Kiss and Tell

Creating an empathetic tone among readers in "Kiss and Tell", Alain de Botton utilizes indirect characterization to convey a common embarrassment parents can bring upon thei children in public situations. Isabel is at the theatre on a date when, much to her dismay, she catches glimpse of her parents. Her overbearing parents wave her down, shouting her name "at top pitch and with all the excitement of a woman recognizing a long-lost friend" in "the presence of four hundred people." At this, "Isabel smiled feebly, turned a beetroot shade", panicked she tries to ignore them, embarrassed by their overbearing characteristics. Upon their meeting during intermission, readers become aware of Isabel's father's calm, quiet demeanor in contrast to her mother's forthright, nagging behavior. After being introduced to Isabel's date her mother pleas "'She's a lovely girl really,' in case [her] theatre companion had inspired doubts to the contrary" exhibiting a nagging, attitude towards her daughter.