How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #4
"You make too much of your problems," said the doctor. "They ought not to be turned into a career. Concentrate on real troubles—fatal sickness, accidents." The old man's whole manner said, Wilky, don't start this on me. I have a right to be spared. (2.27)
Just as Wilhelm yearns for kindness and compassion from his father, Dr. Adler wishes that his son would spare him from his never-ending stream of troubles. Neither of the two is very capable of understanding what the other wants, or of giving the other what he needs. If this relationship were a two-way street, it'd be heavily congested with traffic.
Quote #5
He had tried to unburden himself and instead, Wilhelm thought, he had to undergo an inquisition to prove himself worthy of a sympathetic word. Because his father believed that he did all kinds of gross things. (3.87)
Wilhelm is offended when Dr. Adler accuses him of having an affair with another man, but he's less concerned with his father's judgment that he's done wrong by committing adultery. Wilhelm firmly believes that he deserves his father's sympathy and compassion, no strings attached, and he's put out by having to defend himself.
Quote #6
"Ah, Father, Father!" said Wilhelm. "It's always the same thing with you. Look how you lead me on. You always start out to help me with my problems, and be sympathetic and so forth. It gets my hopes up and I begin to be grateful. But before we're through I'm a hundred times more depressed than before. Why is that? You have no sympathy. You want to shift all the blame onto me." (3.95)
Wilhelm wants his father's sympathy and forgiveness, but he doesn't actually want to acknowledge when he's at fault. He may reproach and berate himself horribly and tear himself down when he's feeling blue, but deep down, he can't admit that he's done wrong. And acceptance is the first step to healing—hasn't he ever heard of the twelve step program?