Persepolis is about Marjane Satrapi's accounts on what was happening during the time of the Islamic Revolution. I believe it is a sad story, humorous at times, but it's also touching, inspiring, and most definitely thought provoking. In fact, the novel, along with the film, has made me look at my own perceptions of the Middle East, its culture, and the people who live there. After finishing the novel, I have done some serious re-evaluation on the Middle Eastern culture, which I believe is the primary point of the novel. As Americans, we are completely unaware of the Iranian culture. Whenever one hears that someone is from the Middle East, or sees someone dressed with a veil, the thought of them being a terrorist enters the mind. Although it is wrong, it is something that has become natural defense to us after September 11th. I believe the underlying message in Satrapi’s novel is to re-evaluate her culture and show that not all the civilians agree with the war and what is going on.
It's strange to get a glimpse of life in a culture that seems so closed off from us, but that's exactly what Satrapi sets out to provide. She not only has the point of view of a native Iranian, but that of an outsider in Western culture, and it's that viewpoint which she tries to show. It's a chance for a Western audience to see beyond 'the veil' of Iranian culture and see the sorts of real people that live there, as well as a chance to view Western culture through the eyes of an outsider. The people depicted in Persepolis are basically the same sorts of people you'd find anywhere in the world, except with a veil on their head and more severe rules to abide by. It is, above everything else, a humanistic story, and I admire that she chose to write about her experience and share it with the world.
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