Jojo in NonFic :0

The complexity of the story of Fun Home makes it relateable to many people who might not have the same experiences, but it also makes it extremely sad. Alison seems to be grasping at straws to understand her father better. It's true that people are complex and multifaceted and imperfect, and it's also true that she seems at least a little bit aware of her biases (e.g. calling herself out on lack of outrage with father's underage sexual relations). However, the entire structure of the book reveals her to be extremely lost. She tries to explain her father's death as a suicide in a convoluted attempt at connection. This example itself is sad to me, because it references a lifetime of neglect and apathy, yet the author meets it with hope and delusional trust. I see this with my close relationships as well. I think it's natural and loyal to try to have more grace and faith in those who matter to you even if some of their actions are surprising and questionable. That said...

Dr. Nolan is a crucial figure in many of Esther's moments where she needs some reassurance and validation.  In the beginning of their relationship, when Esther expresses hesistance to reenter shock therapy after her traumatic experience with Dr. Gordon, Dr. Nolan immediately validates her experience. Esther was cautious to even tell Dr. Nolan-- “I gave Doctor Nolan a wary look. I thought the doctors must all be in it together, and that somewhere in this hospital, in a hidden corner, there reposed a machine exactly like Doctor Gordon’s, ready to jolt me out of my skin” (252). When Dr. Nolan firmly asserts that the experience was not supposed to be like that, and that it was bad because Dr. Gordon had made a mistake, she effectively sides with Esther. This sets a new precedent between the two, where any dishonesty in the form of professional "doctor-doctor relationship" reservations is not a risk. This also helps distance Dr. Nolan from other medical professionals Esther vi...