The final chapter of Fun Home, really doesn't focus on race, ethnicity or religion too much. The lack of these topics in the ending of her book, I think, reveals Alison Bechdel's views towards them. The ideas of them are hinted at through her father's need for their family to appear as the typical, white, Catholic, American family. By keeping race, ethnicity and religion out of the end of the book, when her story is concluded, Bechdel is showing how unimportant these things really are. The bulk of the last chapter deals with Alison attempting to connect with her father, and have him really come out to her. Her desires have nothing to with the outside appearance of race, ethnicity or religion, but rather with the true thoughts and feelings of her father. This desire to really know her father is shown on page 225 she reveals the truest moment of bonding with her father while they are playing the piano. "It was unusual, and we were close. But not close enough" (225).
On page 220, Bechdel shows one her most profound memories of her father, when they are driving in the car. This is the first, and only real time her father opens up and tells the truth to Alison. This truth is not brought on by any of our topics; a share of beliefs or outward connection, but is rather brought on by what Alison really believes is important. She shows how important human connection and sharing feelings, especially with family, really is to her.
What I concluded from this book, based on our topic, is that Bechdel strongly believes that who a person is is based on their inner self. She makes this comparison to her father's way of thinking, which was basically opposite of Alison's (or at least based on his actions). Our topic was not very prevalent throughout this book, but what did you guys take from Fun Home in relation to race, ethnicity and religion?
-Jordan
Jordan, the lack of Alison's connection to her Catholic roots is also demonstrated when her professor says that Catholic students will recognize a certain narrative technique. She thinks to herself, "We will?" (208). While she may not connect to religion, she never really outright says this in the book. On page 214 we actually get a sense of her denouncing the church for the first time through a poster in her room that reads "KEEP YOUR GOD OFF MY BODY". It may be possible that Alison kept a lot of her negative feelings towards religion out the book because she does not want to offend/mock her family, who is still Catholic. Just a thought!
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ReplyDeleteI agree with what you said Jordan, because of the fact Alison comes from a white, middle class family, race naturally doesn't play a huge role in the book. But, it doesn't mean that what she is alluding to pretty much the whole book is that what matters is what is on the inside of a person, like you said. All she wanted was to be accepted for who she was by her father, but as we see, he is probably on the exact opposite end of the spectrum. This plays a common role in victims of racism, all that they are looking for is for people to see them for who they are as a person, not what color their skin is.
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