Guilt

One of the biggest challenges Apollo faces throughout the novel is finding a way to overcome his guilt. There are countless times where he laments his powerlessness and believes that he is the reason for all of the bad things and destruction the other characters around him face. By the end, however, he comes to accept that he can overcome the pain, and that his guilt can turn into a source of strength if viewed through a new lens.

First, it is important to establish that Apollo struggles with guilt from the opening of the novel, even if he does not outright acknowledge it. Early on, when he, Meg, and Grover are struggling through the maze on their way to Palm Springs, Apollo recognizes that he is getting weaker, and is terrified of what will happen if it loses it completely. At first, it seems that...