It seemed to me that the Hudson/Randolph character wasn't given the choice of creating a new identity/life; he was blackmailed into it. This changes every thing I've ever read about the story. Did I miss something? Yes, he goes through with it, but I felt - to make the story work - we needed a scene where we see it was his decision...
shareI thought the same thing the last time I saw this, which was just the other day. Hopefully it's spelled out in the novel - a copy of which I just got in the mail this evening.
I saw the best minds of my generation destroyed by madness, starving hysterical naked.
He made the choice to go through with it when he got on the train, he was dealing with serious men, no half-moves allowed.
As for the life he was given, he passively allowed them to create the life for him, he didn't choose it and that was his ultimate mistake, which he realised too late.
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Last seen: Zoku Zatôichi monogatari (1962) 7/10
The blackmail was the company insurance - and also offers the banker the perverse comfort of feeling the decision is already made for him. When he later tries to make a conscious decision about his future he's not allowed to. However we have already seen his deepening depression about his drearily middle class existence and in conversation with the Old Man we can also sense this could be a long held fantasy of his about to come true. Perhaps this bit of gentle persuasion was all that was really necessary.
sharethe guy tells him at that time that it is easier to move forward when you can't move back. the blackmail was basically telling him his decision was final and there was no turning back.
like when Cortez burned his ships so his men could not mutiny and go back to Spain....