Growing up Quote by Alison Bechdel
““How Horrid" has a slightly facetious tone that strikes me as Wildean. It appears to embrace the actual horror--puberty, public disgrace--then at the last second nimbly sidesteps it, laughing.””
About This Quote
Source Graphic Novel: “Dykes to Watch Out for…”, 1990
The passage uses humor to confront puberty’s horrors, blending Wildean wit with a candid look at embarrassment and growth.
In simple terms: Humor masks puberty’s painful moments.
Key Takeaway
Use humor to face awkward growth.
Themes
humor
puberty
vulnerability
literature
Mood
wry
reflective
Type
literary
analytical
When to use this quote
- adolescence
- self‑acceptance
Key Concepts
graphic memoir
coming‑of‑age
Questions to Reflect On
- How does comedy help process discomfort?
- When does humor become avoidance?
A Different Perspective
Humor may downplay serious issues.
![“I failed, I think, seven [or] eight times before I finally got my first [championship]. It was just, you know, just about me growing up. Now that I'm an old, old veteran-age 29-I do things a lot differently. I don't go to the gentlemen's clubs anymore. I had to slow that down.” quote by Shaquille O'Neal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/08f/shaquille-o-neal-659_age_i-failed-i-think-seven-or-eight-times-be_2731.jpg)
