Chapter 1- The Veil

Chapter 1- The Veil

The title of the first chapter in Persepolis is “The Veil”. The title is important to the chapter because Marji shows how the veil affected her life. In 1980 (when she was 10 years old), Iranian girls and woman were obligated to wear the veil. Marji and her classmates didn’t like the veil because they didn’t understand why they had to wear it every day.

In this chapter, Marji first explains the effects of the Islamic regime and Cultural Revolution in Iran. As a result of this revolution, bilingual schools were closed because they were seen as symbols of capitalism and decadence. Furthermore, girls and boys were separated and girls were forced to wear the veil. Subsequently, Marji goes back to portray the 1979 demonstrations of the Islamic revolution. This was when Marji was still going to a coed French school.

A humorous part of the chapter is when Marji dreams of being a prophet when she grows up. It is very funny and entertaining to see how Marji views God as her best friend and companion. I can relate to Marji’s experience because when I was younger I wanted to be Jesus. My dream was to deliver the world from death and evil and bring only peace and love to the world.

Unfamiliar terms and people:

• Zarathustrian: It is also known as Zoroastrianism. This Persian religion was founded by Zarathustra (Persian) or Zoroaster. This is a strictly monotheistic religion. One of its fundamental principles is that people must choose to fight alongside with the forces of good led by the God Ahura Mazda or the forces of evil led by the God Ahriman.
• Norouz: This is the traditional Iranian (Persian) New Year Holiday.
• God: In this book, God is represented as a white figure with a long beard.

I think this picture is significant because it shows the depths of Marji’s faith. I chose it because it also expresses the principles and ideals she thinks are the most important in life.

• Marji wants to be “justice” in the world because she believes it is unfair that her maid who raised her doesn’t eat with her family and she is ashamed to ride in her dad’s luxurious car while other people are poor and have to walk many miles. Marji wishes to have fairness and equality in the world.
• She wants to be “love” because in a world with love, her good, kind grandma wouldn’t suffer because her knees always ached her.
• She also desires to be the wrath of God. She thinks God is not happy with the Islamic regime because it has brought lots of death and pain. She knows that God’s anger and fury can destroy evil things.

Sources:

• Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi
• Prentice Hall World Cultures Textbook

By Andy Reynolds