In the graphic novel "Fun Home" by Alison Bechdel, she talks about her family but more about her relationship with her father. He portrays his father as an emotionally disconnected man while still trying to figure out his ways. Bechdel talks about how the two are complete opposites and uses her images to replace some of the text. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay Bechdel's father, Bruce, was an English teacher and a World War II veteran. He loved literature and the aesthetics of the surface. She portrayed him as a very feminine man and talks about his obsession with flowers and artificial superficial beauty of all kinds. This is demonstrated by his constant obsession with fixing up his house (Bechdel, 2006, p. 5). Bechdel explains that in her opinion “she treated her furniture like children and her children like furniture” (Bechdel, 2006, p. 14). He calls it “the Daedalus of furniture” (Bechdel, 2005, p. 6), referring to Greek mythology when Daedalus created the labyrinth to trap the Minotaur. Bechdel refers to this, to say that his father's obsession was entrapping. People often got lost in the house because there were so many mirrors, statues and corridors (Bechdel, 2005, p. 20). Bruce does this intentionally to hide what he is truly afraid to reveal, the shame of his homosexuality. Because of his obsession with the house, Bechdel develops a disgust for all its ornaments and decorations, he sees them as a lie (Bechdel, 2005, p. 16). He portrays his father as a skilled artifice, as he not only hides the truth but uses this skill to appear as something he is not. Just as he uses land and makeup to appear younger or to appear more “perfect,” he uses his home and family to appear to be the perfect father (p. 16, 17). However, in reality, he neglects his children and has multiple relationships with teenagers. He is a very strict man who lacks any trust, love or margin for error, making their home a very unpleasant place to be. However, Bruce provides Bechdel with the basic needs of what a father must provide, but without depth or emotion. Bechdel explains how she and her father are complete opposites in many situations. “For my father I was a Spartan, an Athenian. Modern to its Victorian. Butch to his Nelly. Utilitarian for his aesthete” (Bechdel, 2006, p. 15). One difference was that he used artifice to deceive others, while she used her art to tell the truth. In the novel, he often stops to make sure the story he is telling comes from his experience and his subjective understanding of situations, the opposite of what his father did. He is portrayed as a deceitful man who will do almost anything to make himself look better, regardless of how it would make anyone else feel. Bruce was seen as a very selfish man. Bruce's "story" can also be seen in opposition to Bechdel's. Although she was able to openly express her sexuality and identity, Bruce never did. Bruce built walls and trapped himself to hide the truth. He had multiple affairs with his wife and mistreated his children. His actions were the result of his hidden shame. He never seemed to be okay or happy with who he was, but he was proud of his daughter for coming out and expressing herself at such a critical time, something she had never done. Bruce saw his daughter more as an intellectual companion than as his own daughter. as he grew up (Bechdel, 2006, p. 201). They both loved literature and that's how they often communicated. When Bruce decided to hint at his sexuality to Bechdel he did so through a book. He gave her "Earthly Paradise" to read. AND.