The Complete Persepolis, an autobiographical novel by Marjane Satrapi, tells the story of Marjane's childhood in Iran. In this story, Marjane (Marji) is raised by communist parents. Evidence of this Marxist upbringing appears several times throughout the book, most notably when Marji exclaims, “it was funny how similar Marx and God were” (Satrapi 13). The audience can analyze Persepolis through a Marxist lens to see how particular ideas, particularly the ideology of consumerism, oppress Marjane, her family, and Iranian civilians in general. The main tenet of Marxism is that the acquisition of wealth and property is what motivates all political and social activities. The audience can see how the Iranian regime uses this ideology to subjugate the Iranian proletariat and how the lower class turns to religion for respite. By specifically analyzing Marjane's family, the reader can realize that the Satrapi family is motivated and oppressed by this system of gaining and maintaining economic power. This analysis of the Satrapis also sheds light on the rest of Iran and how this consumerist lifestyle and reliance on religion is harming the country's citizens. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get an original essay The idea behind Marxism is that consumerism makes people feel that their self-worth matches what they buy (Furnham). This philosophy serves two purposes: it creates an artificial sense of empowerment for citizens while helping to quell feelings of rebellion. To see how much Marjane and her family are affected by consumerism, one must take into account the family's status in the Iranian social hierarchy. Although Satrapi never clarifies her family's economic situation, the audience can easily conclude that her family is financially comfortable. Even in the midst of a raging war and a tyrannical government, Marjane's parents still have money to buy her expensive items in America and even send her to Austria so she can receive the benefits of a Western education. However, not everyone in Iran likes this. comfortable status. The reader is frequently exposed to the struggles of the lower classes, such as when destitute boys in Iran are persuaded by the regime to join the war, while upper-class children who are the same age are able to attend parties and have no not to worry about problems. such questions (Satrapi 99-102). From a very young age, Marjane realized that she belonged to a class much better off than those around her. She even feels guilty about basic things around her, like the fact that “our maid didn’t eat with us” and “my father had a Cadillac” (Satrapi 6). As for these manipulated boys, the regime uses consumerism to exploit them, promising material goods in paradise in exchange for their lives sacrificed in war. Because of this consumerist attitude, these boys are quick to give their lives for the oppressive government, ruining their futures and tearing their families apart. Analyzing the relationship between different social classes in Iran and Marxism is essential to understanding how consumerism influences Marjane and her family. Her family's upper-class status means that Marjane and her parents are more likely to adhere to the ideals of Karl Marx because, as Marjane's uncle solemnly acknowledges: "In a country where half the population is illiterate , we cannot unite peoplearound Marx. The only thing that can truly unite them is… a religious ethic” (Satrapi 62). That is, the citizens most affected by oppression (the lower class) lack the education and skills to fully appreciate and understand Marxist theory, which focuses on the problems of oppressive ideologies and social struggles. classes. Instead, as Anoosh notes, they often turn to religion for comfort, with pleasant thoughts of the afterlife offering relief from current problems. This theme of dependence on religion dates back thousands of years to ancient Athens. Socrates faced much criticism for his belief that people should question everything and should not rely on religion to explain everything. He believed that people should be curious about the natural world around them and use that curiosity to advance science, philosophy, and more, instead of attributing everything to the will of the gods. Similarly, Uncle Anoosh plays a role similar to that of Socrates, lamenting the inability of the Iranian lower class to fully understand the problems causing their oppression and the means to remedy them. Instead, people tend to turn to religion for guidance and support during difficult times, which is not bad in itself, but does little to address the systematic oppression that they are confronted. Naomi Mandel, professor of marketing at ASU, digs deeper into this discussion on the relationship between consumerism, religion and class. In studying the effect of religion on consumerism, Mandel found that "religion helps people face fears such as death or other life challenges – instead of turning to consumerism or compensatory expenses” (Worship at the altar of consumerism). In other words, upper-class Iranian liberals, like the Satrapis, who adhere to Marxist ideology may be less oppressed by religious doctrine, but the family is more likely to suffer from the oppression of the principles of consumerism. Naturally, this ironic relationship leads to the hypocrisy that Marjane begins to recognize within her own family. The best example of this is when Marjane remembers the moment their servant fell in love with the neighbor's son. The two sent each other love letters until Marjane's father ruined the relationship by informing the boy of her social status. Marjane’s father explains to her that “in this country, you have to stay in your social class” (Satrapi 37). Although Marjane's father believes in Marxism, he apparently does not adhere strictly enough to the ideals to attempt to change the oppressed status of the lower classes around him. Even though his parents uphold liberal values, they still face discrimination due to their social status and live extravagant lives while the proletariat suffers. Here, the graphic nature of the book is particularly helpful in conveying this message by accentuating the emotional pain endured by the servant and the obvious indifference of the father and neighbor (once he discovers that his lover was of a lower class) . This consumerist attitude also harms upper-class families like the Satrapis in the sense that their desire and acquisition of goods helps to appease their need for rebellion. By purchasing Western products like t-shirts, posters, music, etc., many Iranians might fall prey to complacency, as they use these items as a way to escape their current condition. In the same way as lower class citizens/.