Written as a memoir, is Persepolis more powerful than if Satrapi had fictionalized the story?
Why or why not? Consider HOW Satrapi’s use of authorial choice and textual features create
impact. Give at least three reasons with specific examples to support your position.
Remember to use the PEEL paragraph structure for your response. *
55555Persepolis is much more powerful as a memoir because it contains events that have
actually happened and that Satrapi has personal experience with. From the personal
experience comes insight and emotion that makes the book more impactful and effective.
The authorial choices and textual features reflect this, creating meaning that wouldn't be
present in a text other than a memoir. This is demonstrated on page 245, where the authorial
choice of writing the story as a graphic novel allows the reader to experience the emotions
that Satrapi was feeling at the time. The use of graphics allows Satrapi to showcase the
emotions that the character is feeling; because the story is a memoir it becomes that much
more powerful as this actually happened to her. In panel three, Satrapi’s face is gaunt and
worried which is exactly what she felt about returning to Iran and the authorial choice of the
graphic is effective at showcasing this as it allows the reader to view exactly what emotions
were present rather than just reading the words to describe them. The authorial choice of the
graphic novel is also extremely effective at expressing a memoir because it contains text as
well as graphics. On page 272 the text explains Satrapis inner thoughts about suicide and
depression. The fact that the story is a memoir adds a lot to this page because there is a lot
of information that only comes from memory and first hand knowledge. The thoughts there
are very intimate and personal and far more impactful because the reader knows that this
actually happened. In panel two Satrapi explains the thought process and reasoning behind
committing suicide. Every book gives a reason for events like this to happen but the book's
position as a memoir makes this scene extremely powerful as this is something that actually
happened. Satrapi actually thought that she was nobody and had no reason to live because
she was a mix of Iranian culture and Austrian. This page illustrates how memoirs add a lot of
meaning because the reader knows it's true and because they offer insight that wouldn’t
otherwise be there. On page 79 Satrapi learns that Iran is at war with Iraq and it showcases
the string of emotions and nationalism that came with that knowledge. Satrapi states: “my
blood was boiling, i was ready to defend my country against those arabs”. This panel and the
text that comes with it is something unique to a memoir and only present in the novel
because it is a memory that Satrapi has. It becomes that much more impactful because of it,
showcasing how even someone as progressive as Satrapi's family harbours nationalism for
their country and some of the stereotypes towards others. It also adds a lot of meaning in
terms of character development as Satrapi becomes less and less nationalist as the book
progresses and the realization of what the new regime is set in. The fact that the book is a
memoir adds to this as it showcases what really happened with many of the families living in
Iran. They were excited to see the downfall of the Shah and were excited about the regime
at first. Overall the authorial choices and the textual features create a lot of impact. They
reinforce that the book is a memoir and create a lot of additional meaning and power
because the reader knows the events within the book are true.