Memoir of
Marjane Life…
Persepolis is a graphicnovel-memoir written through the lens of a young girl coming of age in Iran during the
Islamic Revolution and the Iran-Iraq War.

Why did Marjane write a memoir?
She says that Iran is discussed mostly in relation to "fundamentalism, fanaticism, and terrorism" ; and she goes on to say,
"this is far from the truth," and this concern is the reason for writing the story.

2015

Iran’ Government
Pahlavi dynasty
Reza Khan 1925-1941
Shah- Father & 1 st King
Mohammad Reza Shah 2 nd King
1941-1979

Constitutional Monarchy,
P.M. & Parliament
Prime Minister Mossadegh
July 1952 – August 1953
Shah M. Reza
1941 –1979

Reza Shah & British coup against P.M.
 1953 American CIA &
British sponsored coup of
Mossadegh!
 Prime Minister Mossadegh in 1951- during the Rule of the 1 st Shah!!

Once P.M. gone, absolute monarch!
 The CIA & British give
Shah- King total power!
 Shah Pahlavi ruled as an authoritarian/oppressiv e monarch for the next
26 years, until he was overthrown in a popular revolt in 1979.
 Shah westernized the country & ally of the
U.S.

Shah & Savak!
 5,000 strong police force under the Shah.
 With virtually unlimited powers to arrest and interrogate, SAVAK has tortured and murdered thousands of the Shah's opponents.
 Siamak & Mohsen in novel
 Rex Cinema, Black Friday,

1979 Revolution in Iran
 After 26 years of rule by the Reza Shah in Iran, there was a revolution in Iran calling for a new government.
 Initially the revolution called for the restoration of a democracy, but ultimately Islamic fundamentalist took control of the revolution!
 Novel Persepolis story of young Iranian living through the revolution.

1979-Revolution against
Reza Shah

Iranians overthrow Shah

Shah Leaves Iran.. to
America

Iranian Revolution of
1979

Anti & Pro Ayatollah
Women protest against wearing Veil & Ayatollah
Pro- Ayatollah

Anti Veil/Ayatollah demonstrations

Iran Hostage Crisis
 Fifty-two US citizens were held hostage for 444 days from November 4, 1979 to
January 20, 1981, after a group of Islamic students and militants took over the
Embassy of the United
States in support of the
Iranian.
 WHY WERE IRANIAN
UPSET WITH THE U.S.?

Shah seen as
American Puppet
Anger towards America for
Supporting the Shah!

American Hostages during
Revolution 1979!
 U.S. cuts off diplomatic relations with Iran

President
Carter
 A failed rescue attempt
!

1973 Oil Crisis
&
1979 Oil Crisis

Iraq invades Iran in 1980!