Lesson 1 contradictions
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Marjane grows up in Iran during a time of political upheaval and contradictions. After the Shah is overthrown, her family sends contradictory messages by expressing anger at his atrocities but also wanting to raise Marjane to be loving. She notices these contradictions. Her parents give her books about Marx's vision of a classless society, yet they have an expensive car and maid who does not eat with them, illustrating other contradictions in her life. Satrapi uses flashbacks and storytelling to concisely establish Marjane's childhood in Iran leading up to the 1979 Islamic Revolution.
Lesson 1 contradictions
- 1. Starter questions: • How does life in Iran change at the start of the novel? • How does Marjane change as a result?
- 2. Persepolis, the story of a childhood Lesson 1: contradictions L.O. understanding the confusing world of Marjane’s childhood (pp1-47)
- 3. Contradictions: • Marjane’s family gives her contradictory messages during the period right after the Shah’s overthrow. On the one hand, they are clearly filled with anger at the atrocities he has perpetrated. On the other hand, as parents they want to raise their daughter to become a humane and loving person. This contradiction does not go unnoticed by their perceptive daughter.
- 4. YOUR TASK IS TO FIND MORE EXAMPLES OF CONTRADICTIONS IN MARJANE’S LIFE (like this one:) • Her parents give her books about Marx who believed in a classless society. • BUT they also have an expensive car and a maid who doesn’t eat with them…
- 5. The structure of this part of the text • Satrapi uses flashbacks and story telling to make us understand what (her) life was like in Iran until 1979 when the Islamic Revolution took place. • Through the use of images (in splashes especially) she can show us much of Iran’s history and her own life in just a few pages.
- 7. Historic events in splashes
- 8. Plenary • Discuss in pairs: • How does Marjane Satrapi set the scene & characterise herself and her family on the first pages of the novel?
Editor's Notes
- - Marjane is smart and educated (she hardly seems childish), but at the same time is childishly impressed with her grandfather being a prince (p.22) In Iran’s history: we read about 2500 years of submission (p.11). The revolution is meant to bring freedom, but brings yet more submission. Marjane’s parents claim they want a classless society, but the maid isn’t allowed to date the boy next door (p.37) Marjane is full of contradictions: she loves science but also believes in God (p.7) On page 43 dad says politics and sentiments don’t mix; the panels around it show clear sentiments about politics Marjane’s parents hate the Shah for killing people, but tell Marjane to forgive the Savak who killed people. Marjane’s parents demonstrate and dad even takes pics, but Marjane isn’t allowed to go because it is too dangerous. When Marjane demonstrates, mum is angry because of the danger, but the person that hurts Marjane is her mum (p. 39)-