Persepolis 2: The Story of a Return Character Analysis

Marjane Satrapi

Marjane is the graphic novel’s protagonist; it follows her from age 14 to age 24. Marjane is proud of her Iranian identity, but she’s also very liberal and independent, which sometimes makes her feel like… read analysis of Marjane Satrapi

Reza

Reza is Marjane’s first boyfriend in Tehran and her eventual husband. As a veteran of the Iran-Iraq War, Reza is able to make Marjane feel connected to the war in a way no one… read analysis of Reza

Marjane’s Father/Dad

Marjane and her father are very close. Like Marjane’s mother, Dad went to great lengths throughout Marjane’s childhood to raise her to be independent, critical, and self-sufficient. However, despite his belief that Marjane should… read analysis of Marjane’s Father/Dad

Marjane’s Mother/Mom

Marjane’s mother is a kind, sensible, and liberal Iranian woman. She raised Marjane to think for herself and be independent, which leads her and her husband (Marjane’s father) to send Marjane to… read analysis of Marjane’s Mother/Mom

Markus

Marjane describes Markus as “the first great love of [her] life.” He’s a charming blonde boy about a year older than she is. They meet in Vienna when Marjane is 16, at a time when… read analysis of Markus

Marjane’s Grandmother

Marjane’s grandmother is an important guiding force in Marjane’s life. Though she doesn’t appear in the graphic novel at all while Marjane lives in Vienna, Marjane sees her grandmother often once she returns to… read analysis of Marjane’s Grandmother

Frau Doctor Heller

Frau Doctor Heller is Marjane’s fourth and final landlord in Vienna. Both Marjane and Marjane’s mother laugh about Frau Doctor Heller behind her back, as Frau Doctor Heller looks vaguely like a horse and… read analysis of Frau Doctor Heller

Kia

Kia is a childhood friend of Marjane’s. As a kid, Kia often got into trouble, and Marjane’s mother thought he was a bad influence. The two reconnect as adults when Marjane returns to Tehran… read analysis of Kia

Julie

Julie is a young French woman in Marjane’s classes at school. She’s the first student to take an interest in Marjane and becomes Marjane’s first friend. All of Julie’s friends are older than Marjane… read analysis of Julie

Momo

Momo is one of Julie’s friends. He’s “obsessed with death,” so he accepts Marjane into his friend group when he learns she came from war-torn Iran. Though Marjane is pleased to have friends, she… read analysis of Momo

Armelle

Armelle is Julie’s mother. She works for the United Nations and is divorced, so she often leaves Julie home by herself. After Marjane moves in with Julie, she quickly comes to adore Armelle. Armelle… read analysis of Armelle

Ingrid

Ingrid is one of Enrique’s friends at the anarchist commune. Though Marjane initially hates Ingrid (she thinks Ingrid is in love with Enrique), they soon become close friends. They spend most of their time… read analysis of Ingrid

Lucia

Lucia is Marjane’s roommate at the religious boarding house in Vienna. Though the girls struggle to communicate due to a language barrier—Lucia speaks only German, while Marjane only speaks French and Persian—they soon become… read analysis of Lucia

The Mother Superior

The Mother Superior at Marjane’s first boarding house is one of the story’s antagonists. She’s old, strict, and is immediately put off when she learns that Marjane isn’t a Christian. Several months later, the… read analysis of The Mother Superior

Zozo

Zozo, Houshang’s wife, is a friend of Marjane’s mother. Zozo is supposed to house and care for Marjane in Vienna, but she takes Marjane to a boarding house after just 11 days together… read analysis of Zozo

Enrique

Enrique is Marjane’s first boyfriend. He’s 20 and is half Austrian, half Spanish. In Marjane’s opinion, however, the best part of Enrique is that he’s an anarchist and knows lots of other anarchists. Their… read analysis of Enrique

Lucia’s Parents

Lucia’s parents invite Marjane to spend her first Christmas in Europe with them in the Tyrol. They’re devout Catholics, but they nevertheless make Marjane feel at home and loved. By the time Marjane leaves… read analysis of Lucia’s Parents

Olivier

Olivier and his brother, Thierry, are Swiss orphans living in Vienna. They’re a part of Julie and Momo’s friend group and, like Momo, idolize the anarchist Bakunin. Despite being orphans, Thierry and Olivier… read analysis of Olivier

Thierry

Thierry and his brother, Olivier, are Swiss orphans living in Vienna. They’re a part of Julie and Momo’s friend group and, like Momo, idolize the anarchist Bakunin. Despite being orphans, Thierry and Olivier… read analysis of Thierry

Shirin

Shirin, Zozo and Houshang’s daughter, is a childhood friend of Marjane’s. She and Marjane were friends in Tehran, before Shirin’s family moved to Vienna. Though it’s unclear how long she’s been living in… read analysis of Shirin

Niyoosha

Niyoosha is one of Marjane’s friends in college in Tehran. She has bright green eyes, which makes her very popular among their male classmates. Though she and Marjane are close friends while they’re in… read analysis of Niyoosha

Minor Characters

Houshang

Houshang is Zozo’s husband. He used to be a high-powered CEO when he and Zozo lived in Iran, but in Vienna, Houshang is “nothing.” Marjane sees Houshang as an ally at Zozo’s house, as he’s kind to her.

Farnaz

Farnaz is one of Marjane’s childhood friends. When Marjane confides in Farnaz that she’s thinking about getting a divorce, Farnaz warns her against it. In her experience, men don’t think divorced women have a reason to refuse sex, and so they harass divorced women incessantly.

Martin

Martin is Armelle’s next-door neighbor. Like Armelle, Martin is divorced, and he and Armelle have a strictly platonic relationship.

Yonnel Arrouas

Yonnel is Marjane’s physics teacher in Vienna. He’s a kindhearted man who notices when Marjane begins using drugs heavily. To try to help, he invites her over for lunch one weekend.

Roxana

Roxana is one of Marjane’s friends in Tehran; she introduces Marjane to Reza. This turns out to be the end of their friendship, because Roxana had hoped to set Reza up with another friend.

Jean-Paul

Jean-Paul is a new student at Marjane’s school in Vienna. Marjane has a crush on him, but he doesn’t share her feelings.

Svetlana

Svetlana is a Yugoslavian cook at a cafe where Marjane works. When male customers pinch Marjane’s rear, Svetlana spits in their food.

Shouka

Shouka is one of Marjane’s friends in college.

Dr. M

Dr. M is an older intellectual in Tehran. Marjane joins his monthly discussion groups.

Gila

Gila is one of Marjane’s coworkers in her first job after college.

Persepolis 2: The Story of a Return Characters