Forgiveness

Forgiveness has a variety of functions in this novel including being a reward for those who choose to accept it while those who refuse to accept it imprison themselves in their guilt. Shep is one character who chooses to accept what he sees as a sign of forgiveness. Leo refuses to be forgiven and believes he is punishing himself by doing so. Xeno is another character who cannot find the strength to forgive himself or even admit the truth for which he needs to be forgiven.

Shep’s crime in life is the death of his wife. She had been suffering a terminal illness and Shep ended her suffering by smothering her. He feels guilty because he believes that he killed her for the wrong reason. He loved her deeply and could not stand to see her suffer any longer. Instead seeing himself as being self-sacrificing...