Redemption

Probably the most important theme in this book is redemption. Frank Alpine first appears in the book as an unredeemed character. He is unkempt, hungry, has no place to live, and his first act in the book is to be swept into a robbery scheme that hurts one of the main characters of the book, Morris Bober. The perpetrator of the crime, Ward Minogue, is the son of a policeman. During the book, Ward does not take the steps necessary to bring about his redemption. He continues lying, stealing, and hurting people, and he continues to drink and use illegal drugs till he ends up dead after a great deal of dissipation and crime. Interestingly, Ward Minogue's father understands perfectly that his son is unredeemed. When Detective Minogue sees Ward one day in the neighborhood, he insists that Ward leave the neighborhood and never return. He even beats...