The Kite Fighters

After dinner that evening, the boys share the King’s request with their father. He requests that Kee-sup flies the kite, as it is traditionally the eldest son’s responsibility to represent the family. This is unsurprising to Young-sup, but nevertheless, he cannot contain his disappointment, and reacts angrily toward his brother in their bedroom. Kee-sup admits that on the day of the bargain with the kite merchant, he requested that their father pay for the last kite so that Young-sup could win the reel.

The next day the brothers avoid speaking to each other and are distracted from their tutoring lessons. Their tutor commands them to practice memorizing the Five Virtues of Confucius together. They start to practice, but something distracts Kee-sup and he leaves, saying he must do something. Kee-sup eventually finds Young-sup sulking in the kitchen and convinces him to go fly kites with him on the hill. Almost immediately, kite flying helps Young-sup feel better.

Kee-sup admits how difficult it is for him to be the first-born, and that he does not actually want to be a scholar. He then reveals that he has asked their father to let Young-sup fly in the competition, because of his duties to

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