← Back to Concept Index
familial-obligation
Carter's visits to his father are motivated by a mix of guilt, duty, and self-interest, highlighting the complex dynamics of caring for aging parents.
1 chapter across 1 book
The Mandibles: A Family, 2029–2047 (2016)Lionel Shriver
CHAPTER 3 •: WAITING FOR THE DOUGH
In this chapter, Carter Mandible visits his elderly father Douglas at a luxurious assisted-living facility, confronting complex feelings of familial obligation, resentment, and the corrosive influence of anticipated inheritance. Their conversation reveals the collapse of the publishing industry, the family's financial decline, and the broader societal decay marked by technological disruption and cultural obsolescence. The narrative explores themes of aging, legacy, and loss against the backdrop of systemic economic and social instability.