Sexuality In Bechdel's Life

When Bechdel reflects on her life it is impossible to ignore the powerful affect her father had on her. The more she learns about her father the better she understands how she became the person she is today. As she became aware of his closeted sexuality it became apparent how strongly that affected her childhood, her own sexual awakening, and her relationship with literature. Her father was conflicted, and the focus on fixing up the house was a way to cover up the disarray the house was really in. She explains this when she calls the décor “lies” (16) and how they were a distraction from the “shame” that inhabited their home. These memories of him growing up were important to her discovering her sexuality. When she discovered her and her father’s