Masculinity In Alison Bechdel's Fun Home

ideal male figure through Batman - rigid physique and an absurd amount of intellectual capability without the beneficial attributes that are given to superheroes. In contrast, superhero graphic novels such as Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster’s “Superman” show an extraterrestrial being with superhero attributes who is idolized as the ideal male figure. Scholars believe that Clark Kent serves as an inspiration for the “American” man as well because of his ability to step out of the superhero world into reality and disguises himself as a comparatively simple news reporter (Aro M). Superman’s values are similar to that of Batman; he wants justice for all and for criminals to pay a price. This assists in fortifying his appearance of being a man because

Alison dreams to live in the world of masculinity that was shown through her father.“I had recently discovered some of Dad’s old clothes. Putting on a formal shirt with its studs and cufflinks was a nearly mystical pleasure, like finding myself fluent in a language I’d never been taught” (Bechdel 182). Here Bechdel shows masculinity through the descriptions and illustrations of her father’s attire. From her novel, she shows the audience how the appearance of masculinity can grant one strength and one the illusion of power. Another example of Bechdel’s dreams of manhood is when she requests to be called Albert opposed to her given name (Bechdel 113). Bechdel’s attempts to change her name into something more masculine allows the audience to see her determination and willpower which are generally elements of the masculine figure. Additionally, Bechdel’s father plays a major role in helping to define masculinity, or lack there of, in “Fun Home”. His level of femininity is greater than his masculinity, for example his compulsion to perfect everything around their home. Bechdel 's compares herself to her father in that “I was Spartan to my father’s Athenian, modern to his victorian, butch to his nelly, utilitarian to hsi aesthete” (Bechdel 15). She takes on the male appearance through her roughness and her carelessness for aesthetics, and t is clear that in Bechdel’s “Fun Home,” masculinity is a recurring