The Child’s Love for Both Parents

The Death of Bunny Munro

This flow traces Bunny Junior’s enduring attachment to both parents as he carries memories of Libby and loyalty to Bunny through successive crises.

increasing

Bearing strength in each event

decreasing

The Mother in Memory The Mother in Memory from "The Death of Bunny Munro". The Mother in Memory Love recalled through objects Bunny Junior remembers that Libby gave him the Encyclopaedia because she loved him.

The Mother in Memory from "The Death of Bunny Munro". The Mother in Memory Love recalled through objects Bunny Junior remembers that Libby gave him the Encyclopaedia because she loved him.

The Mother in Memory Love recalled through objects Bunny Junior remembers that Libby gave him the Encyclopaedia because she loved him. The book makes her care present in the room even after her death. A private memorial He uses facts and remembered scenes to bring her back in his mind. His attachment is not an escape from grief but a way to keep their relationship legible.

The Father Beside Him The Father Beside Him from "The Death of Bunny Munro". The Father Beside Him Comfort in proximity Bunny Junior takes some comfort in hearing the television from the living room and knowing Bunny is nearby.

The Father Beside Him from "The Death of Bunny Munro". The Father Beside Him Comfort in proximity Bunny Junior takes some comfort in hearing the television from the living room and knowing Bunny is nearby.

The Father Beside Him Comfort in proximity Bunny Junior takes some comfort in hearing the television from the living room and knowing Bunny is nearby. The father’s presence matters even when he is not actively comforting the boy. A fragile bond The boy wishes Bunny would come into his room and sit with him. His affection survives disappointment, forming the emotional basis of their later journey together.

Pride in the Road Pride in the Road from "The Death of Bunny Munro". Pride in the Road A father's power admired Bunny Junior watches Bunny move confidently through traffic and strangers.

Pride in the Road from "The Death of Bunny Munro". Pride in the Road A father's power admired Bunny Junior watches Bunny move confidently through traffic and strangers.

Pride in the Road A father's power admired Bunny Junior watches Bunny move confidently through traffic and strangers. He sees his father as funny, magnetic, and capable of winning people over. Love shaped by idealization The boy’s admiration helps him endure the trip. It also makes it difficult to see how unsafe Bunny’s behavior has become.

The Father's Bloodied Tie The Father's Bloodied Tie from "The Death of Bunny Munro". The Father's Bloodied Tie Alarm in the car Bunny Junior sees blood on Bunny’s rabbit tie after Charlotte breaks his nose.

The Father's Bloodied Tie from "The Death of Bunny Munro". The Father's Bloodied Tie Alarm in the car Bunny Junior sees blood on Bunny’s rabbit tie after Charlotte breaks his nose.

The Father's Bloodied Tie Alarm in the car Bunny Junior sees blood on Bunny’s rabbit tie after Charlotte breaks his nose. The sight turns a comic, chaotic day into a moment of fear. Care without explanation The boy points out the blood, but Bunny tells him not to ask. Bunny Junior worries privately and returns to his facts, showing how little room the family has for open comfort.

The Son at the Pool The Son at the Pool from "The Death of Bunny Munro". The Son at the Pool An intimate goodbye Bunny Junior stays with his dying father and kisses him. Bunny asks for rest; the boy asks him not to close his eyes.

The Son at the Pool from "The Death of Bunny Munro". The Son at the Pool An intimate goodbye Bunny Junior stays with his dying father and kisses him. Bunny asks for rest; the boy asks him not to close his eyes.

The Son at the Pool An intimate goodbye Bunny Junior stays with his dying father and kisses him. Bunny asks for rest; the boy asks him not to close his eyes. Love remains after the loss The boy cannot keep Bunny alive, but he can bear witness to the final moments. His grief follows the love that has sustained him, rather than cancelling it.

The first night after Libby’s death

The night after Libby’s death

During the first drive through Brighton

After Bunny is thrown out of Charlotte’s house

As Bunny dies at Butlins