To Kill A Mockingbird and Persepolis Comparative Essay

Compare how the composers of To Kill A Mockingbird and Persepolis use

characterisation to explore the conflict between personal and public worlds.

Whilst they are set in vastly different contexts, Persepolis, by Marjane Satrapi, and To Kill

A Mockingbird, by Harper Lee, both explore the concept of a disagreement between

the individual and greater society. To exemplify this conflict, they create specific types of

characters that interact with their public worlds in antagonistic ways. The writers explore

the conflict between personal and public worlds through the creation of intelligent and

educated protagonists and then through their rebellious reactions when faced with a clash

of opinions.

Many of the characters central to Persepolis and To Kill A Mockingbird are portrayed by

the authors as intelligent and well-read people, causing their values to come into conflict

with those of members of broader society. Early in Persepolis, the author uses

juxtaposition to show the positive effects that books and knowledge have on Marji. She

sits in black clothing against a black background, with books being the only source of

white in the panel. This represents that the information gained from reading allows her

to form opinions against the dictatorship, the contrast of those beliefs made obvious

by the juxtaposition of colours. It also conveys the idea that intelligence and

education should be valued above the oppressive beliefs she lives under, and, moreover,

are a source of happiness. However, the formulation of Marji’s contrarian ideals are often

not connected to her parents. When Marji questions her father’s adherence to Marxist

ideology, the use of an eye-level shot allows the reader to connect to the emotional turmoil

she feels in realising that her family’s values will occasionally act in conflict with her own.

It also establishes her as a character that is strongly convicted about the issues she cares

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 To Kill A Mockingbird and Persepolis Comparative Essay

about, creating a clash of personal and public worlds by showing that people often have

flexible views dependent on what benefits them. Finally, it reminds the reader that Marji’s

beliefs will not be sacrificed for societal approval.

Similarly, in To Kill A Mockingbird, the thoughtful ideals of the Finch family often clash

with those of the residents of Maycomb. During the chapters that detail Tom Robertson’s

trial, the author uses Scout’s perspective to contrast her views against society. Scout offers

not only an impartial account of the trial, but commentary from both herself and Jem. In

doing this, the author portrays a character who understands the decision that should

be made and the unjust verdict that the jury, representative of the common people, will

declare. It also allows the reader to feel a sense of disappointment; as Scout shows that

her and Jem’s idealism is futile. However, unlike Marji, Scout’s beliefs are

compounded by those of Atticus and Jem. The metaphor, “I tried to climb into Jem’s skin

and walk around in it,” is a direct reference to wisdom that Atticus has imparted on Scout.

It exemplifies the Finch family’s empathetic views and education as items that are central

to their identity and suggests that their fight against society is one that is

completed together. Furthermore, it characterises Scout as someone who recognises her

mistakes, which, compared to the obstinacy of rest of the town, enhances the conflict

between views. The choice of intelligent main characters allows the authors to create a

clash of internal and external worlds, though the creation and support of these

views varies between books.

The authors also use rebellion as a key reaction of the characters of both books to

create contrast between mutually exclusive views and to show the extent of that conflict.

This is shown in To Kill A Mockingbird when Atticus is confronted by men outside Tom

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 To Kill A Mockingbird and Persepolis Comparative Essay

Robinson’s cell. The author contrasts his formal style of speaking with the slang used by

Bob Ewell. It represents key differences in the way that the people of Maycomb and

Atticus think and act on a seemingly inconsequential level. This also demonstrates his

courage in a dangerous situation, because it shows his refusal to shift from his

mannerisms even on the surface. This is symbolic of his tightly held core values and is

significant because it represents a small stand as an act of rebellion against a deeply

prejudiced society. However, not all characters react with courage. When told that her

father must not read to her anymore, Scout pleads with him, saying, “Please don’t send

me back, please sir.” Unlike Atticus’ conflict, Scout’s is not life-threatening nor

particularly large, though she reacts with more unjustified terror than him. This is one of

the few times that a desire to change to better fit the mould of an ideal citizen is discussed

and is indicative of the control that society has over her at a young age.

The characterisation of Scout as terrified of authority exaggerates the control that society

has over someone that dares to question the system.

Likewise, the characters in Persepolis also rebel against the restrictions placed upon

them. The author’s choice of a mid shot in a panel depicting Marji’s mum’s fear of the

repercussions of her actions conveys the terror of a regime where fighting back will yield

more than the social isolation of Maycomb. Not only does it make her look small, due

to the large amount of space above her head, but it also draws the readers’ attention back

to the reason that she is scared in the first place; she spoke out. It creates discord by

showing the fear that is created by holding a view that differs even slightly than those

prescribed by the government. However, in contrast to To Kill A Mockingbird, the main

protagonist rebels from a young age, even with discouragement from her parents.

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 To Kill A Mockingbird and Persepolis Comparative Essay

As Marji buys tapes from a shady character, the author uses unconventional drawing of

the people involved to represent the danger of the act they are committing.

Both Marji and the man she buys tapes from are given two heads, which gives them both

culpability for the crime being committed, but also represents a harsh truth to the reader,

that, due to their clashing beliefs, to the upstanding citizens of the regime, the intelligent

teenage girl is seen as immoral as the man who makes his living selling tapes illegally on

the street. The rebellious nature of the protagonists and other characters causes that

inevitable clash of personal and public worlds to come across harsher than they would

otherwise.

Throughout both books the readers are reminded of the startlingly large clashes between

the characters’ views and those of society by the nuanced characterisation presented to

them. Satrapi and Lee both create characters that value free thought and logic, and who

rebel against the unjust and stifling system.

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