Religion doesn't play a central role in This Boy's Life, but it's kind of lurking there in the background from time to time. It's especially prominent early on, when Sister James tries to make a Catholic out of Jack. Part and parcel of that is guilt, where Jack grapples with the things he's done to other people, and the way people often blame him for things. It doesn't stop him from doing bad things, but it's interesting where and when he applies it. Guilt seems to spring from his own mind, and exists independently (or at least semi-independently) of other people's attempts to blame him. That makes it very personal, and maybe even a little spiritual as well.
Questions About Guilt and Blame
- What do other people hope to gain by filling Jack with guilt? Are they trying to change him in some way?
- Why doesn't Jack let guilt stop him from continuing to do bad things? Does he crave the guilt in some weird way?
- How much of Jack's self-blame is his own and how much is him repeating what other people have told him?
- Does Jack's guilt help shape his identity? Why or why not?
Chew on This
Jack's guilt is completely self-inflicted.
Jack's guilt is heaped upon him by other people and he has to find a way to develop his identity around it.