Asterios Polyp

David Mazzucchelli’s graphic novel is in the simplest viewpoint, a story of a man, filled with regrets who reinvent himself, learning from his past and unfolding experiences, and manages to get a second chance with the love of his life.  This synopsis does not however do this novel justice, as the near 400 page piece of work is brimming with symbolism, thematic content, and philosophies.  Just a few of the

Themes contained are the truth and fallacies of duality, the shifting of perspective, and how perspective shapes reality, the importance of our relationships and experiences in shaping who we become, the harm that can be caused by hubris, and the importance of forgiveness and patience. 

            Mazzucchelli engages the viewer in a dialogue on perception not only with his prose and the unfolding of the narrative, but more interestingly in the way in which he conveys the characters and environments of the novel.  Environments are displayed using color, contrast and linework that aren’t so much intended to illustrate the environments clearly or realistically, but moreover how the character interprets them in the story.  The same can be said of the character’s themselves.  Asterios tends to be drawn as a rather 2 dimensional, more graphic representation of himself.  At time when he is shown to be conflicting or contrasting with Hanna, however, he is shown as a geometric blueprint of himself, heightening the logical, formulaic nature of the character.  In these sequences Hanna herself takes on a more painterly, less defined style of illustration.  Even the character’s dialogue is represented based on a reflection of their character, and the way they speak.  Voice bubbles and text is individual to all the characters, and the viewer can almost get a sense of the character’s voice based on its graphic representation.  The storyline itself, and the sequences of the book, particularly the metaphorical dream sequences also speak great deals about the perception of the characters.  We see over the span of the novel that the culmination of all of Asterios’ experiences, his life changed drastically as a result of his experiences, and it is because of these changes that he earns himself a second chance.