[寫作指導] 比較政府 AP Comparative Government｜國際關係 International Relation｜研究報告 Political Science｜學生作品 Writing Clinic

帶領新竹亞太學校的學生撰寫AP Comparative Government的作品，成績為100/100。

Reflection on Persepolis 

Marji, an Iranian teenage girl who gained wisdom and critical thinking skills in “Persepolis,” takes the reader on a journey into the “land of the not free” and compares it with the “home of the brave” from her childhood memories, providing historical and political context without her own narration.

In the very beginning, Marji reveals why “democracy dies in darkness,” as the Washington Post has warned us with its slogan. Back in the Shah’s reign, authoritarianism repressed Iran, stifling the emergence of a civil society and suppressing dissent and disapproval, historically known as “The Black Friday”. This explains why democracy is weakened since the government dictates its right to suppress citizens and execute those protesting. By taking the civil rights of citizens and restraining civil society, the absence of democracy is evident.

Fortunately, Iranians did not give up their right to freedom of assembly and continued their political participation. Marji, her family, and their friends clung to their political ideology. For instance, Siamak Jari and Mohsen Shakiba, two close family friends, defended their civil rights by speaking against the authorities and were eventually imprisoned by the Shah’s regime. Marji’s mother also urged Marji to join her in protesting on the streets, stating that Marji “should start learning to defend her rights as a woman's rights too” (76). Marji herself was curious about the events and interacted with various characters to gain a more comprehensive understanding of the importance of politics to individuals. The three pieces of evidence portray the citizens’ desire for freedom and rights as they are willing to fight the government, knowing there might be unfortunate consequences. They participated in politics through assembled protests that tried to stop authoritarian rule.

Changes occurred in Iran as Marji grew up. However, did regime change actually push democracy in Iran? The answer is no. The Islamic Republic, a new power taking over the nation, falsified the voting results claiming to have won 99.99% of the votes across the nation, indicating a lack of political legitimacy. Citizens clearly did not believe the 99.99% voting result and questioned the legitimacy of the party. Moreover, it targeted and assassinated the revolutionaries who fought against the previous regime, leading to more tragedies and undermining potential political stability. The two ex-political prisoners faced life-threatening situations again. Shakiba was found dead alone in the bathroom, while Jari and his family had to hide inside sheep to cross the border. In brief, although it seems like the party in power has changed, both the Shah and Islamic Republic suppressed citizens and ruled with authoritarianism, evident from the execution of the revolutionaries that opposed Shah’s regime.

Sources of power and authority not only intersect with politics but also with religion. In Marji’s school, young boys were given a plastic key, educated to bravely die in the war for the nation, with the key symbolizing entry into heaven. Fundamentalists also comply with specific dress codes and taboos, reflecting their political culture, such as women wearing a full veil to cover limbs and face, and men keeping their beards due to the prohibition of shaving. These examples illustrate how political ideology can underpin religion and influence people’s daily choices and even sacrifice their lives. Furthermore, political socialization is also shown as these kids are socialized to follow these rules.

Despite all this, hope persisted within young Marji through education. She pledged to herself that she would become an “educated, liberated woman” (73) with a “pursuit of knowledge.” This shows how although Iran is an authoritarian regime, citizens still have the desire for civil rights and do not consent with the status quo. Ultimately, her family planned to send her abroad to study for a better future. Iran is a home with memories, but it is also a place with painful memories and unsolved traumas.

Marji allows us to glimpse a nation of the rule by law. However, upon closer inspection, determined Iranians demonstrated civil liberties, asserting their identity and charting their path forward. Throughout the turmoil, readers witness Marji’s transformation from an innocent girl orbiting around her family to a teenager deeply involved in social activism. “Persepolis” portrays Iran’s political landscape and serves as a motivational chronicle of Marji’s political socialization.