This novel almost seems to question the nature of scandal itself. What is so wrong with an adult and a teenager who is consenting and interested? The answer comes of course in the fundamental rule for these things, the laws about statutory rape which would state that the younger would-be boyfriend (only a student) is not eligible to be in sexual relationships. Meanwhile, the grown woman has a child Connolly's age—more than enough time for her to have fixed her own problems.
The question of scandal is raised by compromise, because the teacher compromises an ethical imperative in order to make herself feel more happy and more inspired. Rather than viewing her commitments as obligations, she not only engages a child in a sexual intimate relationship, she also betrays her family completely, so that when they find out, they know she was completely abandoning her role in their family. The image is of attachment issues, and the teacher has them.
Then, when the young boy exercises his independence from her, she is left on his hook, so to speak, still reeling herself in behind him, trying to prolong their romance soon, because she knows an unbearable fact: When he is gone, and she is left longing for him, then certainly she will have to measure her actions, and she will have to face up to her completely heinous and tragic behavior. Barbara's diary is a symbol for this embarrassing onus.
