"And I finished college because I thought how much it would upset my parents if I didn't"

This quote by Harry Mathews speaks with the power of parental expectations and the lengths to which we will go to meet them. It recommends that Mathews was inspired to complete college not necessarily because of his own ambitions, but due to the fact that of the disappointment it would cause his parents if he did not. This speaks to the idea that, for a lot of us, our moms and dads' approval is a powerful incentive. It also suggests that Mathews was aware of the expectations his moms and dads had for him and was willing to go the extra mile to meet them. This quote is a reminder that, while our parents' expectations can be challenging to satisfy, they can likewise provide motivation and drive. It is a suggestion that, even when we feel like giving up, our moms and dads' expectations can be a powerful force that keeps us going.