Compare and contrast the father and the son in Footnote to Youth?

In "Footnote to Youth," the father represents traditional values and the burdens of adulthood, emphasizing hard work and responsibility, while the son embodies youthful idealism and a desire for independence. The father’s experiences have made him wary and pragmatic, often highlighting the challenges of life, whereas the son, driven by passion and a romanticized view of maturity, is eager to embrace life's complexities without fully understanding the consequences. Their contrasting perspectives ultimately serve to illustrate the generational gap and the cyclical nature of life’s challenges. The father's cautionary stance often clashes with the son's impulsive decisions, leading to a tragic realization of the burdens that come with adult choices.