The following version of this story was used to create the guide: Fitzgerald, F. Scott. "Absolution." All the Sad Young Men. Kismet Publishing, 2018. Pages 73 - 87.

In Part I of F. Scott Fitzgerald's third person short story, "Absolution," Father Schwartz spent every afternoon weeping. He could not keep from crying, because the afternoons were beautiful and long, and he could not participate in the pleasures they offered. Through his window, he could hear the sounds of young women and men talking and laughing excitedly in the street. The sun and the birds further amplified his torture. He knew his desires kept him from having a perfect relationship with God, and this knowledge worsened his agony, too.

On one such afternoon, 11-year-old Rudolph Miller appeared at Father Schwartz's home. The priest tried disguising his relief and excitement at having a visitor. However, when he finally looked up at the boy, he noticed his profound suffering. He donned his priestly manner, and encouraged the boy to tell his story.

In Part II, three days prior, Rudolph Miller rushed to the church for confession. He had sinned doubly, and knew he must see the priest lest his father discover his wickedness and beat him. While waiting on the pew outside the confessional, Rudolph realized he was not that sorry. However, he forced himself to don a contrite manner. If he convinced himself he was remorseful, he might convince God as well. Then he was struck with the temptation to flee the church. Rudolph dismissed the temptation, and entered the confessional. He began by telling the priest the easy sins. Eventually he forced himself to confess that he had used dirty words, and had had unclean thoughts. When the priest asked if he was lying about the circumstances surrounding these thoughts, Rudolph said that he never lied. Immediately afterwards, he realized this was not true. Telling a lie in the confessional was another grave sin. He did not admit the lie to the priest. Outside the church, he felt relief. He decided that he must avoid communion the next day, because of the lie. He assumed the demeanor of his alter ego, Blatchford Sarnemington, and devised a plan. He would drink water the next morning before Mass, thus rendering his heart unclean according to church law.

In Part III, Carl Miller, Rudolph's father, awoke early and said his prayers. Carl's two loves were the railroad and the Catholic Church. However, his dissatisfaction with his work as a freight-agent made him perpetually volatile and restless. He tried balancing these feelings with a strict adherence to church law. Once he finished praying, he began shaving. He was pleased with the quiet of the house, and the sound of the birds and the train outside the window. Then, a sudden sound from the kitchen down below, disrupted Carl's meditation. He rushed downstairs to find Rudolph by the sink with a glass of water. After interrogating his son, Carl became suspicious, and attacked the boy. He demanded that Rudolph get dressed and come to church with him.

In Part IV, Rudolph and Carl walked to church in silence. When they arrived, Carl insisted that Rudolph say confession before taking communion. Inside the confessional, Rudolph lied again. Then he realized the superficiality of the whole practice. His guilt, shame, and desire was not limited to his identity as Blatchford Sarnemington. Rather, these aspects of his character were the sum of his soul. When he exited the confessional, he was overcome by despair. He took communion, profoundly aware of how close everyone else seemed to God. Rudolph was only in communion with himself, alone and wicked.

In Part V, Rudolph finished telling his story to the priest, and waited for a response. Instead of saying anything, however, Father Schwartz stared at the carpet in silence. The priest was overcome by Rudolph's story, and had forgotten what he was supposed to say to the boy. Finally ending the silence, he burst out, exclaiming about the importance of sharing things with other people. He told Rudolph to stop worrying about his sins. God would not damn him, because he had not had a perfect faith before he had sinned anyway. Rudolph was confused and alarmed, but realized what the priest was saying. There were mysterious and wonderful aspects of the world that had nothing to do with the church or with God.