A Man Named Dave: A Story of Triumph and Forgiveness | Themes

A Man Named Dave: A Story of Triumph and Forgiveness Themes

Forgiveness

As the subtitle suggests, David Pelzer's adulthood involves his forgiveness towards his mother. Shortly after he publishes his first two books, about his childhood, he warns his son that refusing forgiveness hurts one's self, not the person one refuses to forgive. Pelzer believes in order to have a peaceful life, one must achieve forgiveness, even for the most hurtful events.

Pelzer suffers much for which he must forgive, beginning with his mother. He suffers many feelings of inferiority until he forgives his mother. This affects all his relationships and causes a lack of trust in his marriage. For much of his life, Pelzer seems to hold the common view that forgiving his mother excuses her behavior. Even when he visits her, he adamantly refuses to offer forgiveness. In this way, he never admits to her she is forgiven, which he feels punishes her, because she never gains peace.