Theme Of Westernisation In Persepolis

Westernization is an intrinsic theme in Persepolis. Some see it as a place of opportunity, wealth, prosperity, and freedom. For a country like Iran, the West causes nothing but disorder and misery for the country. To describe these problems toward the West, Marjane Satrapi illustrates Iran and her citizen's struggles with Westernization in her graphic memoir Persepolis.

Throughout Persepolis, Satrapi describes her life’s story - talking about her family and her country Iran to correct the misconceptions and opinions people had on the country. She corrected misconceptions by highlighting the lives of the citizens of Iran, and the government and their own ties with the West. Countries like Great Britain and the United States are often held responsible for the downfall of Iran, which is why Iran is so against the West and Westernization. The West manipulated and influenced Reza, a low-rank soldier, when who later became the shah he was and was manipulated and Britain could now get all the oil they need and they would also use Reza as a puppet (Satrapi 21). Marji’s grandfather, a prince of Persia before Reza Shah, had also said that the emperor was not Reza Shah, but the King of England who controlled him (23).

There are many instances where the people of Iran conform to western culture. Girls like Marji would do little things like putting up rock music posters of popular western music like Iron maiden, wear denim jackets, tight jeans, and “punk” shoes. (Satrapi 131-134). She was then caught by the guardians of the revolution, who called Marji a whore for the way she was dressed. This shows us the hostility of conservative Iranians who were for the revolution was completely against the ideologies of Westernisation. In the book, Marji’s father is called “Westernized trash” because he follows western ways of wearing a tie and is also accused of drinking alcohol which was forbidden (108).

Among the characters of Persepolis, there are different perceptions of Westernization having both positive and negative views. Marji first thought of Europe and the United States as great, and she later calls them “dummies” (72). Marji’s friend was also leaving Iran for the United States because their parent’s felt they could survive leaving under the Islamic regime