Kess and Till

In the comedic recount of this awkward family situation in “Kiss and Tell”, Alain de Botton employs satirical characterization to illuminate that though we are often embarrassed by our “Mum and Dad” we are more similar to them than we chose to believe. When Isabel realizes that her parents are attending the same theatrical performance, she is paralyzed by embarrassment. Through this emotion, the author is characterizing her as a very typical young woman who seeks independence and is easily embarrassed by her parents due to the supposed “generational gap”. She is very surprised at this coincidental encounter and says, “I said I wanted to go to the play, but I didn’t let on that I had tickets for tonight.” The surprise that her parents would actually be doing the same thing that she is doing that evening is very stereotypical of a young woman. The author characterizes her “Mum” as an overbearing women who is very outspoken and embarrassing to her daughter. Yet, the fact that she is doing the same thing as her daughter is in no way surprising to her as she states, “Why shouldn’t I be here? You’re not the only one who does fancy things with your evenings.” Isabel’s dad is a much more low key man who pays very close attention to detail, yet is very forgetful as he stares at the ceiling he says, “I’m looking at the light fixtures, they’re tungsten bulbs.” Though Isabel is mortified by the fact that she is at the same play as her parents, it proves the “generational gap” is not as prominent as many young people make it out to be.