Though at first Joey and his father Walter are presented as being nothing like one another, as Freedom progresses, it becomes apparent that they are more similar than either of them would like to believe. The problems in their relationship start early, with Joey showing signs as an adolescent that he will turn into the type of Republic, profit-driven capitalist that Walter abhors. Walter wants a son who "enjoy[s] playing the role of child," who "want[s] a dad who [can] teach him things" and "side[s] with underdogs," (149), and cannot accept that Joey is not this child.
However, when Walter, after alienating his son from him so much that Joey moves out and insists on paying his own college tuition, disparagingly calls Joey "Mr. Independent," Patty points out that Walter was supporting himself "the exact same way" when he was Joey's age (327). Though Walter had different reasons for breaking free from his father's control (his father was an abusive alcoholic), by failing to understand his son, Walter "find[s] himself replicating his relationship with his own dad" (139) without realizing it.
Additionally, both Joey and Walter possess angry, brooding personalities that make it difficult for them to carry on in the real world. Walter, after realizing that he is in love with Lalitha yet does not want to leave Patty, sits by himself calculating when doomsday will occur: "Net population gain: 60,000" (342) since he has been awake, Walter projects. Though Joey is not an alarmist environmentalist like his father, he is also often struck by feelings of hopelessness. While his new wife Connie pines over him, Joey spends his days thinking about how much more intrigued he is by his friend Jenna and "generally feeling doomed" (384). Unfortunately, Joey and his father are much alike, but only in that they both end up hurting each other and the other people who they try to love.
No comments:
Post a Comment