How do you forgive/a person who ruined/what was going to be/one of the best days of/ your life?
-- Blade (Section 1)

Importance: Blade asks this question shortly after Rutherford upstages him at his graduation. Though Rutherford was clearly intoxicated during the incident, Blade fails to recognize that addiction rather than sabotage motivated his father to overshadow Blade during his musical salutatory speech. This passage appears early in the novel, establishing Blade as a selfish and angry character who feels little to no empathy for his troubled father. Forgiveness grows increasingly important throughout the novel as Blade gradually discovers that he cannot achieve any semblance of peace or satisfaction without it.

As for being made like you,/you’re right, I’M. NOT. LIKE. YOU!/I want nothing more/than to wipe this Morrison stench/ from my body./Clean its muddy glum/from my existence./I’m not like/any of you...
-- Blade (Section 2)