Forgiveness

Forgiveness figures into the inner workings of this novel. First, there is the lack of Forgiveness between Linnie Mae's father and herself after he catches her with Junior in the barn. Later, when she comes to stay with Junior, Linnie tells him that her father didn't speak to her for four years. Junior is also upset with Linnie and is unable to forgive her at first for the humiliation that she'd gotten him in to, which also included him having to leave the only home he'd ever known. He does later forgive her, something that Linnie's father was never able to do. What this tends to show is that each successive generation in the Whitshank family is more forgiving than the next.

Secondly, there is the Forgiveness between Red/Abby and Denny, their middle son. Denny is most like his mother in temperament. He is full...