Persepolis Reflection

Words: 2007
Pages: 9

Self-Reflection: How Family Relationships and Mirrors Shape Satrapi in Persepolis In Marjane Satrapi’s graphic memoir, The Complete Persepolis, Satrapi represents her experience growing up in Iran throughout the 1970s, 80s and 90s by taking the reader on a journey to explore her complex relationships with her family, which have shaped the young woman she is today. Using the graphic memoir form, Satrapi’s visual representation of relationships with her mother and grandmother illuminates a deeper understanding of what she has gone through to become the woman she is in the present day. While many other family relationships are important to Satrapi’s development, her mother and grandmother’s relationship with her is the most compelling and …show more content…
This representation of the non-existent gutter shows the closeness of Satrapi and her family members. During the lowest of lows in Satrapi’s life, she thinks of her mother and grandmother simultaneously because they drastically influence her. Whether her family is physically with her or not, they still influence her mental intuition. ? Why is this significant? Looking at Satrapi’s relationship with her mother, one can see the impact she has on Satrapi as she thinks about how she is presenting herself to others in her life. While Satrapi’s mother reprimands her when needed, she also forgives and even consoles her throughout the story. Both the reprimanding and the consoling affect Satrapi in different ways that ultimately create a stronger relationship with her mother. Marjane represents the relationships with her mother through reprehension and consolation. During a tension-filled time in the story, Satrapi and her friends talk about the Shah’s secret police, and Satrapi is astounded to hear they have caused millions of casualties (44). Ironically, one of Satrapi’s friends, Ramin, is the son of one of the Shah’s secret police officers. After learning about her