comment on theme

Each of the characters is vulnerable, but in different ways. Nathan is perhaps one of the most vulnerable because he doesn't have the mental capacity to comprehend what's happening. Even when he begins to realize that there's something wrong, he can't begin to imagine what that something might be or what he should do about it. He has been taught to think about facial expressions and words, and to analyze what most people would make of those. He tries to apply that to his current situation, but he doesn't even begin to come up with the truth. When he sees his picture at the top of the stairs, he can only imagine that his mother might have helped with its creation as a prank. He is angry at her over the picture and he plans to tell her so.