Why does his mother regret allowing him to attend boarding school?
His mother regretted leting him go to Exeter because at the time she did not know she was going to die. At the time he was going off to school she did not know later in life she would have cancer in her stomach and die. For Chang-rae thought she was very proud of him for graduating from school. So when she said, "Yes. I made a big mistake. You should be with us for that time. I should never let you go there." (page 128) Chang-rae was not that surprised by still shocked.
Though she said this is she understands that if he had stayed "...you would not like me so much now." (page 128). So it is a little like a double edged sword with her decision to let him go. She knows how both ways would end up and so does Chang-rae. In the end both would still make the same decision but both did not like the ending.
Hi Haruki,
ReplyDeleteWhy do you think both would have made the same decision? Do you think the narrator regretted attending Exeter?
Take care,
Lauren
We never know what the future holds and often we think about it when we make decisions but do we let the possibility that things may have trauma direct our decision in what the world holds for us ...I think not in most cases!! What a sad ending and living with lost time is never easy!!
ReplyDeleteThank you for the reading
Daye
This was a very touching article to read, but very interesting. I think that she stated "you wouldn't have liked me today if you had stayed" because teenagers cause you to be hard on them all the time and it just builds frustration, anger and animosity towards one another. I can relate because I am dealing with two teenagers in my home right now. They are very unappreciative, bad grades and think they can do whatever they want.
ReplyDeleteYou are definitely right, it's a double edge sword. You love them and don't want them to leave but in the long run it's a better outcome for everyone, no matter how hard it is at the time.
Thanks for sharing,
Dina Dodd
The story was trying to tell us that you cant tell the future or get back lost time. Its a burdening feeling to have regretting how you spent your time. Her feeling this way did more damage than help. So love your family and friends like every day could be your last and also accept change in order to move smoothly through life during hard or good times. Thank you for your time.
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