A Theme of Loss of Innocence in Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi

In Persepolis, Marjane Satrapi uses symbolism to illustrate a central theme for the loss of innocence created by the Iranian revolution. It is commonly stated that writers compositions are an insight into their lives. The author conveys her view on the struggles that Muslims, revolutionists and children dealt with through these horrific times. She demonstrates that these conflicts have led the younger generation of Iranian children to be forced into adulthood because of the oppression they face. Specific moments in Marjane's life demanded her to become part of adult society in a way that she was not ready at such a young age. Her childhood circumstances have shaped who she is as an adult and without them she would be living a radically different life.

The army began to recruiting at risk young boys who lived in poverty at the age of just fourteen, to increase the size of their army. Fourteen year olds are still considered minors and realistically not mentally prepared to be part of the military. These young boys were many times tricked into joining the army not because they wanted to but because they fell to the cunningness of their elders. The boys and young mens should have been allowed to develop before committing their lives to a world of violence. On page 100, Mrs. Nasrine, who was Satrapi’s maid reveals to her, “They told him that in paradise there will be plenty of food, women and houses made of gold and diamonds”. “The key to paradise was for the poor people...Thousands of young kids...Exploded on the minefields with their keys around their necks. ”The regime created a false sense of hope for the boys by giving them keys painted gold that were supposed to keep with them at all times. The boys were told that if they ever died in battle this key would be their way into heaven; as long as they had this on them they would have a better life than the one they had living in poverty. The young boys are forced to mature at an age where they should be experiencing new things, meeting friends and forming bonds with one another. “Its nuts! They hypnotize then and just toss then into battle. Absolute carnage.” Children at the time were thrown into situations that they were not ready for. Their exposure to profane, vulgar and inhumane acts of violence would become an everlasting part of their lives that they would never be able to forget. Never being able to enjoy life from the eyes of a child meant that they became subject to PTSD and other effects of the things experienced at war. These specific cases became engraved in the minds of the people that were to be the future. As a result of all the hatred that had become a custom in Iran parents of young children had started making the hard decision to send their kids away. Each family had their own reasons to send away their child hoping that whatever life they would find would better then the one they had at home.

Marjane was trained to respect what she was told and to listen to her elders, however her curious mind led her to think about what it would be like to rebel against the regemies beliefs. She believed that one day she could be the first to do something great, “At the age of six I was sure I was the last prophet.” (6). Iranian culture clearly stated that no woman could ever become a political leader nonetheless a priest, yet this would not stop her. As she watched what her parents did day in and day out, as they fighting for what they believed in she found the courage to gain the strength that no one would give her and speak up and tell the truth. She wanted to make sure that the world knew the truth and one step at a time she educated people when no one else would. She hoped to changed the views of many even if it meant standing up to the very people who told her she was worthless. Marjane began to morph into the role that would normally be given to an adult, one where the truth was always spoken, “You say that we don’t have political prisoners anymore, but we’ve gone from 3000 prisoners under the shah to 300,000 under your regime… How dare you lie to us like that.” Marjane uses the voice she has gained from implanting herself in adulthood to call out discrepancies in school. She knows that she will get in trouble for her actions but if the adults are the ones lying in the first place who else is there to tell the truth. She has taken it upon herself to become an adult and leave her childish ways behind her in an act to spread the hidden truth. Marjane wants to bring change to the oppressed, by enlightening them with the realities of life instead of watching them suffer due to the myths they are taught to believe.

The first time Marjane asserted her transition to adulthood is when she rebelled against her parents after they told her she could not go out. She found this to be demeaning and them telling her she was not mature enough to make her own life choices. In an act of assertion she, “As for me, I sealed my act of rebellion against my mother’s dictatorship by smoking the cigarette I’d stolen from my uncle two weeks earlier.” Her mother made it clear she could not go and have fun during school days, the same school days that they were fighting against. Growing up Marjane was always told that adulthood was a time to have fun and express yourself; as she was an adult in her mind, she should have been free to do as she wished. Marjane had done everything an adult would, speak up for what was right, ask questions, take part in society but yet she still had not met the standards. The smoking of the cigarette was her declaration that she was no longer a child, this act proved she was indeed an adult. It symbolized the braking of a great barrier between her childhood days and who she had become, a aspiring young woman.

Throughout the novel Satrapi uses symbolism to demonstrate the conspicuous reality that boys and girls were being forced into adulthood. As a result of the oppressive regime in Iran boys were being involuntarily joining the army, while girls were losing their birth given rights. The education system became stricker and the focus of their learning was centered around G-D and not the truth. Lives were altered, boys were forced to become men and girl were forced to become women. Persepolis is a perfect example of the overarching power that elders have on children.