Discussion Forums about Books and Reading | Mark: good or bad?
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I agree! While I don't condone what he did, I am guessing part of the reason he did it was he felt excluded from his family. There was the obvious bond between Jo and Adam, and everytime he tried to reach out to Adam he was shut down.xuanmaii wrote: ↑20 Feb 2020, 15:12 Adam's father-Mark, though the way he treat his wife was kind of unacceptable, but he always tried to be a good father to Adam. Sometimes I felt pity for him because though not a perfect husband, he was a good dad, and till the end of his life he couldn't receive any kind of expression of love or gratitude from his son.
Yes, Mark cared for his son. It was sad to see that he put in an effort to please Adam but Adam was not responsive towards him. And he was just killed off due to Adam being a descendant. Quite sad really!xuanmaii wrote: ↑20 Feb 2020, 15:12 Adam's father-Mark, though the way he treat his wife was kind of unacceptable, but he always tried to be a good father to Adam. Sometimes I felt pity for him because though not a perfect husband, he was a good dad, and till the end of his life he couldn't receive any kind of expression of love or gratitude from his son.
Yes that could definitely have played a role in his affair!Nym182 wrote: ↑21 Feb 2020, 10:37I agree! While I don't condone what he did, I am guessing part of the reason he did it was he felt excluded from his family. There was the obvious bond between Jo and Adam, and everytime he tried to reach out to Adam he was shut down.xuanmaii wrote: ↑20 Feb 2020, 15:12 Adam's father-Mark, though the way he treat his wife was kind of unacceptable, but he always tried to be a good father to Adam. Sometimes I felt pity for him because though not a perfect husband, he was a good dad, and till the end of his life he couldn't receive any kind of expression of love or gratitude from his son.
Yes, he did not feel a part of the family anyone and searched comforts outside the family. I am surprised Jo-Ann felt such guilty over him.Jac-o-lantern wrote: ↑22 Feb 2020, 04:25 I think that Mark was actually a good person. He loved his son and he initially loved his wife enough that he did not leave when they could not have their own child and turned to adoption. Even when his son was hateful towards him he still loved him. While I think the cheating was wrong he was looking for some kind of comfort considering all the strange things happening with his wife and son that he had no explanation for.
Great point. In his mind, Mark was probably just seeking respect, affection, and validation from outside sources that seemed less combative and volatile. They say having children always changes a marriage, but considering the added inner turmoil his son was always fated to display, perhaps this outcome of infidelity was inevitable.Jac-o-lantern wrote: ↑22 Feb 2020, 04:25 I think that Mark was actually a good person. He loved his son and he initially loved his wife enough that he did not leave when they could not have their own child and turned to adoption. Even when his son was hateful towards him he still loved him. While I think the cheating was wrong he was looking for some kind of comfort considering all the strange things happening with his wife and son that he had no explanation for.
I agree with this! And you make a good point about the adoption thing... He really tried to hard to make everyone happy at one point and never really got any credit for it...Jac-o-lantern wrote: ↑22 Feb 2020, 04:25 I think that Mark was actually a good person. He loved his son and he initially loved his wife enough that he did not leave when they could not have their own child and turned to adoption. Even when his son was hateful towards him he still loved him. While I think the cheating was wrong he was looking for some kind of comfort considering all the strange things happening with his wife and son that he had no explanation for.
I felt the same way too... Mark was really put in a pickle and I think he tried his best but he is only human after all.kaylahk17 wrote: ↑24 Feb 2020, 08:53 I think Mark's character was in a rough spot. I do not in any way condone cheating but I also see the relationship he was watching and missing out on. He saw the relationship between his wife and son and must have picked up on how strong it was. He also was excluded from a relationship with Adam. I would have felt hurt by that and unloved.
I don't think Mark gets enough thought regarding the fact that he has pretty much always been the third wheel in his family.AvidBibliophile wrote: ↑23 Feb 2020, 15:32Great point. In his mind, Mark was probably just seeking respect, affection, and validation from outside sources that seemed less combative and volatile. They say having children always changes a marriage, but considering the added inner turmoil his son was always fated to display, perhaps this outcome of infidelity was inevitable.Jac-o-lantern wrote: ↑22 Feb 2020, 04:25 I think that Mark was actually a good person. He loved his son and he initially loved his wife enough that he did not leave when they could not have their own child and turned to adoption. Even when his son was hateful towards him he still loved him. While I think the cheating was wrong he was looking for some kind of comfort considering all the strange things happening with his wife and son that he had no explanation for.
Makes Mark a lot more sympathetic in that light.Howlan wrote: ↑22 Feb 2020, 08:50Yes that could definitely have played a role in his affair!Nym182 wrote: ↑21 Feb 2020, 10:37I agree! While I don't condone what he did, I am guessing part of the reason he did it was he felt excluded from his family. There was the obvious bond between Jo and Adam, and everytime he tried to reach out to Adam he was shut down.xuanmaii wrote: ↑20 Feb 2020, 15:12 Adam's father-Mark, though the way he treat his wife was kind of unacceptable, but he always tried to be a good father to Adam. Sometimes I felt pity for him because though not a perfect husband, he was a good dad, and till the end of his life he couldn't receive any kind of expression of love or gratitude from his son.
I agree, he was probably the most realistc character, and we never really got to chance to see his side of the story (don't get me wrong, he shouldn't have cheated on his wife but maybe that was a result of Jo and Adam having the serum/incest connection) before he was eliminated.bellajavier wrote: ↑25 Feb 2020, 22:33 Marks Character was so close to reality. His responses and feeling were very close and the most realistic. I'd place him in the good category with room for development.
True and considering that Adam's mother was also attracted towards Adam, so he must have felt very off and so turned to others for affection.AvidBibliophile wrote: ↑23 Feb 2020, 15:32Great point. In his mind, Mark was probably just seeking respect, affection, and validation from outside sources that seemed less combative and volatile. They say having children always changes a marriage, but considering the added inner turmoil his son was always fated to display, perhaps this outcome of infidelity was inevitable.Jac-o-lantern wrote: ↑22 Feb 2020, 04:25 I think that Mark was actually a good person. He loved his son and he initially loved his wife enough that he did not leave when they could not have their own child and turned to adoption. Even when his son was hateful towards him he still loved him. While I think the cheating was wrong he was looking for some kind of comfort considering all the strange things happening with his wife and son that he had no explanation for.