One of the first sections that really caught my attention read, “It was somewhere during those early years that I began confusing us with the Adams family” (34). To me, the Adams family was a terrifying piece of popular culture. I hated watching it, and their family dynamic made me uncomfortable. I was so interested to see that this young girl was identifying with this completely unusual family who was so far outside of social norms. Within the context of this class, I noticed that Alison’s comparison followed a certain narrative of assimilation. Her family was so strange and unusual that they seemed to embrace their nonconformity, rather than attempt to change. They were assimilating to the culture of being an outsider. I think that this family agreement to be different is seen throughout the rest of the novel through her parents’ marriage, Alison’s disappointment in her father outshining her when she announces her sexuality, her father’s strange death, etc.
The next section that captured my attention read, “Not only were we inverts. We were inversions of one another. While I was trying to compensate for something unmanly in him, he was attempting to express something feminine through me” (98). I was intrigued by this section because it was a unique take on their relationship. They are perfect opposites. We had talked about the romance narrative being a result of opposites attracting, but this story doesn’t work in the exact same manner. They are like two halves to a whole. Their relationship is not quite a romance and not quite a friendship, but they almost seem to need each other. Within the story, I think her age and the loss of her father will push her to identify herself without him, which is essential. She needs to learn who she is as a person, not who she is as opposite of her father.
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I really like how you mention that they are two halves of a whole. It is interesting to me to think of family dynamics and how you can be so connected to a parent who you aren't emotionally invested in. I think in this case, Alison does not seem to have any emotional value in her relationship with her father nor do they seem very close at all but yet they still share such astounding qualities that will make them so entangled in one another for the entirety of her life. I feel for her this may be a hard to sort of see herself an something separate from her father.
ReplyDeleteI really like your second selection. I agree, they did seem to be two halves to a whole. Throughout the text, it seems she has a lot of resentment towards her father. I find it interesting that they have more in common than they know, and yet they live such different lives. I would have thought that if the father would have had an inkling that his daughter was gay, that he would have tried to be closer with her because he understands what it is like.
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