In chapter five of the fun home you finally see Bechdel and her family, minus her father, going to church. I think that Bechdel and her family were Christian. The reason I think of this is because on page 140 her father gave her a diary and she said, “A curious Memento Mori” (140). Memento Mori is a Latin phrase which means “remember death” or “remember your morality” It was used by many religions such as Christianity and puritans. It was a phrase that the tried using to make sure that people were doing the right thing. It was also a big art movement which also ties with how the medieval times with paintings usually showing death, skulls or things that related to the bubonic plague. The main meaning behind this phrase was to be modest but live your life for the moment. This is how the romans used to use the phrase when their generals would parade down the street after a great battle and they would have a slave whisper Memento Mori in their ear. This also ties really well with the icarus story and how icarus thought highly of himself and flew to close to the sun and hi wings melted. This also connects with her father and how he got killed form the truck and how in the beginning of the chapter she talks about how her father had this radiance to him, a grace, and in the very beginning of the chapter Bechdal talks about her dream and connects this radiance that describes her father with the sun in that dream. Finally, one last imagery is the sun itself in her dream because he father always loved the sunset and all the colors in it but when he finally reaches the top of the hill the sun has set behind the horizon which can be used to also describe him falling from grace and Memento Mori.
-Alex Lopes
Alex, just to clarify Bechdel and her family were members of the Catholic church. I believe it is significant that everyone "minus her father" are going to church, because he of course is considered a sinner. Your explanation of "Memento Mori" is very deep and well thought out! It is interesting to me because I hadn't known anything about the phrase, but you clearly got a much richer reading experience by being familiar with it.
ReplyDelete-Amanda
Alex, this is the first time religion is really focused on. There is a part on page 17 where the family attends church. This is when you first learn Alison's father has sex with young boys. Her father makes them all dress up nice and take a picture. I think this shows the importance of religion in their family. Going to church is solely for the appearance of going to church. It is associated with the show that her father puts on. By revealing his realtionship with young boys in the frame that they are in church, she is showing what is beneath her father's appearance.
ReplyDelete-Jordan
A couple very good point throughout your reflection. I like the last part where you said, "Finally, one last imagery is the sun itself in her dream because he father always loved the sunset and all the colors in it but when he finally reaches the top of the hill the sun has set behind the horizon which can be used to also describe him falling from grace and Memento Mori." it is a small but important message Bechdel is portraying through her pictures. I also appreciated the research on that phrase, which I have never heard before.
ReplyDeleteI liked your comparisons to Icarus and the sun to Bechdel's father. It was pretty clear after reading the chapter that she definitly saw these two characters being very similar due to their certain "radience". Jordan make a great point refering back to page 17, because her dad is absolutely going to church just for the appearence it brings, that has a well to do family that attends church reguraly, to cover up how he has sex with boys and is gay.
ReplyDeleteNick