When going through the reading I marked these pages because, for me, it showed great significance between Hell and the cubby hole. The panel I am going to discuss is page 13 in the very beginning of the book.
In the beginning of the story when Craig and his bother are being disruptive during the night. Craig's father puts Phil into the cubby hole to sleep that night. It surprises me how Phil was chosen to sleep in the cubby hole and not Craig. I would think that since Craig is the oldest and should be more responsible he would be the chosen one for the cubby hole.
In the imagery Craig's father is large and very over powering. When Craig and Phil discuss the foot steps of this father and the imagery of them being scared. He seems to be a strict enforcer as they seem to find him as the most the scariest person in their life. This shows how frightened Craig and Phil are of their father. I was interested how the author illustrated his father. He looks vicious and mean. It would not be a person I would want to grow up around of have my father be.
On pages 62-64, Craig relates to the cubby hole to Hell. When his Sunday school teacher was lecturing about Hell, images of the cubby hole came to him. "But worst of all you can't find these people. You're separated forever. And you can hear them...but you can't TALK to them...or COMMUNICATE...or CONSOLE each other in your pain."(62-64). I believe that this is a very significant panel for the story. He was reminded of the cubby hole that his father induced both him and his brother in, when being bad.
I think this shows how terrible that the cubby hole was for them. A child being locked him, with no communication or no way out. This could almost possibly be the most terrible punishment a child could go through. As a child I could definitely see how this could be related as Hell to them. It also shows how dysfunctional his childhood would be.
I wanted to discuss the relationship that Craig had with himself. It is very clear to see that Craig did not have an easy time growing up or in high school. Not only did he feel pressure from his father but classmates and teachers as well. As if being picked on was not hard enough he was unable to understand himself. He considered life "worthless" and "unbearable." When reading through the story I felt terribly sorry for him.
Craig went through life day by day very unsure and unhappy of himself. He tried his best and was unable to stick up for himself. Not only is growing up hard enough, life can be harder with no self-esteem. I believe he stays in this mind set until he meets Raina. She was able to show him that he we indeed important and loved. She was a life saver for him. When he visits her family they are very open with him. He received more comfort from her family in 20 minutes then he did throughout his entire childhood. Riana is a significant person in his life will make him see how special he is.
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