Fun Home

 Will Pikus

The graphic novel Fun Home has many interesting themes. The ideas of gender identity, sexual orientation, and even death all swirl together to create a fantastic story. Much of the story focuses on the author’s relationship with her father. This is where the theme of homosexuality comes in. Unbeknownst to her, her father Bruce is and always has been a closeted gay man. He had a homosexual relationship in the military, and he’s also had relationships with some of his students. Many of those students were family friends and babysitters for the family. 

Possibly one of the most daunting parts of the book is where Bechdel writes that there was a time where he father’s secret was almost revealed. This is followed by pictures of a notebook that show Bruce will be going to a psychiatrist. Bechdel notes that her father was in a jacket and tie. This was nothing like his usual attire. Bechdel notes he would usually be wearing cut-off jeans. A shattering moment surfaces when Alison questions her father, and he only says “I’m bad. Not good like you” (153).  This lets us know what it was like to be closeted at the time. It wasn’t normal. It was seen as a mental illness to be treated and kicked out. It also lets us know that Bruce sees himself as a villain and a bad person. Alison notes that she viewed her father as somewhat of a sissy.  This is because Bruce was trying to make Alison more feminine. 

Bruce ends up dying by his own hand. Because of the AIDS epidemic, Bechdel notes that her father probably would not have made it much longer anyway. 


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