Old Man

Biodata

Background / History

Old Man donated the property that became a sanatorium. After losing his son, he devoted years to recording people and events there, hoping to find traces of him. He speaks of his son as a secretary who helps search the records, though Fu Qian understands the son to be dead 2795 2797.

Fu Qian interprets the recording project as Old Man's way of refusing to accept his son's death. He also considers the possibility that the son's apparent role as a separate searcher arose from a division within Old Man's own mind; this is Fu Qian's explanation, not an established account of what happened 2797.

Personality

Old Man is deeply attached to preserving a complete record. He admits that the material has grown too extensive for him to sort himself, but becomes more talkative when Fu Qian asks about his son 2795. His mental state can become volatile when the search for an answer stalls 2797.

Relationships

• His son — Deceased; Old Man continues to speak of him as someone who can search the records. Fu Qian regards this belief as central to Old Man's grief 2795 2797.
• Fu Qian — Helps narrow the search through the records. Fu Qian avoids directly challenging Old Man's account of his son and later offers to search himself to ease the immediate pressure on him 2795 2797.