The Later Life

"The Later Life" by Louis Couperus is a story from around the turn of the twentieth century that explores the life of Van der Welcke, a man grappling with boredom and a lack of fulfillment amidst the duties of family life. The novel looks at themes like what society wants from people, the difficulties of being in a family, and trying to find purpose in life. The story begins with Van der Welcke waking up and telling his son, Addie, about a funny dream, which leads to some playful talk between them. However, this light-hearted conversation also suggests some hidden problems, especially because Van der Welcke's wife, Constance, is about to come back from Paris. As the father and son go through their day, the reader learns about their family's relationships and Van der Welcke’s general feeling of being tired of life, as his inner thoughts show his annoyance with social rules and his yearning for something more thrilling, which clashes with the more serious worries about his absent wife and the tangled relationships within his family.