66 pages • 2 hours read
Wink
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Symbols & Motifs
Eyes
The story’s focus is an aggressive form of eye cancer that threatens Ross’s vision as well as his life; eyes are therefore central to the story and its themes, symbolizing concepts like control and communication and reminding readers to Never Judge by Appearances. Ross places great stock in the power eyes possess. That he reaches for visual art whenever he encounters a problem illustrates this; he envisions a way to seize control of the situation and then executes his vision in his sketchbook (particularly in the Batpig comics). Other people’s eyes, however, hold power over Ross because those eyes can judge, mock, pity, and shame him. He’d rather avoid people’s eyes for most of the story, assuming those people are like him and base their opinions on appearances. After his eye literally loses its focus and he metaphorically sees that his opinion of Sarah was based on a façade, he takes control over what others see with his rowdy performance and his mohawk.
The scene when Dr. Sheffler conveys the bad news about Ross’s tumor to the Maloys is an example of eyes’ symbolism. Sheffler looks each of the Maloys in the eye before he speaks, suggesting serious communication and close attention. Once the Maloys hear the bad news, they stare in silence; in this context, staring eyes communicate shock, disbelief, and fear. Sheffler admits he never expected to see a tumor like the one Ross has, which indicates an underlying wish he’d never have to witness a patient with this type of cancer. There are passages like these throughout the narrative because the mention of eyes, what eyes do or what eyes communicate, reveals characters’ emotions.
Visual Art
Visual art is a motif that contributes to the narrative’s and illustrates Ross’s point of view. Although Ross’s situation is serious, his tone is often whimsical, and this extends to his sketches and comics. Some sketches depict objects Ross is describing, such as the scar between his eyebrows and the sketch of Louis Armstrong. These realistic drawings contrast with Ross’s surreal pieces, which appear when he visually interprets his own ideas. The surreal pictures support Ross’s humorous tone.
Ross’s illustration of himself in Chapter 24 is one of the surreal pictures. The context involves Ross sharing his problems with Frank. Ross’s problems are serious, but as he narrates the manner of his confession, he finds a way to lighten the tone with a comical metaphor—“word barf” (194). His illustration of the metaphor follows: It shows Ross’s head, his right eye shut, his mouth wide open, and a torrent of words shooting from his mouth. Even though the context is serious, Ross’s tone is wry and comical, and the sketch adds to the humor.
The Batpig comics have their own role in the story, illustrating Ross’s point of view on events in his life. Batpig serves as an alter ego who occupies a world in which he almost always triumphs. There are some Batpig entries exploring problems that are personal, such as the comic strip about Ross’s mother in Chapter 12. The comic’s storyline reflects what Ross feels when he reminisces about his mother: Batpig is sad his mother is gone, but he remembers her presence and talks about her with his father, which helps. The comic’s story matches Ross’s situation, but the last frame shows Batpig flying away, ready to vanquish bad guys. The Batpig comic helps him work through his feelings but also shows how he wishes his life could be. His point of view, as illustrated in the comic, is hopeful, sentimental, and humorous.
Music
Music is a motif that provides Ross with the means to connect with himself and other characters, developing two important themes: Authentic Self-Expression Is Liberating and Connection and Communication Are Essential to Survival. From the first chapter, music works as a symbol for Ross’s approach to living. Ross is at first ambivalent about music, much like he’s ambivalent about his place in the world. He’s afraid of being different and sticking out; even before the cancer, he wanted to blend into the crowd. His first music choices at the radiation center symbolize his wish to conform: They are safe, popular, and unrepresentative of Ross’s identity. Frank is convinced Ross is stifling his true nature; Frank asks him to bring music only he loves, but he would rather defer to Frank’s judgment. However, when Ross listens to Frank’s music, he comes alive; the music reflects his feelings, and he wants to use the music to express those feelings. Ross decides he’ll learn to play the guitar, but learning to play music, like life itself, is difficult. Nothing emphasizes the symbolism of music more than the F chord, which Ross finds ridiculously hard. He asks Frank if there’s an easier way to replicate the sound an F chord makes, but Frank encourages him to practice more. Similarly, Ross thinks living authentically is a ridiculously hard endeavor, but tricks can’t help him: He has to work at it, make mistakes, and never stop trying. He concludes the narrative by proclaiming, “I’m gonna master that F chord if it kills me” (314), as if he’s promising to master his life by practicing the art of self-expression.
Ross’s decision to learn guitar also helps him connect with others more authentically: He and Abby strengthen their bond over his musical education, he relates to Jimmy by playing with him, and he empathizes with Jerry’s regret over never playing the trumpet professionally. These connections, both emotional and interpersonal, encourage Ross to share his pain and expel his fears publicly with his punk rock performance.
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