Persepolis

Satrapi’s mother is a progressive, intellectual, compassionate, stubborn woman who nurtures her daughter’s budding interest in politics and philosophy. She places a huge emphasis on Satrapi’s education and cites it as the most important thing she can have. Satrapi and her mother sometimes butt heads because they are both stubborn, but her mother’s love is always on display.

Satrapi’s father is also progressive and educated, frequently taking photographs and documenting political demonstrations. Skeptical of the Islamic regime, he often fact-checks the news using the BBC and other Western news sources. He regularly gets out of trouble with the authorities using bribes, which is indicative of his cleverness.

Satrapi’s grandmother is another warm and nurturing presence in Satrapi’s life. Her husband, the former prime minister of Iran, was imprisoned while they were raising their children, and she shares the hardships she endured with Satrapi. She also imparts wisdom to Satrapi before she leaves for Austria.

A maid in the Satrapi household, Mehri comes from a large and impoverished family. She is an older sister figure to Satrapi, who tries to help Mehri start a relationship with the boy next door. Satrapi struggles to understand the social class divide between them.