Why does his mother regret allowing him to attend boarding school?
In the story "Coming Home Again" by Chang-rae Lee, his mother thought it would be best for him to attend boarding school at the age of fifteen. He had spent four years away from home, but it resulted in him getting a good high school education. During the end of the story the mother mentions that her sending him to Exeter had been a big mistake, she realized that he should of been spending time with his family for all those years. When he asked her why she sent him, her response was, "because I didn't know I was going to die." She probably regretted that she lost the four years with her son and him growing up with her not around, but her getting sicker and sicker each day didn't make things any better. He had ignored what she had said. His mother wasn't big for speaking her mind, but in that point she was finally doing it. But then she believed sending him to Exeter was probably the best for him. She believed that if he had never gone to boarding school and had stayed home that he wouldn't like her as much, but he intended that he would of probably liked her more.
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Hi, Julianna. I really like how you focused on one particular moment of the story. This moment was a really good part in the story too and you did well on describing why his mom regretted sending him to Exeter. I feel that what you said is exactly how she felt; wanting him to have been home during those four years so that they could have spent that time together. Great dialogue!
ReplyDeleteJulianna,
ReplyDeleteI am not sure I agree 100% that he would not have liked her as much. I agree that by going he learned how much he would miss her and they definitely shared moments on visits with the family that would not have taken place otherwise but the biggest part of his day before leaving was his time with his mother cooking. It seemed like his time cooking with her was their time to talk. Looking back I think agree that his mom regretted the 4 years of absence. The line you quote is such an important part of the story when his mom stated "because I didn't know I was going to die.". I really liked your angle on the story.
You all have me wondering about the cliché, “Hindsight is 20/20.” At the end of her life, his mother looks back and shares with her son her regret over this one decision. I wonder if it was fair for her to share this regret, especially since she left the narrator having to deal with it. I also wonder if this was her only regret.
ReplyDeleteLauren :)
I think this could have had a stronger thesis statement or more direct answer to the question (at the beginning). I like the way you added the quote from the reading. It helped make a strong point.
ReplyDeleteI really liked how you used the quote in your writing. The quote really helps explain that his mom regrets sending him to school because they could have had more time together. This quote really helped me and I agree with you.
ReplyDeletei liked how you used that quote because i wrote about the same thing. and i think when i read that it really just jumped out at me. It kind of made me sad a little bit. but i do agree with you that she regrets sending him away, but overall she thinks that it was best for his education.
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