As an issue, the death penalty is central to Christianity—after all, Jesus Christ was unjustly executed by the state. In fact, the cross, as a symbol of the crucifixion, is also a symbol of the death penalty. Though Prejean never quite comes out and says this, it's pretty clear that the compassion she feels for Pat and Robert is in part due to the fact that she sees Pat and Robert, in their executions, as Christ-like.
The tricky part, though, is that Pat and Robert were both murderers themselves. Their victims, in their suffering, were also Christ-like. The difficulty for Prejean is to feel compassion for the suffering without condoning the violence, and to forgive the murderers (whether Pat, Robert, or their executioners) without forgetting, or betraying, their victims.
Questions About Compassion and Forgiveness
- Does Prejean have the right to forgive Pat and Robert? Does she forgive them?
- Does the book work to make you feel compassion for Pat and Robert?
- Can you have compassion for Pat without forgiving him? Do compassion and forgiveness go together?
Chew on This
Prejean's compassion for the murderers is inspired by her faith.
Prejean's compassion for the murderers is a betrayal of her faith.