Themes and message

Choices

The theme of choices is explored throughout the story, in connection with the young man, his grandmother, and his mother. 

In her youth, the young man’s grandmother felt she had no other choice than to stay married to a man who did not seem to understand her and who was ready to abandon her. Later, she came to regret that choice because it made her unhappy (p. 148, ll. 42-45, p. 149, ll. 1-2). The grandmother’s story repeatedly comes to the young man’s mind, seemingly as a warning to not repeat her mistakes. 

However, the young man struggles with the choice between going back to Harvard, where he can be himself, or stay with his parents. This would involve conforming to his mother’s expectations to behave in a certain way around Richard so he can inherit his money (p. 146, ll. 19-20). 

The characters’ discussion at the restaurant hints that the young man is gay. When Richard brings up allowing gay people in the army, the young man seems ready to open up about his own sexual identity: “At this point, he could say something. He c...