Seeds of a Strained Father-Son Relationship Anonymous 12th Grade

Celeste Ng’s Everything I Never Told You (2014) presents the complexities of family dynamics, exploring the various conflicts the Lee family faces and the powerful influences each member imposes upon each other. The family’s isolation from society, partly stemmed from the racial prejudices against them, plays an integral role in weakening the relations among the family members, especially James and Nath. While the quintessential father-son relationship involves affirmation and admiration, these two characters fail to maintain a strong bond throughout the novel. James’ futile attempts to push Nath to conform with social norms and toughen Nath’s emotions are detrimental to Nath. Using James and Nath’s place in society and their contrasting desires, Ng imparts that their strained relationship is constituted by Nath’s misunderstanding of James’ true feelings and concerns.

James frequently instills discouragement and self-contempt into Nath’s mind, developing Nath’s resentment towards his father. When Nath tries to play Marco Polo, the others leave the pool and mock him for his race. Although Nath was upset by the exclusion he faced, James’ reaction to the situation enrages him more deeply. After they go back home, he tells Marilyn...