Argumentative Essay-Final

Savannah Delgado

11/20/13

Block 2

Argumentative Essay

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 for being a girl, living in Austria for a few years then returning back to Iran, and 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.    Johan Bennett is right in his decision, Persepolis does have explicit things, and AP or honors classes typically has a more mature reading matter for students, 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 (320.6).  Young readers shouldn’t have to read about things like that. Additionally, 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.”

            Marjane Satrapi shows she isn’t a good role model by many examples, one of which is 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 (280). The guardians put him in the back of a van taking him away.  She watched them take him, but never said a word, even though she knows what they would most likely do to him.  She is showing that lying is appropriate only if you don’t get in trouble.  Marjane Satrapi also talks about suicide and how she tried it.  “So I waited for my wrist to heal to swallow all my anti-depressants.”  Satrapi says (326). 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 (222.7).  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.  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 women, 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 (297).  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 (326).  She knew she was in the wrong so she apologizes, teaching people that when you know you’re wrong you should say you are 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 (180).  That made Satrapi feel a strong displeasure toward her.  She believes you should treat your parents with respect showing that she isn’t all bad, and again, has some good ideas. 

Furthermore, Satrapi uses unnecessary crude language and lack of self-control, and rebellion. “Go f**k yourself!” Satrapi screams (234.5). Though she may have been justified in her anger, but she loses her temper and shows no control over her tongue, when her roommate accuses her of stealing her brooch.   “No I think you’re a selfish b***h.” (291.5). Satrapi’s grandmother says this of Satrapi when she hears she got an innocent man in trouble, as stated in a previous paragraph. “Oh sh*t” (165.2). This quote by a boy in the background is unnecessary because it lends nothing to the story line. If it had been omitted it would not have affected the story at all. Marjane Satrapi falls for peer pressure by ditching school to look cool in front of older girls. She states, “If I wanted to be friends with the 14 year olds, then I had to do it.” Marjane knows what she is doing is wrong, but carries on anyway. “I had already broken the rules once…This was the second time”, she says (111). As a 12 year old she’s beginning to test her boundaries, but continues the rebellion by lying to her mother about ditching school. She first lied about ditching to stay out of trouble, then lied again about which class she cut to make the trouble less. “And you just lied again!” says Satrapi’s mother. “I had said religion [class] to try to make my mother less angry,” she explains (113.6).  Marjane Satrapi may have lived in a totally different world than what many of her readers are familiar with and the book will have influence but is what kind of influence is it?

Persepolis isn’t appropriate for high school readers; talking about drugs, suicide, foul language and rebellion.  She may have some good points in her story, but the bad outweighs the good. Johan Bennett is right that her book shouldn’t be allowed to be taught in school.  While this may be entertaining reading on your own, high school is not appropriate due to its content. Would you want young readers to read this even if there are some good points, but more bad points?  Do the good points justify the reading of this book in high school?