Fun Home is a graphic novel in which the author, Alison Bechdel, portrays a significant part of her life through the use of allusions. Bechdel uses various allusions to literature to analyze and make sense of her memories. The utilization of the literary device throughout the novel creates a strong connection between Bechdel 's life and various literary works. Allusions are used not only to describe the members of the Bechdel family but also to describe the relationships within the household. Bechdel also uses visual allusions in her graphic novel. Throughout the graphic novel, Fun Home, allusions are used as an effective way to narrate the major incidents of her life to the audience.
In Fun Home, Bechdel alludes to the popular Greek myth about Icarus and Daedalus. According to the myth, Daedalus angers King Minos, the ruler of the island Crete. As punishment, he imprisons him and Icarus in a tower. Determined to escape from the island, Daedalus uses wax and builds wings for himself and his son, Icarus. He warns Icarus to fly at middle height because flying too high will …show more content…
Bechdel writes about Proust 's "intense, emotional" relationships with other women(Bechdel 94). Proust was a homosexual but he never admitted to it during his lifetime. Similarly, Bruce is married to Helen and had a relationship with her. However, he continues to have relationships with other men, like the babysitter and yard work assistant, Roy(Bechdel 94). Bechdel describes Proust and Bruce as "pansies"(Bechdel 93) Bechdel states that Marcel Proust is a bigger pansy than her father(Bechdel 93). Proust "fictionalizes real people in his life by transposing their gender"(Bechdel 94). Bechdel uses allusions to literature to understand her parents. In a way, Bechdel fictionalizes her parents, like Proust, in order to understand her parents. She states that her "parents are most real to her in fictional terms"(Bechdel
In Fun Home, Bechdel alludes to the popular Greek myth about Icarus and Daedalus. According to the myth, Daedalus angers King Minos, the ruler of the island Crete. As punishment, he imprisons him and Icarus in a tower. Determined to escape from the island, Daedalus uses wax and builds wings for himself and his son, Icarus. He warns Icarus to fly at middle height because flying too high will …show more content…
Bechdel writes about Proust 's "intense, emotional" relationships with other women(Bechdel 94). Proust was a homosexual but he never admitted to it during his lifetime. Similarly, Bruce is married to Helen and had a relationship with her. However, he continues to have relationships with other men, like the babysitter and yard work assistant, Roy(Bechdel 94). Bechdel describes Proust and Bruce as "pansies"(Bechdel 93) Bechdel states that Marcel Proust is a bigger pansy than her father(Bechdel 93). Proust "fictionalizes real people in his life by transposing their gender"(Bechdel 94). Bechdel uses allusions to literature to understand her parents. In a way, Bechdel fictionalizes her parents, like Proust, in order to understand her parents. She states that her "parents are most real to her in fictional terms"(Bechdel