The narrator recalls his childhood desire to see Victor Hugo's pen, a symbol of his admiration and connection to literature. His father, however, was unable to fulfill this simple wish, which led to a sense of disappointment and abandonment of that dream. Over time, the father-son dynamic transformed, as the father's financial struggles became evident, and the narrator's youthful aspirations faded into memory.

This memory reflects the deeper emotional bond between father and son, despite the father's inability to provide material items. The narrator's enduring image of his father emphasizes the man's fragility and the weight of their circumstances, where even a small object like a pen held significant meaning. This relationship illustrates the complexities of love, longing, and the impact of socioeconomic challenges on familial connections.