Final answer:
Gerda's parents' farewell is a combination of joy and sorrow, each passage depicting deep affection and a legacy of love that is left to Gerda, reflecting the complexity of human relationships and life's experiences.
Step-by-step explanation:
The farewell of Gerda's parents can be described as a combination of joy and sorrow. The passages present tender and poignant moments shared between couples at different stages of life, reflecting a mixture of contentment and regret.
Despite the varied situations, there is a common thread of deep affection and a legacy of love and connection that is passed down to the young Gerda. One scene describes the couple as being in 'a little Elysium of their own,' indicating happiness, while another talks about the 'last great wave of regretful memory,' suggesting sorrow.
In the case of the grandmother, her solitude and the lack of her children's presence at her deathbed show a somber legacy. Although the scenarios vary, the underlying sentiment is one of deep human connection and the duality of life's moments.