Parental Ambitions on Children's Identity
"'It's okay," James said, and for a moment Nath felt better.' Then his father added, 'Now, if they had a contest for reading all day-'"
What is Nath reminding James more and more of himself, of everything he wanted to forget from his own boyhood?
"Lydia knew what they wanted so desperately, even when they didn't ask. Every time, it seemed such a small thing to trade for their happiness."
What is Lydia swooning to get Nath's attention?
"Imaging yourself older and unable to find a job. Just imagine it."
What is Marilyn's dire warning to Lydia?
"When her mother framed the grade report from the college, she hung it on her wall and pretended to smile."
What is Lydia not wanting to be a disappointment to her mother?
"Still, for a moment, Lydia allowed herself to fantasize: slipping the next letter out of the mail pile, and the next, and the next, tucking them between mattress and box spring where Nath couldn't find them, so that he would have no choice but to stay."
What is Lydia longing for Nath to stay and not go to Harvard?
"...He settled Nath and Lydia in front of the television, locked the door to his study, and pulled out the shreds of note again."
What is James persistence to Marilyn?
"For the next three days, from breakfast until dinner, she plopped the physics book in front of her daughter and sat down beside her."
What is Marilyn's persistence to Lydia failing a test?
"In actuality, Hannah had planted herself under the end table in the foyer, just out of sight of the kitchen, listening to the scratch of Lydia's pencil. She hugged her knees ant sent soft and patient thoughts, but her sister did not hear them."
What is Hannah's loneliness from the family?
"...Their mother's absence gnawed at them quietly, a dull and spreading hurt."
What is the effect of Marilyn's disappearance towards Lydia and Nath?