Written with the intention to highlight the life of one Iranian girl growing up before and during the time of revolutionary Iran. Satrapi writes this non-fictional novel in the first person narrative representing her life.
This moving and sometimes, hilarious adaption of her own personal journey touches my heart. Not only did this graphic novel move me, it also taught me some hard home truths of Iran during this time. I (as a Westerner) had very little knowledge and understanding of the conditions Iranian citizens and particularly female citizens endured. Now not only am I enlightened but I am also sympathetic, Satrapi writes her story in such an open and exposed way that it is hard not to sympathize with her journey.
Satrapi’s use of visual aesthetics in the form of black and white cartoon images is genius. Given that the opening and majority of this piece is shown through Satrapi’s young eyes of her childhood, the use of simple (less detailed) drawings gives the whole piece an innocent, childlike feel. This makes the harsher truths and shocking facts even more powerful to the reader. Hitting home the horrors and traumas of these people. The exaggeration of some images creates an emotive response with this clever use of the shock tactic.
Despite the account of this ‘oppressive’ Iran, Satrapi depicts Iran in a humanized and homely way. Her aim, I feel, is to show others the mistakes and harsh conditions imposed upon the Iranians by authorities, while keeping a love for her country at heart. Wishing for a change, not an escape, which unfortunately, she was made to do, fleeing to Europe. Satrapi was clever to keep the faces of her character simple, this allows the reader to relate and even picture themselves in those situations. I found her work extremely influential and would recommend to others. What a beautiful and heart-breaking story.
REDSMITHS and ROBINS 