Persepolis and Martyrdom Anonymous 10th Grade

In Persepolis, a graphic novel memoir, Marjane Satrapi depicts a chilling picture of what life was like growing up in Iran during times of upheaval. She describes many disturbing things, such as bombings in her neighborhood and rallies against the regime where protesters were beaten. One of the things she describes is the country’s fascination with martyrs, both when Marji is a child and when she is an adult, returning to Iran after the war has ended. During both times she was living in Iran, it was controlled by oppressive regimes with extremist Islamic beliefs. It was those beliefs that led rulers and citizens alike to hold martyrdom as the utmost glory. This essay will discuss Marjane’s encounters with the glorification of war, the Islamic views of martyrdom, both textually and historically, and how this issue ties into the overall theme of Persepolis.

In her memoir, Marjane is influenced by what she sees of the culture around her glorifying war and martyrdom. In the chapter “The Key”, Marjane talks to her mother about seeing the streets lined with nuptial chambers for the virgin martyrs. Then her maid, Mrs. Nasrine, tells them that her son was given a gold plastic key in school and told that it would get him in to heaven...