about her being Iranian; Marji quickly bites onto her and flees from there. She then goes to stay with Julie and her broad minded mother. Europe, more or less starts puzzling Marji, she possibly cannot digest that why teenagers (or children in general), cannot respect their parents, their children openly talk about s**.

Life goes on with its up’s and down’s

And now, time again flies by and this young teenager who was once a little girl has all grown up, again and turned into a pretty young lady. She wants to do different things, things which used to anger her when she came, she wants to do them (yes, it’s s**, only I am trying to talk about). And man she does try doing it, not just that, she also starts selling drugs. She is cheated on by her boyfriend, and in misery, she starts to live on the streets. She is later admitted to hospital with a case of bronchitis, then her family longs for her, so they try bringing her back.

Now, god has given her one more chance to re live her life, once again. Her friends also find out ways to get tuned to new lifestyle, but she can’t possibly see herself in there. With all the pain, carrying inside her, she tries killing herself (but god had other plans for her). After surviving, she decides to change herself, so much so that she can. Whole new look, from head to toe, she goes shopping buying nearly a whole new wardrobe for herself, new hairdo, attitude, which speaks for it. Not just that, she decides to teach in school, so enrolls herself as an aerobics teacher and also starts dating Reza, if this wasn’t enough, also joins Art classes. During this time, both she and Reza have heated arguments with the cops, who keep warning them, against meeting, until they get married. They do get married but on the verge of not staying happy. Hence, they decide to go on their ways, Marji’s grandmother , who has always been her support system helps her in every way she could, also confusing that she herself has gone through this.

After going through so many ups and downs, Marji, again wishes to live on her own, so that she can live the life she wants to. Again, bidding good bye to her family, the parting (as we all know, is always bitter sweet). So was her, also.

For all those who wish to read the book, go and get yourself one, others, who wish to do it sitting at home and read it on laptop, tablet, then please Download Persepolis The Story of a Childhood PDF eBook. Enjoy reading it. 

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