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Chris Ware delves deeply into the intricacies of human relationships. He presents us with a variety of people in relationships where we see emotional depth, inner thoughts, insecurities and struggles from the characters. We get to see multiple perspectives, emphasizing how relationships are multifaceted and constantly changing. The complexity Of Ware's story being in multiple pieces also resembles how relationships are pieced together and often confusing. The gaps and holes seen while trying to read and comprehend "Building Stories" by readers demonstrates those that are felt within a relationship. The way the stories are connected, but at the same dont all connect shows the way a relationship can have some disconnect.

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Longing for connection or for a life better than what you have

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The protagonist of Building Stories struggles with depression, and there are multiple points where she is contemplating suicide. Her main reason for this despair is that she feels stuck in her life. She has a dead-end job, struggles with connection, and has no ambition. Ultimately, she wonders who would find her if she were to go through with her plans. The protagonist is not the only one to feel stuck in their life, as it is a common theme between characters.

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The use of a nameless protagonist is a powerful literary device that can make a story more engaging and relatable. By stripping away the specifics of identity, the author invites readers to see themselves in the character, fostering a deep emotional connection. This approach is particularly effective in stories about self-discovery and artistic struggle, where the protagonist’s journey mirrors the universal quest for meaning and purpose. The irony of a nameless character representing a common human experience adds depth and resonance, making the story not just about one person’s journey, but about the shared patterns of life’s rich narrative tapestry.

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Chris Ware uses a cartoon-style technique to draw his characters. This technique in comic book writing is known as abstraction. Abstraction is when an artist limits the amount of detail seen in a drawing. When art is abstract, it allows the reader to picture themselves in the character's shoes. In Building Stories, the characters facial expressions are portrayed by minimal lines that take away from the realistic aspect of the art. By stripping them of their identity and realistic features, it allows for the readers to imagine themselves in the lives of the characters. I believe that this story showcases how everyone has struggles, and while they aren't necessarily the same, the idea that each and every one of us have to sort though different events, emotions, and challenges is very prominent in this story. The use of abstraction is beneficial because it allows the readers to picture themselves going through these struggles and these characters. And while we may not relate to these specific struggles, we as human beings can relate to the fact that we too face struggles every day.

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The structure of the panels within this story is a representation of the confinement the characters feel in regards to their struggles. The panels are small, making the area in which these characters live to be stifling and smaller as well. The size of the panels reflects on how all the characters feel stifled by their struggles and their complicated relationships, almost as if they cannot escape them. The protagonist of the story struggles with

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The characters are united by their deep desire for connection and understanding. The woman with the prosthetic leg seeks meaningful romantic relationships and a sense of belonging. The young couple strives to maintain their bond amidst the pressures of work and parenthood, and even Branford the Bee seeks connection within the natural world.

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A theme in which Chris Ware heavily explores in his comic Building Stories is "life struggles." Each character - Branford, the lady on the third floor, the couple on the second floor, and the landlady - all struggle with various different things throughout their lives.

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All characters face everyday struggles and exhibit resilience in their own ways. The woman with the prosthetic leg overcomes physical and emotional challenges, the young couple navigates the complexities of marriage and parenting, and Branford the Bee diligently goes about his tasks despite natural and environmental threats. Their shared resilience highlights the universality of human (and non-human) perseverance.

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The overall impact of their environment 

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The overall impact of their environment 

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The apartment complex serves both the characters' shared setting and a point of connection between their lives. The structure itself influences and reflects their lives, serving as a silent witness to their experiences. The way the characters engage with the outside world and their neighbors highlights how much their surroundings influence their individual narratives.

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This relationship strongly demonstrates the complications of relationships and how someone can long for another individual even when they are engaged with one already. Branford and Betty have a complex and layered relationship. We sent ever really see/hear Betty's perspective, but through Branford we get stories, emotions and dialogue we can analyze their relationship. This couple has communication issues as they struggle to effectively convey their thoughts or feelings. This is mostly due to the fact that Betty does not speak, we are not sure if this is because she is unable to or simply doesn't voice her opinions. We know that she is "sick" and is losing full functionality of her body including her sight, and hearing. Their conversations are filled with misunderstandings and unspoken emotions or thoughts, which causes a sense of distance between them.

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Many relationships in these stories have severe emotional gaps within them. There are different reasons that allow for this including lack of communication, personal struggles, inability to remain faithful or be vulnerable, sense of settling, incompatibility, and evolving of personalities.

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This emotional gap is symbolized by the times when Branford is lost from the hive. Although he technically is not far from the hive, he feels very far away and lost. This is a direct correlation to his life and relationship with Betty. Even though they are physically living together, Branford and Betty are emotionally distant from each other. He goes through episodes of feeling guilty because he is longing for the Queen, and feels as if he is tearing himself away from Betty and his family. This symbolization helps us visualize their relationship and the emotional distance they have between one another.

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A significant theme in Building Stories is insecurity in relationships and self-perception. Each of the female characters struggles a lot with their looks. We often see them checking themselves in the mirror. The protagonist is an amputee who worries about her "deteriorating body" and struggles with her weight. The blonde-haired lady is constantly belittled by her husband about her looks, leading to her overthinking her clothing choices. Even the building itself is insecure. From the building's point of view, it states that it was embarrassed about its "crumbling walls, sagging floors, and craking windows." Even male characters like Branford have some insecurities about how he is viewed. Each character is self-conscious about how those around them perceive them. This awareness leads to much of the insecurity we see in the stories.

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Although each character is searching for a connection, there are many times when they are struggling with physical intimacy. The protagonist will often take a phone call in the middle of sex, subsequently pushing her partner away. After her daughter is born, her sex life begins to turn into a chore for both her and her husband. However, they are not the only couple to have intimacy issues. The couple on the second floor have also drifted away from each other. The blonde-haired lady says, "any sign of affection from him was becoming increasingly rare." She believes that her husband is repulsed by her, feeding further into her insecurities.

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The recurring invocation of God by characters during moments of despair highlights a profound and universal human response to suffering. When characters face significant challenges or emotional turmoil, they often turn to the concept of a higher power for solace, guidance, or answers. This pattern reflects a deep-seated human inclination to seek meaning and comfort beyond the material world when confronted with life's hardships. Mentioning God during times of distress symbolizes the characters' search for meaning in their suffering, the hope and resilience they cling to, and their moral and ethical reflections. This recurring theme underscores the universality of suffering and the commonality of seeking divine assistance across different cultures and experiences, providing emotional catharsis and relief. It adds depth and complexity to characters, revealing their vulnerabilities and fears, while also serving as a turning point for personal growth, self-discovery, and transformation. Through this invocation, the book explores the profound connection between spirituality and the human experience of adversity, illustrating how turning to a higher power can be a source of strength and guidance in times of need.

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The panels are jumbled and not necessarily in a specific order, as is the story. There is no set structure to this story. The readers all have different views on this story because they might have read it in a different order. This reflects on the lives of the characters because it shows how their lives are not neat and perfect. There are ups and downs and struggles that everyone faces that teaches us that our lives are not linear. There is no set way to go about our story, and everyone will go about their lives in a different way.

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While she is connected to the tenants through her role as the landlady, these interactions are often formal and fleeting, further emphasizing her isolation. She observes the lives of others but remains on the periphery, an observer rather than a participant.

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Then tension in their relationship can also be blamed on their own personal issues: Betty is losing her functions and is dissatisfied with her life because of this Betty is constantly making mistakes because of her body falling apart and particularly in this scene where she breaks the vase, we can see how upset she gets over her actions. She is dissatisfied with her inability to properly function.

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Branford has a sense of inadequacy and is constantly listening to other peoples opinions. In the photos we can see the other bees bullying him about being girly and he hides while sobbing at their comments. Additionally, when he develops pollen (only women bees can do this) he finds himself being very insecure.

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The process of reading this story is different for everyone that picks up this comic. There is no set beginning or end. The process in which we read this story began with each member of the group choosing a character a sticking with said character. Kaety read the story of Branford and the couple on the second story. Makuei read about Branford. Karen read about the landlady, and Cy and Meghan read the various stories about the unnamed lady on the third floor. After each member read their part, we each talked about what stood out. I think this impacted how we read the comic in both negative and positive ways. Negatively, it limited each individuals knowledge on all the characters. However, by having everyone read different parts of the story, we were able to conclude what themes we found to be recurring.

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The name of these stories is a play on words in the sense that the author gives us many stories and wants us to build these stories together in order to create our versions of the stories. On the other hand, this name shows how the building itself has many stories of the people living inside it. This is shown in the image of the building where we can see the tenants in their homes with their own stories that must be put together and connected.

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The fragmented yet poignant depiction of the unnamed woman with an amputated leg deeply resonates with readers, evoking a powerful sense of empathy and connection. As we navigate through the disjointed moments of her life, we witness the subtle passage of time reflected in her changing face, her growing sadness, and the physical transformations of her body. Ware's meticulous portrayal of her vulnerability, especially in intimate scenes such as standing naked by the door while her husband is absorbed in his iPad, captures the universal human experiences of self-doubt, longing, and the quiet despair of feeling unseen. This raw, unembellished portrayal of ordinary struggles allows readers to see fragments of their own lives and emotions within her story, fostering a profound connection to her journey and the unspoken depths of her character.

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The protagonist creates the stories of inanimate objects of things around her similar to Branford

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Here we can see the toxic couple who live on the third floor in their own story, and to the right we see them in Branfords story from above at his point of view. This shows the significance of the stories crossing and us seeing different characters in multiple perspectives to build the stories.

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The Passage of Time and the Struggle for Connection

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The Passage of Time and the Struggle for Connection

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The theme of "The Passage of Time and the Struggle for Connection" is reflected not only in the characters' lives but also in the reader's experience of the fragmented narrative. The disjointed presentation of the woman's life—marked by intimate struggles, relationship issues, and self-love challenges—mirrors a broader theme of lost connection. As the characters grapple with their own isolation and disconnection, readers too face a parallel sense of fragmentation. The scattered story fragments offer glimpses into the woman's evolving experiences, but the non-linear structure often leaves readers struggling to piece together a cohesive narrative. This disconnection mirrors the characters' own difficulties in forging and maintaining relationships, understanding themselves, and finding intimacy. The reader's challenge in forming a complete connection with the story underscores the theme of lost connection, making it a poignant reflection of the characters' own struggles. Just as the characters face ongoing issues with intimacy and self-acceptance, readers experience a similar sense of fragmentation, which resonates with the universal human experience of seeking and struggling to maintain meaningful connections in the face of life's complexities.

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Here is another connection of characters and the building where we see the protagonist, the couple on the 2nd floor and Branford in one scene. This shows how everything is interconnected. In this scene we see how Branford was killed and I think it was significant that the man in the couple killed him because he is not a good person. Although he was just walking, unaware of his actions, he ended Branfords life and took him from his family. It highlights the unintended consequences individuals have on their environment, and the fragility of existence. This interconnectedness shows how even small actions can have a major impact on another individuals life.

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In the book, the characters frequently prioritize sexual desires over forming genuine emotional connections, which mirrors their underlying self-consciousness and internal struggles. This design suggests that their pursuit of sex is not merely a physical act but a coping mechanism for deeper issues. The character Brantford, for example, immediately objectifies a potential mate with the line, "A real woman hiding in a can. I guess I'm supposed to fertilize her," without any attempt to establish a personal connection. This reaction highlights his immediate leap to sexual thoughts, bypassing any emotional engagement. The characters' fixation on sexual desires can be seen as a manifestation of their self-conscious problems. They might be seeking validation or distraction from their insecurities and struggles through sexual encounters. Their inability or unwillingness to form meaningful relationships indicates a deeper issue: they may not feel worthy of love and connection, or they may fear the vulnerability that comes with emotional intimacy. Thus, sex becomes a way to temporarily alleviate their feelings of inadequacy and loneliness.

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Ware uses the absence of light and shadows to represent the characters' emotions of hopelessness, isolation, and despair. Scenes with lots of shadows and darkness capture the crushing weight of these feelings and graphically depict the characters' hardships. In one moving scene, she watches snow softly falling outside the window as she stands in a poorly lighted room.

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Overall, all of these characters' stories are connected by one thing: the building. However, there are many other commonalities that they share which was what we have tried to highlight in this project. The way we organized this mind map is based on themes and their subtopics. In purple, our main themes of this story are shown. There are certain elements and aspects of the story that we could immediately branch off of the themes. The posts in yellow are our subtopics. These are the smaller themes that connect to our more broad and prominent themes. For example, the subtopic insecurity is connected to the main theme of life struggles, as is despair. The subtopic of struggling for a connection is connected to three themes: Intimacy, Longing, and Life Struggles. And the subtopic emotional gap is connected to longing. The elements that we used are green. Finally, in pink, you will find how we connected all of the stories in this comic.

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In one of the stories we see that the protagonist is the one who opens the window and frees Branford from the basement. In this image above we see she is the one who creates the story of Branford and his life. This shows the interconnectedness of the story and how branford reached the mom and then out to the daughter. This lies in the themes of sympathy, and storytelling. By freeing Branford and telling his tale it contrasts many of the other characters with her compassionate actions.

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The building in the story makes an interesting point. In its inner dialogue, it brings up the idea that we all think we are alone in our thoughts and suffering. "It's somehow more comforting to imagine that one's suffering is unique, and to measure against what one doesn't know, rather than against what one does." We rarely go through something that no one else has experienced. It is easier to think that we are alone in our experience and imagine how much better other people's lives are. I believe that the reason for Building Stories as a whole is to show that many of the issues that we go through are common. We have no way of knowing all of the people we are connected to, whether it is in experience or brief interactions.

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This image shows their lack of intimacy and inability to convey affection. Similar to Branford and Betty they have a complicated relationship due to their lack of communication, emotional gap, and unawareness of the others feelings and opinions. The lack of physical connection can lead to feeling sad, emotionally distanced and can lead to deeper issues such as unresolved conflict, or a disconnect.