Daniel Clowes Ghost World: Argumentative Comparison Essay -- Ghost Wo

Pictured on the back cover of the comic book phantom World, by Daniel Clowes, are the two main characters of the book in full color. This strikingly significant image, surely shrugged off by most Clowes readers, represents worlds of diversity at heart the frames of the book. Sporting pink spandex pants underneath her goldfinch yellow skirt and a blue t-shirt to match perfectly, Enid seems to live her life outside the bubble. Shes a very dynamic girl, especially interested in her surroundings and multitude around her. On the other hand, Becky is dressed like a typical girl, with a long black skirt and a white blouse, thus representing her conforming presence in the world. Becky is much more passive than Enid, going with the flow of things just now living life. The contrasting personalities of Enid and Becky come ironically, being best friends. However, it brings out their defining qualities in the comic book while quietly calling attention to the value of life, what is real and what is not. The title page on the second page of the book can be analyzed to show how Enid lives a different life than those on the inside. The illustration is colored in a light hue of blue, somewhat casting a bleak and lifeless feeling. The picture shows Enid walking down the highway with her hands in her pockets, back turned. Nighttime falls as the luminous moon watches down on Ghost World at dusk, casting Enids eclipse down on the sidewalk behind her. To her right is a house with window and the phrase Ghost World scrawled on the side of building. Everything in the snap is shaded and colored in a robins egg b... ...ple, or the adorable old man who bought the pathetic flowers from the grocery store to take home to his wife. Becky doesnt notice these splendid details that Enid does, nor does she care very much. In any case, they are i n different worlds. Whose world is real? Theres no answer to that. If its real to them, then thats what it entrust be. The characters are diverse in the comic book, and it helps for the reader to not only understand the plot and distinguish between the two characters, but to show that people are naturally different, immature or mature, conforming or nonconforming. Diversity makes the world what it is, and thats as real is it can get. Work CitedClowes, Daniel. Ghost World Fantagraphics (April 1, 2001)