That Was Then, This Is Now

The complex dynamics of The Choices and Responsibilities of Adulthood form a central theme of That Was Then, This Is Now. By the end of the novel, Bryon admits that he is more confused than ever by Mark’s behavior and the outcome of their friendship, and he dwells over what he could have done differently. Instead of accepting responsibility for his actions, he fixates on external circumstances that lead to his falling out with Mark, presenting his thoughts as a series of questions: “What if I had found out about Mark some other time, when I wasn’t half out of my mind with worry about Cathy? What if I hadn’t met her in the first place, would I still have grown away from Mark? What if M&M had had a good trip instead of a bad one? What if someone else had turned Mark in—would there still be hope for him?” (Chapter 11).

This discussion question builds on a similar line of thought: Based on Bryon’s own personal character development and trajectory, and setting aside the external factors that influenced his actions, could Bryon have avoided an eventual confrontation and falling out with Mark, or was it inevitable that the two would eventually find themselves at odds with each other? In assigning the blame to outside factors, is Bryon accurately recognizing the role of chance in his life, or is he in denial about his own role and nature? Support your ideas with details and examples from the text.