How home is depicted – physical portrayal &
its symbolism, emotional or psychological
home, influence of social & cultural norms in
characters’ homes and their perception of
said homes.
Significance – contributes to character
decisions, story progress. Expands the idea
of home as more nuanced and
multidimensional to audience with social
commentary by author embedded in home’s
portrayal. –
Done through plot construction, symbolism
and diction.
In PERS, does illustration come under plot or diction
Literary Techniques
Persepolis
A Doll’s House
Plot construction
Is complex interknot, with
multiple highs and lows, since it
is the plot to Marjane’s own life
growing up.
Act 1 – begins w organized
Christmas Tree, ends w
disheveled. Shows shift in
portrayal of home and its nature
through the act as more lies are
unveiled
Immediately begans by
presenting a drastic change at
hand (Islamic revolution
segregates school students and
mandates veil) during describing
issue at hand, mother and father
characters quickly introduced as
against the oppression and
supportive of each other.
Plot constructed through several
amusing anecdotes and text
anchored by the illustrations.
Pic of dad driving Cadillac –
Portrayal of characters as plot
progresses highlights
confinement of home
Rising action - Facade of ‘perfect
home’ starts to crumble. Rising
action reveals tension and
secrets within the Helmer
household. Nora's forgery &
hidden debt, and efforts to
maintain an illusion of happiness
contribute to the rising conflict.
contributes to portraying family
as well-off, able to shield
Marjane from Iran’s conflict.
Strongly attached to her family,
often directly involved in
stroyline – strong connection
between not only parents but
grandmother – through her
childhood arc of wanting to be a
prophet her grandmother is
extremely supportive,
highlighting the support she gets
in the household
When marji wants to join
parnets’ protests, they get angry
w maid, want to shield her from
the vioelcne, again emphasizing
on the contrast between the
places she calls ‘home’.
They often explain Iran’s current
political issues and its history to
marji encouragingly, largely
contributing to broadening her
perspectives, allowing her to
make independent decisions
knowing both sides.
Uncle Anoosh –Introduced
during rising action, contributes
largely to marji’s char dev, and
plot’s, as they share same ideals,
similar childish nature. Becomes
her role model, proud of her
family (home) even more
His death progresses the story,
hints at marji coming of age –
she understands the harsh
complexities after having to
grapple with his death. Feels a
sense of loss and no direction
illustrated by splash – kicks out
god, becomes more realistic and
grave, exposed to harshness of
homeland.
However simultaneously plot
structures a steady rising action
as several repressive events in
Climax - The truth about Nora's
actions is exposed, and hence
reactions of other characters,
especially Torvald, shaking
traditional notions of marriage,
family, and hence home.
Falling action - Nora's decision to
leave in pursuit of self-discovery
and independence urges us to
reevaluate the traditional idea of
home as a stable and secure
place; rejection of traditional
women views in a ‘home’.
Iran such as politically induced
violence conducted in school,
the guardians of revolution
threatening her for her modern
clothing, the tales of political
prisoners being tortured, that
creates a strong dislike for her
home despite being attached to
it deep down – shown when she
packs a jar of “Iranian soil” to
take to Vienna.
During The Shabbat, theres a
bombing at herfam place as the
plot builds to a climax we see
marji extremely worried and
grief stricken at the possibility of
her family being dead and the
immense relief at seeing her
mom. It shows the irony of how
the violence in her home country
could have taken away her
“home” (fam) that she seeks
solace in
Book 2---Despite being in Austria she is
“at home” when her mother
visits, but not only her presence
but the overall Iranian influence
Iranian food, speaking in their
language, etc.
Contrast between the Vienna,
drastic social differences
(outcast) and no family made her
realise how much she misses her
family, her home that she seeks
comfort in, (phone call after
passing out) and goes back.
While going back however,
struggle of giving up freedom
and ready to face oppression in
Iran in order to also have her
fmaily’s source of solace the
duality of her home
Both had failed marriages –
although conventionally viewed
as relationship offering comfort
and as a home..
Both tried to act in their
husband’s interests – Reza liked
certain ideals she tried to look as
(blue yes contacts)
Reza offers Marjane a connection
to a conflict that she mostly got
to ignore and allows her to feel
like she’s part of the larger
cultural experience of the war. –
desperate to be attached to Iran
home despite it being oppressive
toward her.
As soon as they marry she feels
‘trapped’ described her literally
behind cage (similar to adh)
Symbols
Her fam epitome of acceptance –
even smoking
Anoosh Gives her another
BREAD SWAN- represents his
ability to maintain his humanity
and find good in dreadful
situations - symbol of hope and
perseverance supportive to marji
The veil – a physical apparition
that women in her home iran
wear, yet a symbol of oppression
that her ‘home’ exercised
towards her
Diction
Marjane & Reza’s final thesis –
designs for a theme park despite being well received will
never be rendered since women
can never be depicted without
veils (and mythical creatures) –
represents her realization that
she will never truly feel ‘at home’
in iran anymore and must leave
in order to seek freedom - home
DICTION- childhood narrated
through personal narration in a
curious, light-hearted tone,
shows that she’s been brought
up with care and love, no
burdens.
The veil – in panels, the words
Nora also leaves her ‘home’ at
the end of ADH, represented by
the final ‘slamming of the door’
symbolizing her leaving the place
of confinement after realzing she
can never feel ‘at home’ in her
home, so leaves to focus on
herself and seek freedom and
self discovery, similar to
Marjane.
juxtaposed “the veil” and
“freedom” shouts, when in
reality these words aren’t even
opposites
“I wanted to be an educated,
liberated woman…and so
another dream went up in
smoke.” Despite iran being her
home, it is restricts her from
acting freely in comfort, more of
a cage.
Diction through first person
narrative helps readers
empathize w marji to get point
across
The real Islamic invasion has
come from our own
government."
Despite being in Austria she is
“at home” when her mother
visits ; she asks “how’s our
country doing”, emphasizes that
she still strongly attached and
identifies with it being her home
but not only her presence but
the overall Iranian influence –
“heavenly food of my country”
When she finds out Marcus is
cheating on her, she questions
herself “Where was my mother
to stroke my hair.. where was my
grandmother to tell…where was
my father to punish? The self
narration, repetitive structure
draws reader sympathy and
emphasizes on sullen tone –
shows that she misses her family
– home – acceptance and
support.
When she arrives back at iran
descriptive diction creates
imagery of how iran looks –
grave serious large posters
contrast w lightheardted atmosp
in Austria. Ominous, cold
appearance of her home iran
conjured by descriptions like “I
felt like I was walking through a
cemetery”
How is home depicted and what is its significance?
Over the ages, stories have often revolved
around the setting of “home”. While home
is defined as a house of residence, its true
meaning extends beyond. Rather, “home”
can be any place or person where one feels
accepted and at comfort. However, in Henrik
Ibsen’s A Doll’s House (ADH), Nora’s home –
both her husband Torvald and her house as
a whole – can be likened to a cage where
she is demeaned and oppressed. In Satrapi’s
Persepolis, Marjane’s home, on one hand, is
a religiously and politically oppressive Iran,
and on the other, her liberated family who
are supportive of her questioning nature.
Both books also depict marriage as a home
where Nora and Marjane seek comfort, yet
eventually realise that it is holding them
back. In both works, “home” is depicted
physically (through places, people and
objects) as an emotional state, and by the
influence of external social and cultural
norms that have on characters’ portrayals
and perceptions of home, through
symbolism, plot construction, narrative
elements along with illustrations in
Persepolis and diction in ADH.
Libre = free