Timeline of Persepolis - Aya & Sophie by Aya Safa

1 - The Imposition of the Veil.

ayalsafa — 2024-03-02 20:27:26 UTC

ayalsafa — 2024-03-03 09:47:11 UTC

These images provide a glimpse into how Iranian women struggled during the fundamentalist regime.

ayalsafa — 2024-03-03 09:48:39 UTC

ayalsafa — 2024-03-03 09:53:40 UTC

During this era, many women stood up for themselves. A prominent character that strongly reflected such a mindset was Marji's grandma and mother.

ayalsafa — 2024-03-03 09:56:03 UTC

Even though this is from Persepolis it perfectly represents the opposing mindsets between women in Iran.

2 - Demonstration & Revolutions

ayalsafa — 2024-03-03 10:01:18 UTC

A key event that Satrapi illustrates is the Iranian Revolution whereby the citizens aim to overthrow the Shah.

ayalsafa — 2024-03-03 10:03:48 UTC

Bicycle as a symbol if the revolution

ayalsafa — 2024-03-03 11:16:31 UTC

In chapter 2, Marji interprets the meaning of the revolution and links to the bicycle. The bicycle is a symbol of the revolution as she states that ‘when the wheels don’t work it falls.’ This indicates that if the whole nation isnt united, then the wheels won't turn and the revolution won't be successful. As Iran was an Islamic state, many citizens supported the idea of the veil which is why the population was not united. It is a reflection of Marji's high level of education, intellect, and curiosity.

3 - Identity Crisis

ayalsafa — 2024-03-03 11:17:16 UTC

I had two great obsessions: "Bring able to shave my legs and to become the last prophet in the galaxy." - Marjane Satrapi

ayalsafa — 2024-03-03 19:44:35 UTC

She wanted to be the first female prophet and she had her own holy book.

ayalsafa — 2024-03-03 19:45:35 UTC

She also wanted to stop her Grandmas pain.

ayalsafa — 2024-03-03 19:47:01 UTC

At the beginning she thought the Shah was good (because the school told her so)

ayalsafa — 2024-03-03 19:47:41 UTC

And then all of a sudden she got introduced to new ideas, and she wanted to be everything...

ayalsafa — 2024-03-03 19:48:45 UTC

She started loving books and Karl Marx

ayalsafa — 2024-03-03 19:49:08 UTC

She got introduced to new ideas like communism

ayalsafa — 2024-03-03 19:49:25 UTC

Slowly and slowly god started to disappear.

4. Maturity & Harsh Realities of Life

ayalsafa — 2024-03-03 19:55:11 UTC

She then started learning about the reality of life and how it isnt always gonna be full of rainbows. She was introduced to her family's history.

ayalsafa — 2024-03-03 19:58:33 UTC

Her grandfather was tortured by the Shah. He was in a water filled cell.

ayalsafa — 2024-03-03 19:59:27 UTC

Marji wanted to understand how it felt like so she stayed in the bathtub for hours. This is a crucial scene that depicts a point of maturity.

5. Uncle Anoosh as her hero

ayalsafa — 2024-03-03 20:00:45 UTC

He was a secret Russian spy who supported communism.

ayalsafa — 2024-03-03 20:01:47 UTC

Marji really looked up to him as a hero because he was in jail for 9 years. She views him as a hero because he stood up for what he believed in and went against the Shah.

ayalsafa — 2024-03-03 20:02:23 UTC

Communism became something that supported and stood by.

8. You cannot love outside your social class, you must love from within

ayalsafa — 2024-03-03 20:04:36 UTC

ayalsafa — 2024-03-03 20:06:06 UTC

Another major stepping stone in Marji's coming of age story. She realizes that one cannot love from outside their social class. She becomes infuriated and cannot comprehend why.

ayalsafa — 2024-03-03 20:07:42 UTC

Marji and Mehri both went to the demonstration. This is a reflection of Marji's mindset and how she strives for social equality and justice.

9. War: Iran vs Iraq

ayalsafa — 2024-03-03 20:10:52 UTC

War broke out in Iran as Iraq attacked Tehran. In this chapter Marji and her family live in a state of stress, chaos, and discomfort.

ayalsafa — 2024-03-03 20:11:19 UTC

10. The Cigarette

ayalsafa — 2024-03-03 20:12:55 UTC

This is her rebellious phase. This is also the chapter where she tells her parents that she is independent enough, she does not need them, and that she can make her own choices.

11. Challenging Societal Norms

ayalsafa — 2024-03-03 20:14:59 UTC

While her parents were away on a trip, she asked for a few things which were...

ayalsafa — 2024-03-03 20:16:00 UTC

Kim Wilde was her idol

ayalsafa — 2024-03-03 20:16:46 UTC

She got her nikes on, a Michael Jackson button WITH her headscarf.

ayalsafa — 2024-03-03 20:18:03 UTC

But if you look closely at her veil, it isn't placed on properly. This reflects that she aims to challenge societal norms. Not only does Marji show some of her hair but she also combines a jeans jacket and nike shoes with the veil. The female police caught her and pulled her veil back on.

12. Bye Bye Satrapi

ayalsafa — 2024-03-03 20:19:49 UTC

With things getting worse in Iran Marji's parents decided it would be best if she continued her education abroad in Lycee Francais de Vienne, a French school in Vienna, Austria.

ayalsafa — 2024-03-03 20:20:38 UTC

This was the "big decision" that Marjane had to take in the journey of her Bildungsroman.