Identity in Persepolis

Marji's self-understanding undergoes a dramatic shift over the course of the book, shaped by her family, her country, and the world around her. In the first frame here on page 6, we see a young Marji divided by two identities. We get a medium close shot of Marji facing towards the reader with a neutral face, showing that she is clearly unsure of which side holds precedence in her mind. On the left is the "Western, avant-garde" of her family, depicted by the gears and tools in the background, the straight lines and perfect circles representing a modernized, more liberal lifestyle. on the right is the "conservative, religious" side of her life that had played heavily into her aspirations of being a prophet. The background to the right is much less structured than the left side, which suggests something less modernized and more traditional. In the second frame from page 151, we get a wide close-up shot of Marji looking into a mirror, not long before she leaves Iran for school in Vienna. Nothing is in the background of this frame aside from the mirror that she sees herself in. Her face is divided again, but this time only one half of her face is showing. This image combined with the caption leads the reader to conclude that she has chosen which identity to pursue, choosing to be whoever she feels herself to be. She recognizes that both identities are equally important in her life, and now that she is join off into the world on her own, she needs to be herself first.