Symbolism and Social Critique in Persepolis and Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?

Question:

Authors often use symbols to convey meaning and produce an effect on the reader. Analyze these in Persepolis.

In literary works, authors use certain symbols to convey meaning and to produce an effect on the readers. In the graphic novel of Persepolis, the symbols that the author uses are based on the Islamic Revolution. These symbols have different forms of perceiving them, considering the expectations and way of life of Iranian children, which are unlike the children of the Western Union. Iranian children live in a country controlled by their government that prohibits simple pleasures and freedoms because this government prohibits Iranian families from controlling their own lives. Iranians live in a country that always demands obedience to their religious culture or face the consequences. The book, Persepolis, by Marjane Satrapi, documents her childhood story using her own eyes and experiences. The storyline of Marjane Satrapi's Persepolis takes place during the late 1970s in the Iranian capital city of Tehran. During this period, the country of Iran was undergoing major political changes that would forever change the social and political landscapes of the nation. During this time, a social and political movement known to historians as the Iranian Revolution had been increasing in popularity as the governing monarchy of the Shah had lost support from citizens. In Persepolis, the author uses certain symbols to transmit to the readers how discrimination against women and the difference in social classes was going on in Iran.

Virginia Woolf

Some novels are generally used to give a critical reflection of the context in which they are written or lived by the author. In the novel 'Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?', which was first performed in New York City in 1962, it was a pleasing work for the American public since it delivered a critical reflection that seemed to give a vital perception into American life. The country was leaving the 1950s when Dwight 'Ike' Eisenhower was a conservative and well-liked president. Also, television shows like 'Leave it to Beaver' and 'Father Knows Best' were very popular. Both politicians and popular culture emphasized the importance of a happy family. Many Americans believed that success was measured by having their own house, car, children, and dog. According to all surface measures, the 1950s was a stable and productive time for the United States of America. And yet, these superficial measures and the traps of success often hide real problems, which will eventually arise in any human community. The author, Edward Albee, grew up in a family deeply involved in projecting the perfect image of himself in social situations. This affluent suburb of New York City housed a rich and competitive social scene, of which his mother was an important part. During his youth, Albee resisted interacting with this culture, finding it hollow and unsatisfactory. In 'Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?', the author uses the historical and literary context to transmit to the readers a critique of this, exposing all of one's problems and indiscretions to the world. In this novel, we can find the historical fact of the interpersonal battles between the characters of the play reflecting the Cold War tensions that plagued America. It touches on everything from the death of another fact used, the American Dream, to fears of nuclear holocaust.