comment on theme

Many of the characters in the novel are defined by a distinct but uncertain moral sense, and through these perspectives, the novel presents a direct criticism of violence as immoral, while also featuring characters that engage in violence seemingly out of necessity. For example, Tracker and Leopard have both made a living essentially as mercenaries, and yet they recognize the immorality of violence. Tracker still thinks ruefully about how an employer of his once told him to track down an enemy for slaughter: “Have men sneak up to the house like thieves in the night and burn it to the ground” (108). However, Tracker and Leopard appear to believe that their particular talents lead them suited for no other life. Thus, the novel demonstrates how circumstances can create the illusion of violence as a (morally reprehensible) necessity.