Analysis Of Persepolis And The Kite Runner

Erica Spry Professor Moore ENG 209 November 25, 2014 How Two Bildungsromans Challenge Gender Roles in Society In both Persepolis and The Kite Runner, readers are presented with two main characters in search for their own self-realization. According to Lukà ¡cs’s theory, â€Å"the self-realization of the individual ultimately sheds some light also on ‘social reality’† (22). Ultimately, readers are able to gain insight to the social realities of the characters’ nation states in both novels. Persepolis allows readers to learn about women and femininity in Iran’s culture while The Kite Runner provides readers with the social reality of men and masculinity in Afghanistan’s culture. Readers are told the story of Persepolis through the eyes and journey of Marjane (Marji). One example of the social reality of Iran that Persepolis presents to readers is women’s mode of dress. In the beginning of the novel, Marji states, â€Å"Then came 1980: the year it became obligatory to wear the veil at school† (1.4). At this time, Marji is only ten years old, yet she still resists the veil and somewhat realizes the gender inequalities present in her reality. Although both boys’ and girls’ clothes change within their separate schools, girls are the only ones who are required to wear the veil. The hijab is a piece of fabric that women are required to wear -- concealing parts of their face and all of their hair. Not only is this a significant part of the social reality, but this is a legalShow MoreRelatedLiterary Criticism : The Free Encyclopedia 7351 Words   |  30 PagesMusic, by Peter Ackroyd (1992)[39] The Gods Laugh on Mondays, by Reza Khoshnazar (1995) About a Boy, by Nick Hornby (1998) The Perks of Being a Wallflower, by Stephen Chbosky (1999)[40] Persepolis, by Marjane Satrapi (2000)[41] 21st century[edit] The Secret Life of Bees, by Sue Monk Kidd (2002)[42] The Kite Runner, by Khaled Hosseini (2003)[43] The Fortress of Solitude, by Jonathan Lethem (2003) [44] Never Let Me Go, by Kazuo Ishiguro (2005)[30] Looking for Alaska, by John Green (2005) Indecision