Persepolis

Persepolis_1256

Persepolis, by Marjane Satrapi

Marjane Satrapi’s purpose for writing Persepolis is twofold. First, she uses the might of her pen to prove that the entirety of her culture should not be judged by the actions of a few, and secondly, to provide memory to those who fought for freedom against the oppressive regimes. As Satrapi states, “One can forgive, but one should never forget.” Elie Wiesel, likewise, asserts the importance of memory and states, “Without memory, there is no culture. Without memory, there would be no civilization, no society, no future.” As Wiesel writes, in “How Do We Understand Their Hate?” education, compassion, and memory are the greatest weapons against hate.