Narrator

The first person narrator of the short story is a 46-year-old nameless man. He is the father of one son, to whom he addresses his narrative account. When the narrator's son was a baby, the narrator realized how much he loved and cared for him. Realizing his capacity for empathy terrified the narrator. He realized that if he devoted his life to his son, he would never be able to accomplish everything he wanted to accomplish. Not long later, his wife and son left him. It took the narrator several days to even recognize his absence. He realizes that he is an inherently selfish person, but believes that this selfishness has granted him the success, wealth, and fame he has earned. He tells his son that by abandoning him, he ultimately gave him the wealth and freedom that everyone else in the world craves.

A year prior to...