Scalar Class Project: Loss

Imagery in To My Bones

Reverte's use of imagery manages to get the reader in the mindset of the narrator, staying hopeful at first, before delving into horror, disgust and shock. This is exemplified by the way in which much of the text and pictures look hand-drawn. This makes the story feel incredibly personal and real. Like every word and image were written by the narrator herself in her poetry book or diary. For instance this picture looks like a motivational picture the narrator drew for herself. It truly conveys the hope that the narrator had for self-improvement and weight loss. Through both the image and the text the reader is given the sense that things are getting better and that the narrator has set-goals and a determination to get better.

However, this tone and general sense changes quickly as the narrator's eating disorder slowly manifests itself, the images becoming more grotesque and horrifying while the text conveys the growing sense of dread and fear brought upon by the anxiety and anorexia gnawed away at her. This shift is very obviously signified in the next picture with an image of her, crouched down, head in her hands, naked. The words at the top of the screen saying "It wasn't good enough". Floating around her are the self-deprecating words that her anxiety whispers into her ears letting her know she wasn't good enough.

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