Negative Portrayal

Marjane Satrapi’s Persepolis draws an interesting analysis of the identity and culture by depicting the perspective of young Iranian girl. Because of the unfamiliar culture that was forced upon her, Marjane struggles to adapt herself into different identity. And her struggles and her perspective as a distinctive Iranian girl portray the western culture with negative image. In Iran, Marjane depicts the western culture as a symbol of resistance, freedom, and fashion. As a typical Iranian girl in Iran, the western culture is what differentiates Marjane from others. But as she goes to Austria, the portrayal of the western culture dramatically shifts.

In Austria, what differentiates Marjane from others in Iran becomes ordinary, but the factors that are ordinary in Iran become what differentiate Marjane from others in Austria. The symbol of resistance, freedom, and fashion changes to the symbol of commonness in Austria. Since Marjane cannot find another way to accept the western culture in Austria, the western culture becomes unfamiliar, which is shown through the change of atmosphere in the book. As she grows, the unfamiliarity of the western culture overwhelms her and puts her into a serious dilemma. And the dilemma ultimately results Marjane to draw the western culture with negative conception since she remembers more hardships in Austria than comfort.

If her experience in Austria was more enjoyable, the negative image of western culture that Marjane depicts might be drawn with more positive atmosphere.