Some of my favorite parts of the story were when Thompson recalled his experiences of sharing a bed with his younger brother. Thematically, his relationship with his brother represents his holistic struggle between submitting to the influences of his past and facing developing himself as he grown up independently. Craig also has similar conflicts concerning Raina, and his religion.
Often, Craig and his brother's experiences are cut short in some way by "reality," or facing adult expectations, which illustrates how he must ultimately defy dependency. Occasions which best represent this theme are when the boys create electric sparks with their bed sheets, pee on each other, and eventually get their own beds. For the first, the boys are disappointed when after sharing their exciting discovery with their parents, are told that it is not "little glittery sprites" in their bed, but merely static. Next, when their mother discovers the boys peeing on each other, Craig mentions that taking a shower to clean up rather than a bath signified an unspoken--and arguably unwanted--transition into adulthood. Lastly, after finally getting their own beds, the brothers end up sharing by choice, until "seeking refuge in each other's beds became completely inexcusable," which highlights the influence of outside pressures to grow out of childish behavior. As a whole, Craig's relationship with his brother is the most light hearted avenue of addressing individuality, a major theme in Blankets.
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