Marjane Satrapi introduces us to the effects of cultural change through the eyes of a child, and what period in one's life is filled with more wonder than that of childhood? She depicts herself in the book as an extremely precocious child of Marxist parents, who educate her on the evils of the regime and stage their own rebellion at home by drinking wine and supplying their daughter with posters of Iron Maiden. It is this Western culture at home that brings the character Marji to question what happenings around her, and why she is demanded to do such menial things as wear a veil. She asks questions like Why are our neighbours missing? Why is it wrong to wear a tie?
All of the questions have solutions rooted in the cultural standards of the Middle East. Marji and her childish curiosity allow us to ask questions and find answers of the reasoning behind such deeply rooted cultural dilemmas.