Identity In Fun Home

In her graphic memoir, Fun Home, Alison Bechdel considers a broad range of topics such as her open lesbian identity in relation to her father’s closeted gay identity, her parents’ tumultuous relationship, and the harsh reality of some of her fondest childhood memories. Her lack of information about her mother, Helen, communicates her distant relationship with someone who is supposed to surpass the love, care, and affection of anyone that is related to her. Helen’s involvement in the community theater productions are like excursions into a false reality. They reveal her lack of interest to be present in her children's lives. Although Helen fulfills some of the basic tasks that come along with being a mother, she does not go out of her way to

When Alison feels guilty for not closing the window in the sewing room during a storm, she rushes over to try and help her mother. Helen does not appreciate Alison’s kind gesture. Instead, she furiously tells Alison, “Don’t touch anything! I have to put it all in order. Just get out” (Bechdel, 177). Helen is dismissive towards Alison and everything she does. Alison absorbs herself in books to tune out the arguments that her parents have and to experience the happiness she does not find at her house. When Helen yells “Where have you been? We ate two hours ago! Don’t walk away from me,” Bruce responds with “For crissakes [sic]! I stopped for a hot dog!” Helen does not try to understand Bruce’s rationale. She immediately says “Good. I flushed your supper down the toilet” (Bechdel, 139). Alison grows up in a toxic environment where it is common for her parents to yell and curse at each other for little things. Although Helen is quick to blame Bruce for the faults in Alison’s upbringing, she is responsible for most of those faults herself. The stressful situations, such as verbal abuse and neglect, that she puts Alison through at a young age most likely trigger Alison’s OCD later on in life. Alison would not engage in a “self-soothing autistic loop” if Helen asked Bruce for a divorce earlier, avoided yelling at him, or stopped him from yelling at the children. Alison would not feel

Alison believes Helen is an idealistic young woman who has become entrapped in her relationship with Bruce. Alison’s comparison of Helen to a character out of a Henry James book reveals that she does not realize how closed off her mother truly is. In order to have productive conversations, Alison extracts information from Helen. The only time that Helen initiates conversations with her daughter is when she wants to complain about Bruce. In most traditional households, the wife conceals the negative feelings that she has towards her husband to prevent the children from resenting their father. In Fences by August Wilson, Rose does not agree with Troy’s toughness, but she still supports her son’s ambitions and tries to convince Troy that times have changed. Rose respects Troy even after she learns about his affair and illegitimate baby. When Cory refuses to attend his father’s funeral, Rose explains that Troy always meant well for him. Helen is a striking contrast to Rose. Rather than processing her husband’s death and helping her children cope with it, Helen moves on with her life. Immediately after Bruce’s funeral, Helen tries to bestow a book on Joan which shows that she has no remorse for Bruce or her children. Alison does not have anyone to