The Achievement of Desire, Chapter 4 Summary

Richard admits to spending most of his years in a classroom, because of his fear to long for his past. After accomplishing so much in graduate school, he starts to feel a loneliness and sadness. He moves back in with his parents. They hardly talk, although there are intimate gestures at times. Richard describes himself as culturally separated from his parents. He is wrestling with knowing that he is at the end of getting his education.

The Achievement of Desire, Chapter 4 Analysis

In an earlier chapter, Richard mentions that desiring to forget something does not mean you forget something. Now that he has obtained an education, Richard must now deal with the separation his family has been experiencing throughout his academic career.