I still don't know which way I would teach you. I was once so free and innocent. I too laughed for no reason. But later I threw away my foolish innocence to protect myself. And then I taught my daughter, your mother, to shed her innocence so she would not be hurt as well. Hwai dungsyi, was this kind of thinking wrong? If I now recognize evil in other people, is it not because I have become evil too? If I see someone has a suspicious nose, have I not smelled the same bad things?...Then you must teach my daughter this same lesson. How to lose your innocence but not your hope. How to laugh forever.
The quote reflects a deep internal conflict about the loss of innocence and the desire to protect loved ones. The speaker reminisces about a time when they were carefree and innocent, contrasting it with their later experiences that led them to abandon that innocence for self-protection. They grapple with the idea that their understanding of evil in others may indicate a moral decline in themselves, posing questions about the nature of wisdom and experience.
The narrator emphasizes the importance of teaching the next generation about maintaining hope and joy despite the harsh realities of life. Their hope is to instill in their daughter the ability to navigate life's challenges while retaining an optimistic outlook. The message highlights a delicate balance between protecting oneself and preserving the lightness of spirit that laughter brings, suggesting that while innocence may be lost, hope should remain unscathed.
