Persepolis: The Story of a Return Review

by Snow Drift

 

Persepolis, an autobiographical graphic novel by Marjane Satrapi and originally published by the French comic book publisher L’Association, concentrated on Satrapi’s life during the Islamic revolution in Iran and later its war against Iraq. Previously, I had reviewed the first English volume of the series: Persepolis: The Story of a Childhood; however, it is my pleasure to present my review of Persepolis 2: The Story of a Return. 

While the first book centered itself on the injustice, repression, and violence in Iran and how this affected the growth of Satrapi in an episodic manner; the second graphic novel concentrates on Satrapi’s personal life in her years away from her home country. However, this does not mean that Iran and Satrapi’s family did not influence her during her teenage years and early adulthood. Persepolis 2: The Story of a Return gives a more personal and intimate factor to Satrapi that indirectly, in one way or another, involves Iran. 

Persepolis 2: The Story of a Return blossoms from Satrapi having to live in Austria as a foreigner. Adolescence settles into Satrapi’s life and puzzling terms like her identity and sexuality linger in the background. It is during these years that teenagers feel the most vulnerable, for they become extremely aware of the social structure surrounding them, and the need to be accepted by friends and family arises. Satrapi was no different. She felt inadequate with herself. Satrapi wished to belong, but the constant discrimination and racist remarks thrown at her did not help her self-esteem.

Marjane Satrapi, struggling against peer pressure and in the pursuit of love, had to endure suffering in the form of insufficiency. Away from any familiar consolation, Satrapi had to withstand isolated, which led her to a more independent and introverted lifestyle. She was forced to live a life frustrated and angry at the injustice in the world. And it is because of her social conscience that Satrapi got involved in the Iranian Society, instead of just being an observer; not only does she become a voice against the atrocities happening in Ian, but an active agent.        

  During her teenage years, friendship, romance and parenthood become important aspects of Satrapi’s life. They are a glimpse on how the world works and how she, as an individual, fits into the world. Readers are given the chance to witness Satrapi’s jealousy, depression, anger, and happiness throughout her interactions. Satrapi slowly begins to understand the differences between people and the characteristics that make their actions either praise-worthy or shameful. But above all the injustices, prejudice, and racism, be it in Iran or in Austria, there is a clear message: the importance of family and the need to have someone in one’s life that will always support them and be at their side when they need help. In Satrapi’s cause, it was her grandmother.

Just like its predecessor, Persepolis: The Story of a Childhood, the art, dialogue, and narrative form truly shine. There is simplicity to Marjane’s style that permits the readers to concentrate on the characters themselves rather than getting distracted by detailed visuals and spiffy wording. While other art styles would have emphasized certain physical characteristics, Satrapi satisfies herself with just simple clues. The hairstyle, body type and facial structure, along with each character’s respective clothing, are enough to evoke the author’s perception of them. This minimalism also works with the gore and horror imagery that is also included in this volume. There is no necessity to portray with great detail the stump of a missing arm, the near-nakedness of a couple, or the aging of a woman; what is necessary for the reader is to understand, through the narration of the protagonist and each character’s facial expressions, the feeling of a scene.

But beyond the artsy layer, there is a new topic: sex. As Satrapi grows older, she is exposed to the sexual aspect in her life and those that surround her. Furthermore, when Satrapi returns to Iran, a world of veiled adult women, she successfully portrays these women as diverse, in body and facial structure, without needing to see beyond their veils.

The scenes presented in Persepolis 2: The Story of a Return are crucial to Satrapi’s growth and to the reader’s perception of her. All that she says, all that she perceives, is what changes her and molds her into who she must become. Through her strife and suffering, Marjane Satrapi experienced a life that when portrayed in a graphic novel has given the public a glimpse of Iranian society. She is, and always will be, an Iranian woman who, no matter what happens during her life—be it good or bad—, will always be proud of her heritage.

Comic Review: Persepolis: the Story of a Childhood

 By Snow Drift

Persepolis is written by Marjane Satrapi and originally published by French comic book publisher L’Association in four volumes between the years 2000 and 2003. The comic is the autobiographical graphic novel of the author’s life, first during the Islamic revolution in Iran, and later during Iran’s war against Iraq. I’ll be dividing these reviews according to the two-volume version, published by Random House: Persepolis: the Story of a Childhood and Persepolis 2: The Story of a Return. 

A particularly fascinating aspect of the graphic novel is its art style. It’s very simplistic, with basic use of black and white and avoiding any aspect of natural shading or lightening. However, the way that Satrapi implements this style is enough to express the emotional narrative of each scene. The cartoonish style gives Satrapi the opportunity to portray comedic scenes with exaggerated facial expressions or physical movements, sentimental and gentle ones with a simplistic visual imagery of emotional responses, and horrific ones as well. The lack of blood and gore helps the reader prioritize the person itself. It’s within these fundamental aspects of the drawings, where the author avoids displaying background details, which helps the reader pay attention to the main events and characters of the scenes. Satrapi avoids distractions, putting her message front and center for all of the readers of her work. 

The narrative style and the dialogue are major factors in the plot of the graphic novel. Each chapter is made to demonstrate the development of the characters and of Iran. It’s straight to the point, avoiding distractions to the story. Random events in the author’s life, even if they had an impact on her, are not a priority to the narrative of the story. Like its art style, the story has no subtly, symbolism, or metaphorical aspects to it; Satrapi wants the reader clearly see the conditions of her life and of her country. Its content is raw and the dialogue was written in just the right way to not only demonstrate simply the point of the characters’ messages, but to also distinguish each character as unique. Just like the art, there is no decorative aspect to the plot. 

Although this is an autobiographical graphic novel, Satrapi doesn’t entirely concentrate on herself. The story also explores her family and Iran. Her uncle Anoosh, her grandfather, and even her maid Mehri are not only influences in the author’s development, but they are also their own people, demonstrating the horror, injustices, and repression of Iran’s society during the 1980s. The pasts of the country and of the individuals, play an important role in Iran’s current state of affairs, and of Satrapi, who grew up with a historical, religious, political, and societal baggage on her shoulders, which is further explored in her second book, Persepolis 2: The Story of a Return. Since Satrapi is a child for most of the first book, she perceived the world as a child would. Everything seemed black and white, good and evil easily discernible. However, the horrors she witnesses will lead her to understand that the world is made of shades of grey, and that good people don’t always triumph. By the end of this first book, Satrapi has a keen understanding of what is true injustice and suffering, and won’t merely repeat what other adults tell her about Iran and the world.

Persepolis: the Story of a Childhood successfully portrays groundwork from which Satrapi had to stand on during a time that should’ve been of innocence. The heavy political and horror-filled atmosphere that she lived through will follow her throughout her life, especially when she confronts other cultures and their prejudiced view of her culture.