Inkling

Throughout the Rylance family’s evolution, Oppel addresses the complex interplay between themes such as Coping With Grief and overcoming Family Conflict and Communication difficulties. As Peter glories in the ostensible return of The Power of Art and Creativity to his life in the form of Inkling, the novel also implicitly addresses the ethical dilemma of true artistic ownership, for both Peter and Ethan must grapple with issues of artistic integrity and the ethics of assisted art. While both Ethan and Peter benefit from Inkling’s assistance, Ethan adopts a far more ethical approach than his father, for he realizes that taking credit for Inkling’s work is a form of dishonesty. When he utilizes Inkling as a teacher and actively improves his own artistic ability, this development stands as a significant yet implicit moral statement on the part of the author: that authenticity in one’s work is far more important than external success. This lesson is emphasized from a different angle when Peter uses Inkling for his own purposes and takes credit for the splotch’s creations. While Peter’s reasons for doing this are clear, the narrative’s descriptions of Inkling’s failing health also imply that the uses to which Peter is putting him are unethical and essentially exploitative.

As Peter’s growing dependence upon Inkling drastically depletes the splotch’s energy, this dynamic can be interpreted as an overt symbol of the relationship that Peter has with Ethan after Olivia’s death. Trapped in the depths of his own depression and grief, Peter increasingly relies on his young son to take over his own household responsibilities, and this pattern reflects the problematic phenomenon of parentification: a situation in which a child is forced to take on parental responsibilities and essentially parent their parent. In Inkling, Oppel tackles this difficult topic by demonstrating the many ways in which Ethan takes on a parent’s role for both Peter and Sarah after his mom dies. This dynamic becomes particularly clear during Sarah’s birthday party. Peter forgets essential things like the cake and the piñata filling and abandons the party to get the missing supplies. As a result, Ethan has to handle seven children on his own: a responsibility that is far too much for someone his age to handle. Because the entire situation arises due to Peter’s lack of planning and outright refusal of other adults’ help, Peter pushes these responsibilities onto his son instead of shouldering the burden himself. The true extent of this pattern is illustrated when Peter forgets the cake a second time and must frost a loaf of bread to improvise. Once again, Ethan is forced to act like a grown-up, for he ensures that Peter does not use hazelnut spread in case of allergies, and he also adds the ninth candle when Peter forgets Sarah’s age. Similarly, on the day after the party, Ethan takes care of Sarah while Peter stays in bed, and his frustration with this ongoing injustice becomes more apparent as the day wears on, for he cannot enjoy the company of his friends or even finish his homework because he has to look after Sarah. Clearly, Peter’s reliance on Ethan as a replacement parent causes severe damage to their relationship.

Children who are parentified often find it hard to trust and depend on others, and Ethan demonstrates this struggle, for he is resistant to the idea of telling his friends that he cannot draw. It is a significant step for Ethan when he talks about his worries and feelings with Inkling. Relying on Inkling and trusting him with his concerns helps Ethan deal with his emotions. However, it also means more responsibility for Ethan, such as when he tries to help his dad by using Inkling to start a story. Even though Peter does not ask Ethan to do this, it shows how much Ethan has taken on himself. However, it is important to note that Peter does not intentionally make Ethan take on adult roles, for parentification typically occurs when a parent is incapacitated by significant trauma. In Peter’s case, his depression makes it hard for him to fulfill his responsibilities at work and at home. It is not that Peter wants Ethan to do everything for him, but his sadness is so immense that he cannot do things for himself. Oppel therefore creates a deeply nuanced and sensitive portrayal of the complexities of Coping With Grief, for just as it is unfair for Ethan to bear such a heavy burden of responsibility, there is also no easy answer to Peter’s inner struggles.

As Ethan spends most of his time worrying about problems that adults should handle, Peter’s treatment of Inkling underscores this issue even more powerfully. As Peter rationalizes harnessing Inkling’s talents for his own use, Ethan’s protective instincts become increasingly strained through Inkling helping Peter. Ethan thought of Inkling as a friend. Now, however, Inkling has become yet another creature that Ethan has to worry about because Peter does not treat him well. Still, Inkling’s help encourages Peter to resume some of the roles that he has been forcing on Ethan. While Ethan is happy to see Peter improving, he also worries about Inkling’s safety. Eventually, Ethan takes Inkling to school to take care of him, even though he knows it makes things worse between him and Peter. Peter’s treatment of Inkling adds to Ethan’s challenges, showing how parentification affects trust.