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Motifs are recurring structures, contrasts, or literary devices that can help to develop and inform the text’s major themes.
Crush
The second part of the graphic novel is called “Crush,” a term that symbolizes Nick’s and Charlie’s experiences as well as the story’s end. In the context of a graphic novel about teen romance, “crush” describes Charlie and Nick’s emerging feelings for one another—the blush of new romantic interest. The boys also physically crush each other as they attempt to understand their feelings, tackling and wrestling both on the rugby pitch and at each other’s homes. Paralleling the way both boys are grappling with what their relationship means, these moments serve as opportunities to test the boundaries of their new feelings for each other and to explore their physical as well as emotional connection. Finally, “crushed” is an accurate description of Charlie’s emotions and sense of self at the novel’s end. He doesn’t know Nick’s intentions or feelings, so he is left alone with his hands empty by his side, apologizing to no one, crushed at the thought that he has been abandoned.
Falling Leaves
Throughout its pages, the graphic novel is decorated with falling leaves, which symbolize transition and change, mirroring the idea of one season ending and another one beginning. For Charlie and Nick, the start of the new term means a change in class structure that brings them together and springboards them into a new phase in their lives. Much as leaves fall from the branches of a tree, these two boys experience the joy of falling in love, perhaps for the first time. The leaves falling in the background thus serve as a visual reminder of the emotional journey Charlie and Nick are on. As a symbol of the end of fall and the move towards the darkness of winter, the leaves also represent endings. For Charlie, this means recognizing that his relationship with Ben is not a relationship at all. For Nick, this means letting go of old ideas of who he is and coming to a deeper realization of who he might be.
First and Second Bells
Charlie’s reaction to the first and second bells at school reflect his emotional connection to those around him. Truham Grammar School for Boys uses a two-bell system to warn students that a new period is about to start. Early in the novel, Ben gets frustrated with Charlie because he pulls away from their make-out session after the first bell. Ben wants to prolong their time together, but Charlie is tiring of the secret nature of their relationship. His withdrawal is an important, recurring signal that he simply doesn’t want to be with Ben anymore. But when Charlie is with Nick, the situation changes. Suddenly, Charlie doesn’t know whether the ringing bell is first or second. Charlie becomes so involved in the moment, enjoying the intimacy of a shared joke with Nick, that he can’t concentrate on everyday expectations. His reaction suggests he’s lost track of time and of his sense of the outside world. It also shows the difference between a casual hookup and a real, burgeoning relationship with a potential romantic partner.
