Argumentative Essay

Savannah Delgado

11/7/13

Block 2

Argument Essay

           

            In Persepolis, a graphic novel, by Marjane Satrapi it is a non-fiction story about Satrapi’s life growing up in Iran from the time she was 10 in 1980 to until she was 24 in 1994 and moved from Iran for good. She talks about first getting the veil, going through revolutions/protests, being discriminated of being a girl, living in Austria for a few years then returning back to Iran, also her own daily struggles.  Johan Bennett, Chief Executive Officer of SMJUHSD, wrote an email/letter saying Persepolis shouldn’t be taught in school.  “Persepolis is not a rigorous text that high schoolers should study” says Bennett.  He also states that it may be alright for advanced placement or honors classes.   I believe Johan Bennett is right in his decision, Persepolis does have explicit things, and AP or honors classes typically have a more mature matter, so they’d be able to read it.

            Johan Bennett states in his letter why Persepolis shouldn’t be taught, he gives many examples such as: drug relation, crude language, rebelling against authority, etc...  An example of crude language, is “f**k you son of a b***h”, Satrapi yells to a man when he assumes she is a prostitute.  Young readers shouldn’t have to read about things like that.  Bennett states, “The main character, Marjane Satrapi, is not a good role model for our young, impressionable youth.” He also comments “Not only is it inappropriate, but it also introduces the reader to many questionable philosophies and beliefs that high schoolers simply need to not be exposed.”  I may have to agree, since after reading the book I first hand read everything and can say it is inappropriate for many readers.

            In the book on pg. 285-286, Satrapi talks about how she lied and told on an innocent man so she wouldn’t get in trouble.  “There’s a guy who said something indecent to me” Satrapi says to a guardian.  The guardians put him in the back of a van taking him away.  She watched them take him, but never said a word, when she knows what they could do to him.  She’s showing that lying is ok as long as you don’t get in trouble or lying is ok to keep you out of trouble.  Do you want your children or yourself to think that way?  Marjane Satrapi also talks about suicide and how she tried it.  “So I waited until my wrist healed to swallow all my anti-depressants.”, Satrapi says on pg. 273.  This gives young readers an idea of how to commit suicide.  If those did not change any thought of the book, Satrapi also talks about drug use.  “This is how, for love, I began my career as a drug dealer.” she says.  She becomes a drug dealer “all for love”. That “all for love” phrase in a young immature mind can be romanticized and seem cool to the reader much as romance novels do.  Do young minds need to read those things? 

            Although Satrapi shows many bad examples, she does have some good ideas.  Page 297 Marjane Satrapi talks about how she calmly voiced her opinion on why it’s wrong that women have to be covered up and not men.  “Why is it that I, as a woman, am expected to feel nothing when watching these men with clothes sculpted on them but they, as men can get excited by 2 inches shorter head scarf?” Satrapi states. That teaches people to say your opinion but to do it in a calm matter. “My father was so right that the next day I apologized to him” Marjane says. pg326. She knew she was in the wrong so she apologizes teaching people that when you know you’re wrong you should say sorry. Satrapi talks about how when she was living with a friend she was rude to her mother. “To behave like this toward one’s own mother made me indignant” says Marjane. Pg180. That made Satrapi feel a strong displeasure toward her, she believes you should treat your parents with respect, teaching people to be respectful.

            I do still believe Persepolis isn’t appropriate for high school readers; talking about drugs, suicide and rebellion.  She may have some good points in her story, but compared to the bad Johan Bennett is right that her book should not be allowed to be taught in the school.  Would you want young readers to read this even if there are some good ideas, but more bad?