Argumentive Essay

In the non-fiction graphic novel "Persepolis" by Marjane Satrapi, Satrapi describes what it is like growing up in Iran. Then eventually moving away to Austria by herself at the age of fourteen. To eventually coming back to Iran as a young adult with many problems she had not resolved while still in Austria. Johan Bennett Cheif Executive Office thinks that the Novel "Persepolis" is inappropriate for the 10th grade to read do to its content. "It was brought to our attention by a parent representative that it contains crass language, graphic violence, torture, sexual content, lewd humor, an instance of suicide, and other images that are not appropiate for general use in the 10th grade curriculum"(1-3). I disagree with Bennett that this book is inappropiate. This book explains how life goes on in Iran where people have no freedom to speak what is on their minds about the government. Also where women only have to follow a strict dress code and the men don't. Bennett thinks that "Persepolis" should be banned from all schools that have the 10th grade curriculum read it, but have Advanced placement and Honors classes trained specially trained to teach and present "Persepolis" approiaetly. The novel "Persepolis" is about Satrapi describing what it was like growing up during the Iranian Revolution. Then eventually moving to Austria to be safe and continue her education. Then moving back to Iran because she had nowhere else to go. Bennett finds "Persepolis" inappropiate because Satrapi talks about torture because that's what was happening to people in Iran. Satrapri also explains that she became a drug dealer to get money and had many sexual because she had very bad relationships. Bennett thinks Satrapi shouldn't have talked about those things and left them out of the novel completely. Satrapi talked about torture in the book to point out that is what happened to people when they got arrested and sent to prison. "Ahmidi... Ahmadi was assassinated. As a member of the guerillas, he suffered hell. He always had cyanide on him in case he was arrested, but he was taken by surprised and unfortunatly he never never had a chance to use it... so he suffered the worst torture..." (51,4). Satrapi attempted suicide, but failed because she could not live with the problems in her life anymore, but after that she changed her lifestyle and became a better person (273,1-3) (274-275). Satrapi talks about being a drug dealer due to a relationship with one of her boyfriends. Both Satrapi and him did drugs and there was one spot where Satrapi got drugs and so everyone asked for drugs. "Markus was proud of me. So proud that he told the whole school that his girlfriend had contacts at Cafe Camera"(222,7). This quote explains that her boyfriend told everyone she could get drugs. The quote in the second paragraph explain that those events happened to Satrapi and that they were important if they were written in the novel. Everthing in the novel happened to Satrapi and she explains how they affected her and what actions she did after those events. Satrapi tried to commit suicide because she was depressed and had many problems in her life. Because Satrapi didn't die that motivated her to become a better person and to not give up on herself no matter what problem was thrown at her. Satrapi became a drug dealer do to the choice of people she hung out with. All her friends did drugs and her feel like part of the group. Satrapi did drugs also because her boyfriend Markus knew where to buy drugs. All of Satrapi's actions were affected by those who were around her. I explained why I disagree with Bennett and gave examples to support my opinion on the novel "Persepolis". I explained why Satrapi tried to kill herself, why she did drugs, and how she changed after all of those events. I think "Persepolis" is appropiate for the 10th grade to read because it opens up a new idea on how we think of Iran and what people have to go through in Iran.