Guilt has a heavy hand in The Knife of Never Letting Go. The story really digs into the idea of where guilt comes from and who should feel it. As we read, we ask questions like: Is Todd guilty by association? Is he justified in killing someone if it's out of self-defense? Why do some people who do the worst things not feel guilty? Ultimately, Todd really struggles with guilt, but fortunately for him, as he travels and encounters different people and values and societies, he begins to form his own meaningful definition of what is legit cause for guilt, and what is not.
Questions About Guilt
- Why is it so important that Todd is complicit in the crimes of Prentisstown? Is he really complicit?
- Why does Todd project guilt onto the knife? Hop on over to the "Symbols" section to read up on the knife a bit.
- How is guilt tied to free will? Can someone make another person guilty? Use the text to support.
Chew on This
Todd grows as a character because he comes to understand innocence and guilt more accurately, to define them for himself instead of by Prentisstown's standards.
Todd comes to realize that guilt makes sense because it isn't an end—it's a means toward redemption.