Gamban 5
Amanda Gamban
Professor Knapp
English 1A
24 March 2013
Rhetorical
Analysis: Persepolis
Marjane Satrapi the author of the
graphic novel Persepolis also wrote, Embroideries, Chicken with Plums, Monsters are afraid of the Moon, and The sign all have a cultural influence
of Iran. In her novel Persepolis she
wants to inform people of how life was like in Iran from 1980 to now. Her
audience is intended for people who have misconceptions and misunderstandings
about Iran, such at the United States and most western societies. Due to
western societies seeing Iran only as a threat of terrorism, backwards society,
and a rich environment of oil. This novel gives us an understanding of how the
Iranian people actually are and the hardship and struggles they have been
through.
In the novel the text demonstrates
how Satrapi wants the reader to easily interpret her story. The type of character
you see in the text throughout the novel is simple but informative by getting
the point across. Along side the text is the type of tone Satrapi has throughout
as well. She displays a mostly humorous, educational, and very serious tone as
she tells us the events of her life. In the beginning of the novel is her tone
more naïve and young as she is just starting to learn and experience the
beginning of the revolution. Then what happens through the rest of the novel
her tone is more aggressive and rebellious as she grows up learns the true
facts and experiences many heartbreaking events.
What Satrapi is trying to accomplish in the
story is to give the reader the truth of what happened during her
childhood. Persepolis gives us a first hand view of how the not only the
Revolution from the Shah, but the Cultural Revolution and the Iraq Invasion on
Iran. This novel not only informs us the history about the events that occurred
but how it affected the Iranian people. This story shows us that the people had
no say against the new Islamic Revolution and the affects of the war. Satrapi
explains not only what occurred physically but emotionally as well, by giving
us opinions of her family, friends, and herself. Such as having strong opinion
against the Islamic Revolution and the new government they enforced. Satrapi’s
states in class when she was fourteen, “ You say that we don’t have political
prisoners anymore. But we’ve gone from 3000 prisoners’ under the shah to
300,000 under the regime. How dare you lie to us like that?”(144). Her tone of
her voice as she grows up becomes louder and more rebellious as well.
In Persepolis Satrapi arranges the novel in a way that anyone after
reading this remarkable story of her childhood you will have a better and new
understanding of Iran. Every chapter within her story emphasized on the
importance of learning the truth and experiences that the people of Iran had to
face. Seeing these events through her eyes gives us different and more engaging
perspective to the reader rather than learning it from a history book. Also by
presenting a visual image with her text gives the reader an advantage of
understanding the complex story of Iran’s History. The images are a significantly
important part of giving the reader a clear and new view of Iran’s turmoil and
struggle for a normal society. Satrapi emphasizes on the reality of Iran and
does a remarkable job getting it across to any reader.
Nice job! I like how you clearly define the audience, purpose and message. Your analysis of tone is very interesting in that it points out the change in the character as she grows up. What I like about this characterization is that despite the chaos and violence surrounding this child, we can all relate to her very human and universal qualities. I certainly can relate to her outspoken rebellious tone as a teenager, which you explain here. Thanks for a thorough and interesting RA post!
ReplyDeleteMLA STYLE COMMENT: move that period over to after the in-text citation (117).
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