Part I Summary

In Part 1, the novel opens with Carl Seaton confessing to murdering three people, a family, in a home that Carl broke into. Carl is making the confession to Trent, who appears to be an attorney because he is recording the confession and mentions that the police are on their way. Carl is a 17- year-old boy that broke into the home of Aaron and Muriel Stone to steal guns from them while they were supposed to be way on vacation. When Carl goes upstairs, after finding three loaded guns, he finds the family is home and shoots all three of them while they are sleeping.

Part I Analysis

Carl sees himself as a metaphor for God as he stands in the doorway of the sleeping family bedrooms. He realizes he has the power to decide what happens to them, and he...