The Deep End

In the story’s exposition, the family’s issues are introduced, along with Greg’s creative illustrations and unique perspective. In describing the state of his family at present, Greg uses a common expression: “We’re ALL going a little nuts, and if things don’t change soon, I think we’re gonna go off the deep end” (1). Using the illustrations for additional context clues, the reader then pieces together why Greg’s family is struggling. After a recent construction mishap, the Heffleys are low on money, and Greg’s family was never rich to begin with. The family is always together, which is a problem because family members struggle to get along, and Greg is particularly bothered by the fact that everything seems to be scheduled around Manny’s needs or his father’s work schedule. It sheds perspective on the realities of low-income family life and how each member is forced to adapt to the other’s needs, whether they like it or not. Although the novel does not mention the COVID-19 pandemic directly, this scenario would be acutely familiar to readers when the book was published in October 2020, during widespread lockdown. The novel deals implicitly with changes caused to social and family life at this time.

Greg compares his situation to the Noah’s Ark story from the Bible; thinking about all the animals and Noah being confined to such a small space for so long comforts him and helps him press forward. This is the first of many references to Christianity, which shapes the novel’s exploration of family values, hope and trust, and resilience. Greg thinks critically about the stories in the Bible, commenting on the logistics behind the ark and the animals on it, albeit from a humorous perspective. Greg likely gets his optimism from his mother, who is always charging forward and keeping her head held high despite life’s setbacks. Sometimes this can be a setback in itself, as her eagerness and difficulty in Managing Expectations sometimes leads to the family being less than prepared for what might occur; after hearing about all the possible dangers of camping from the man at the camping store, Greg is certain this is true. The family proves its lack of experience when it makes three wrong stops: once in a farmer’s field, once in a piranha hatchery, and once on a baseball pitch. It seems that no matter what the Heffleys do, they do it wrong, and there is a strong sense of even more trouble to come. Ironically, the family goes on a vacation to escape isolation and conflict, but Greg notes that the camper is even more confined than the basement, and tensions only seem to heighten with each passing day.

Greg’s story is written in the form of a diary-style graphic novel. It is reminiscent of a stereotypical kids’ notebook, filled with cartoon illustrations, imaginative ideas, and humorous digs at the people around him. The black ink and total lack of color, along with the lined paper backdrop, adds to this illusion. Greg’s illustrations are basic but detailed enough to distinguish between characters. For instance, Greg has three hairs on his head, Rodrick has five, and Greg’s dad has a two-hair combover. Some characters, such as Greg’s mom (whose glasses contain her face) and Manny (who is tiny with large teeth) are caricaturized, while others are simplified down to their most basic form. The illustrations add humor but, perhaps more importantly, they add context to Greg’s words and show the ways he views others, creating visual metaphors. Some important details are not stated, but only suggested through the drawings, such as Greg’s imagining of his life as a squirrel, or the sound of dozens of campers snoring around him at night. Greg ventures into all different types of humor, including irony, sarcasm, toilet humor, slapstick humor, and dry humor. Greg’s drawings are also his way of Handling Fear and Anxiety, as he can process his world through his illustrations.