Wouldn't it stink to be unable to do things like wave at a friend or flip off your enemies? When you become invisible, your entire method of communication changes—which is exactly what happens to Bobby in Things Not Seen. Straight away, he finds that he can't communicate with his parents by simply nodding or shaking his head. All of his nonverbal communication is stripped from him. Maybe that's why he connects so easily with Alicia, who is blind and has also had to learn how to navigate interpersonal relationships without the aid of nonverbal cues. Against the odds, they come to understand each other perfectly.
Questions About Language and Communication
- How would you communicate with people if you became invisible?
- Why does Alicia get so frustrated when people ask about her blindness?
- What do you think Alicia tries to say in the poem she writes for Bobby?
Chew on This
When Bobby becomes invisible, he gives up most normal forms of nonverbal communication and ends up using the phone and instant messaging a lot more.
Even though Bobby's parents may seem cold and analytical about his situation, they are expressing their concern and trying to figure out the problem in their own way. They just have a more academic way of communicating their feelings.