It Is Important to Care for the Most Vulnerable

Throughout the novel, most of the main characters, as morally bankrupt as some of them are, make it a priority to care for those less fortunate than they are, demonstrating just how important compassion is in living a good and moral life. This is perhaps seen most notably in Tegan, one of the only characters who does not try to hurt other people. Tegan believes, for most of the novel, that Polly is a good person in an abusive relationship. Because of this, she gives the woman much grace despite believing that Polly is helping her husband keep her in captivity. Tegan believes Polly is a battered woman and does not want to make life worse for her even though she believes Polly is doing just that to her.

Polly, while guilty of false imprisonment and almost of...