Fransheska SermeƱo 11-6-14
812 ELA
Persepolis
Parents and teachers have been banning
books and have been debating whether or not to ban them for good or to keep
them to help others understand about these topics included in books. A great
example of a banned book is Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi because this has a
few mature topics like violence and strong language and even sexual content. The
book is about this girl named Marji who grew up during the Islamic Revolution
in Iran. She lives in Tehran and grows up listening about different opinions
and observing violence all over her neighborhood. Many social issues are brought
up in the book which could affect the persons opinion on whether or not to ban
it. No books should be banned base don ther content because it can teach teens
and kids.
Persepolis can
be very educational and teach kids and teens about the Islamic Revolution in
Iran and what actually happened during this. The character Marji was very
little when she wanted to know what was going on during this time and so she
grew up with her parents who protested against the dictator beliefs and wanted
everyone to know about what they thought about this situation. She was always
informed on what was going on so she was always aware. In the book the author
wrote ¨To enlighten me they bought me books. I knew everything about the
children of Palestine. About Fidel Castro. About the younge vietnamese killed
by the Americans. About the revolutionarys of my country. But my favorite was a
comic book entitled ¨Dialectic Materialism¨. The younge Marji was every
interested and intrigued about this revolution that her parents always
mentioned. They even wanted to educate her about the revolution so that she was
learning what was going around her neighborhood. Persepolis shows you in pictures
about the revolution and teaches children about important things like this
which can form groups and opinions that also educate children.
Throughout some parts of the book
the author has some images [because it is a graphic novel] of her life during the
revolution that includes torture and coarse language that might worry some
parents and teachers. This can really help children to realize in what type of
world they live in. In the book the author states ¨The key to paradise was for
poor people. Thousands of young kids, promised a better life, exploded on the
minefields with their keys around their neck and also ¨ They insulted me.
They said women like me should be be pushed up against a wall and fucked. And
then thrown in the garbage.¨ These are some of the many coarse language and
intense scenes of the book which could make people think that this book should
be banned. However, believing that children can't read these books because of
there content means they wont grow up knowing these types of things can happen.
Many different
cultures have strict rules or certain regulations you need to follow. This book
can help children notice that here in America we have very different ways of
living. In Iran most women and men had to dress in a certain way and make sure
that they followed there religion. Marji was also very religiuos and believed
in God. In the book Marji would have conversations with God at night and talk
to him about her ideas on life. There conversations would go like this ¨You want to be a doctor? I thought
that…¨ started God. ¨ No, no, I will be a prophet but they musn't know. I want to
justice, love and the wrath of God all in one.¨ Throughout the book her
opinions on religion and culture change and shape her to the women she is now.
Children need this type of education; about the world we live in to see how
other people live.
The experience
of reading Persepolis as a teenager is a great experienceand can inform them
about many mature topics in reality like violence torture and language.
Pearents and teachers should not ban these types of books beacuse it teaches
children and provids them a chance to experience this. Insted of banning them
teachers should start to let everyone get interested and inculde them in your
curriculum. Don't ban books because of the context they should be allowed for
everyone to read!
