Persepolis..(blog 1)

Q: How does Satrapi go about challenging this myth? How does Persepolis dispel or confirm your views on Iran? In what ways does reading this book deepen your understanding and knowledge of Iran, and the current situation in Iraq?

I think Satrapi goes about challenging this myth about how Iran is not only a country of "fundamentalism, fanaticism, and terrorism" in a way that she points out that they have also suffered and have have problems thoughout their own history. For example how the Iranian people were massacred (their own people) and many died, even inosent people. She also demonstrates in her book that the Iranian people had to suffer many more other problems such as other countries like Iraq being their enemies and attacking the Iranian people and they have to survive and face that to keep living. Even though they were being attacked in their own country and not being save at all Marji kept living or trying to live her "normal" life..but it was hard for her. It was hard for her because she was confused on what to believe in because first she thought that the king was chosen by God but then her teachers told her he was not ..so she was confused and tryed her best to understand how the world she lives in works and the good from the bad..in a way Satrapi tries to demonstrate her point through a child and how the society she grows up in closes some doors and opens other doors...Well Persepolis basically shows me that Iran is a country like many others...they have to face wars and pass through difficult times. This book deepens my understanding and knowledge of Iran in many ways, basically historycally, the Islamic Revelution and how that affected the society. How the country gets along with other countries and how this has shaped this country and how this had affected the country today. Know I just don't have to be listening to the news and how Iran is doing this and doing that I can also think back to this book and see that there is more to that country then the news itself...

Q: "Every situation has an opprtunity for laughs." (p. 97). Give some examples of how the ordinafry citizens enjoyed life despite the oppressive regime. What made you laugh?( Ha Ha Ha!!..) How does Satrapi add comic relief. How are these scenes revelant to the story as a whole?..
Well there is this part that the family of Marji get together and have a party( which is forbiden..they might get punished ..and even killed..), but they still have the party with alcohol and wine. They have to do their own wine and the wine ( as well as other alcohols are forbidden..) but they still have fun and enjoy for the night with a little caution. Even though they are very careful to try not to make the authorities that they are having a party they ( Marji's family) still get cought by the authorities...but all they want is money..They also go to vacations and try to have a normal life as possible. A part that made me laugh so hard was this part that Marji and her friends had an idea (Marji's idea..) to put nails between their fingers "like american brass knuckles" and to attack Ramin..it was halarious ..the picture ..the kid that is behind the trees..scared ..it is just funny while Marji and her friends are shouting "Ramin! Ramin! Come out of hiding! Don't be a wimp...", and then the mom comes ..it is just funny for me..yeah. Satrapi had comic reliefs in moments that are important and after something big happens in some parts of the book. For example the part that I just talked about, when Marji and her friends put nails on their knuckles..this was after the celebration they had ..or when the devil had let..the king..There is also this part when Marji's dad came home very late and Marji's mom was very worried about him..but when he comes home he tells everyone what he saw and talks about how the widow also joined in to demonstrate..and then out of nowhere Marji laughs..even though she does not understand what the adults are laughing about..( that happened to me too..very saa story..). This scenes are relevent to the story as a whole because they add humor right after something big happens..something light after something heavy..it basically in a way balances the story..and gives it a unique characteristic...

Q: Disscuss the role and importance of religion in Persepolis. Hpw does religion define certal characters in the book, and affect thawya they interact with each other? Is the auothr making a social comenatry on rreligion, and in particular on fundamentalism? What do you think Satrapi is saying about religion's effect on the individual and society?.... Religion is very important in Persepolis..the whole book is basically about the Islamic Revolution and how that affected an individual and the society itself...It also affects how the religion defines certain characters in the novel. For example how the people the soldiers are in a way brain washed to do things they will never do and kill people..in away kind of like the Nazis did to the jews..(but they were another religion..). The society as a whole , they are it seems half, half because there are many people that do want to have it but there are also many people that do not want to have it...there are characters in the book that are very religious and are followers such as the teachers but there are also people that do not like it at all such as Marji's parents and all this demonstrations. Another example would be the way Marji acts with her teachers because all the things that has happened has made her who she is and now she is trying to do something about it by not listening to her teachers. Yes basically the author is making a social commentary to religion such as fundamentalism because that is the way of life and that is how things have becomed difficult in the novel. I think she is saying that the religion it self has affected many people and it has leaded to wars and many many deaths that should of not happened especially young children and how that has lead a difficul childhood for many young kids including herself...