October in the Chair

Through two different narratives in “October in the Chair,” Neil Gaiman portrays family bonds as both uniting and dividing forces. Primarily, the theme of family is central to Runt’s story in the embedded narrative. In this story, family ties erode and eventually become undone. The Runt’s family situation is negative, and he feels lost in the mix and as though his twin brothers and his parents’ interests take precedence over his well-being. For instance, his mother “described herself as a newspaperwoman, although she mostly sold advertising space and subscriptions: she had gone back to work full-time once the twins were capable of taking care of themselves” (34). The Runt’s brothers take precedence over him, to the point that his mother returns to work once they are independent enough to be left alone, refusing to give the Runt the same attention and guidance. The detail about describing herself as a journalist instead of a salesperson reveals the mother’s focus on roles and expectations. She prioritizes her athletic twin sons because they embody stereotypical teen masculinity. The Runt, by contrast, is small and fragile. While he cannot occupy the same role as his brothers, his nickname shows how he takes on a different, albeit animal, familial role.