37 pages • 1 hour read
Jeff KinneyThe Deep End
Fiction | Graphic Novel/Book | Middle Grade | Published in 2020A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Background
Literary Context: Diary of a Wimpy Kid Series
The Deep End is part of the successful and lucrative Diary of a Wimpy Kid franchise, which includes the original graphic novel series, a spin-off series, three animated film adaptations and a live-action film series, merchandise, and author appearances. Diary of a Wimpy Kid was created by the author and cartoonist Jeff Kinney (b. 1971) in 1998. It was first released as online entries for an adult audience 2005-2006 while Kinney worked to create the first novel. In 2006, Kinney signed a multi-book deal and the first book in the series, Diary of a Wimpy Kid, was published in 2007. At present, the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series runs to 19 titles with over 250 million copies of the books sold around the world. The series has a wide following and reach, and each new book rapidly rises into the bestseller charts on its release. The popularity of the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series has helped to shape the modern middle-grade genre, particularly graphic novels.
Kinney deliberately created Greg Heffley as an anti-hero: he is immoral, self-centered, and engages in delinquent behavior. This may partly be because Kinney originally intended to publish a comic strip-style book for the adult humor section, but was advised that his content would resonate better with the 8-12-year-old audience. This change of audience creates tension in the potential reception of the series by readers: read by adults, it is a satirical and ironic portrayal of a past time of life; read by middle-schoolers, it is more likely to be taken at face value. Some commentators have considered Greg an unsuitable role model, arguing that many young readers don’t perceive the irony of his anti-hero role, seeing his attitudes and behavior as a bad influence. The success of the series is considered to rest largely on its appeal to boys, who make up the majority of reluctant readers. The flawed protagonist and humorous mayhem that follows Greg everywhere appeals to both boys and girls but the book particularly deals with the experience of being a young teenage boy, including the pressures of status and the anxieties of incipient adolescence. The anti-hero status of the protagonist creates humor and a relatable experience for young readers. The tone and subject of the series eschews the moralizing or didactic tone of much middle-grade literature.
Cultural Context: The Nuclear American Family
Greg Heffley comes from a typical nuclear American family, but one that is never depicted as perfect or angelic. The Heffleys struggle with money like many American families, further adding to their relatability. In The Deep End, the premise is built around their tight budget after a construction accident and the family’s resilience in adapting to these stressful circumstances.
Each member of the family has flaws, and Appreciating Family becomes an especially important part of The Deep End as a result. This lack of idealism is key to the series’ realistic engagement with the middle-grade experience. The fact that Greg and his family are flawed is contentious for audiences. Some commentators and parents feel that Kinney’s use of unidealized middle-school diction, including toilet humor and semi-offensive language like describing panic as “crazy,” and the non-judgmental portrayal of the mistakes Greg makes in his daily life (such as avoiding the consequences of his actions at the pool party) make Greg a poor role model. Kinney and his fans argue that Greg’s flaws are precisely what makes him appealing. Furthermore, featuring a flawed protagonist means that readers, particularly children who are discovering their own sense of personhood and morality, are given the chance to examine Greg’s choices through a critical lens (Thomas, Megan. “Diary of a Wimpy Kid author Jeff Kinney shares his book picks for middle readers.” CNN, 2022). The book makes Greg’s flaws ironically apparent through his first-person narrative, although he is often not aware of them. Similarly, the flaws of his family are seen through his eyes, challenging the reader to parse Greg’s critical perspective of his family when evaluating the other characters. Greg’s mother is particularly optimistic, never allowing the limits of a budget or a bad day ruin the chances of having a better one tomorrow. Although this is often portrayed by Greg as an annoyance, the book continually offers parallel readings to the more aware reader.
Children who read about Greg and his misfortunes relate to his life, his insecurities, his difficulties in Handling Fear and Anxiety, and the social and familial isolation he often feels as a middle child. The tension between the three (male) children of the family is explicit in the series, as Greg is bullied by his older brother, Rodrick, and is in turn contemptuous of his younger brother, Manny. The Deep End focuses on family dynamics through the setting of the family vacation, making it different from most of the series, which concentrates on Greg’s life during school term. Much of the book’s emotional action rests on the removal of Greg from his usual school context, where he is academically unsuccessful and an unpopular bully of other kids, often mistreating his more socialized best friend, Rowley. The Deep End places Greg in new and unknown situations, showing him navigating his interactions with unfamiliar boys at the campsite and exploring his vulnerability.
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