Gordon's Internal Conflict with His Family

Gordon's struggle with feeling invisible and unloved in his family, and his journey to find his own identity.

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The Invisible Boy

The Invisible Boy The Family Dynamic Gordon is the younger son, born when his parents were older. Dennis is the golden child, the focus of all attention. After Dennis dies, Gordon expects to be noticed, but instead he becomes even more invisible. His parents are lost in their grief. The Dinner Table Gordon describes a typical dinner where he asks for the butter and is ignored while his parents discuss Dennis. He feels like a ghost. The neglect is not malicious but it is deeply painful. He learns that his presence is not enough to break through their grief. The Coping Mechanism Gordon turns to writing as a way to be heard. His stories are a cry for attention, but they also give him a sense of control. He creates worlds where he is the center, a stark contrast to his real life.

The Confrontation with His Father

The Confrontation with His Father The Garden Conversation Gordon asks his father if he can camp out. His father, watering the dead garden, gives a grudging permission but then criticizes Gordon's friends, calling Chris a thief and Vern a feeble. Gordon defends them, but his father's words sting. The Unspoken Grief Gordon sees his father's grief and recognizes that his father is not really angry at him, but at the world. The confrontation is a rare moment of direct communication, but it is unsatisfying. Gordon feels both pity and resentment. The Aftermath Gordon leaves for the trip with a heavy heart. The conversation reinforces his feeling that his father sees him as a disappointment. He is determined to prove himself, but he also knows that his father's love is reserved for the dead.

Throughout childhood, especially after Dennis's death

Friday morning, before the trip