In our most recent grammar lesson, we expanded our understanding of nouns as "stuff" that can be classified as people, places, things, and ideas to include qualities, quantities, and emotions. For this blog post, identify two nouns in the first two chapters of Persepolis. Then, write an analytical paragraph in which you explore how these two nouns work together to create or explore a theme in the graphic novel.
As always, be sure that you support your ideas with evidence from the text. Also, continue to work on varying your sentence structure.
My two nouns for the first two chapters are: bicycle and revolution. These two nouns work together to create many reoccurring themes in the novel. On page 10, Marjane says, "the revolution is like a bicycle, when the wheels don't turn, it falls." Transition, instability, and juxtaposition are all themes that come into play during the first two chapters. I feel that the nouns I chose (bike, and revolution) and how they are used together fit into these themes perfectly. Iran is in transition at this time due to the revolution occurring, and this causes instability. Additionally, the revolution is taking its force and putting it directly against the main problem at hand, demonstrating one of the major types of juxtaposition in the novel. The way that bicycle and revolution are used by Marjane also demonstrate that she, herself, is transitioning to a different thought process. Before this, she was viewing things in a more religious way and always turning to God, whereas now, the reader sees her starting to change her mindset towards the revolution.
ReplyDeleteMy two nouns are decadence and veil. These two nouns play a major role in creating the theme of being stuck between two worlds. The veil represents religion and decadence represents the view of the west at the time. Satrapi uses decadence when the Sha is describing the outlawing of bilingual schools, “They are symbols of Capitalism. Of decadence.” (Satrapi pg 4.) Since Marjane believes the Sha is the word of god, and the Sha denounces the west i.e. ‘modernism’, she feels torn between two worlds. This has been a major theme, so far, throughout the novel. Many times throughout the book Satrapi, through text or imagery, separates modernism and religion. This happens on page 6 with an image in the first text box. This image shows Marjane, with one-half of her body with a veil and religious symbols, and the other half of her without the veil and with images of things representing modernism, such as gears and rulers. The veil is a major word that represents her religious side. This thing, when worn, shows to the world your faith. Marjane feels she needs to wear this veil in order to be true to her faith.
ReplyDeleteMy two nouns: veil & revolution. These nouns represent the two main themes in Persepolis. The veil represents her core religious beliefs. On page one, she wears her veil because she wants to respect god. The problem with this is that she had a modernist family, who didn't beleive in the veil, and were fighting for freedom. Her parents were part of the revolution for modernism. This theme is reflected in an illustration on page 6. A decision has to made between modernism and this looks like this decision is going to be carried through the entire book.
ReplyDeleteMy two nouns are god and revolution. In Persepolis god and revolution are linked, since the revolution is powered by religion. The people participation in the revolution are unhappy with the westernized shah. The revolutionary's main goal is ultimately to incorporate Islam into the state. This represents the main theme of the government intervening with religion. The west (America and Britain) is largely based off the separation of the church and the state. America in particular was based off this principle. This principle is linked with democracy since a democracy wouldn't work with a religion interfering with elections. This is very different from what the revolutionary's in the book want. The revolutionary's argue for a more authoritarian approach such as enforcing the veil.
ReplyDeleteMy nouns are veil and freedom. These two nouns work together to create one of the main themes in the text: wether Iranian women should be free and respected, or wear veils and be submissive. Although the veil psychically doesn't change anything about a person, the ideas behind it are what matter. The idea of veils changes people's views on women, and makes it so that women cannot go to school with boys or have real jobs. The text even shows this in the picture where boys and girls are being separated in their schools. Freedom, on the other hand, allows women to be appreciated as people, and also have jobs. Although currently Marjane seems to prefer the veil, I feel this is just because she doesn't understand it, and when she does, she will support the revolution for a reason other than just her parents being involved.
ReplyDeleteMy two nouns are "separation" and "veil." These two go together because the veil is what causes their separation. Marjane says that their school had always been non-relgious, but when they were forced to wear the veil, boys and girls were separated. On page 4, Marjane says, "We found ourself veiled and separated from our friends. These kids don't even know why they have to wear this veil, but it is affecting their lives nevertheless. Also the veil causes separation on the streets. People fight for, and against the veil, causing two groups to emerge. This is another form of separation due to the veil, because it is tearing their society into two halves, each fighting for their own views.
ReplyDeleteMy two nouns are veil and Marjane. These two nouns both contribute to the story, Persepolis. I chose Marjane because she is the main protagonist. This book is about her experience throughout the revolution. My second noun is veil. I chose this because it represents how religious and close to God Marjane is. Marjane is not sure how she feels about the veil. The religious part of her thinks that it is right to wear the veil. By wearing the veil you are respecting God. The other half, her modern self, does not thinks she should wear it. On page 6 it reads, “I really don’t know what to think about the veil. Deep down I was very religious but as a family we were very modern and avant-garde.” These two nouns will be brought up as the book continues because they are such a big role. They will help shape the story and make it the experience that it was.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteMy two nouns are religion and veil. Although in the novel they seem to allude to the same thing, I believe that "veil" and "religion" in the context of chapter 2 actually oppose each other and create a theme that will be further explored as the revolution goes on. At the beginning of the novel, Marji does not feel like religion and modernity are incompatible, as her "commandment" "everyone should have a car" shows. But as the revolution progresses, the definition of religion becomes deeper. There is the repressive religion imposed by the government (represented by the veil) but also a personal, heartfelt religion like Marji's relationship with God. I would go so far as to say that the government's attempts to force religion onto the citizens (ex. veil) cause Marjane and others to lose their religion, like on page 17 when she becomes conflicted between the forced religion/veil and her own, heartfelt religion. This theme, rather than polarizing "modernity v. religion" as two different "sides", depicts the government-enforced religion at variance with the people's genuine religious feeling. I think this disagreement will develop as the revolution progresses.
ReplyDelete