Plot: "I forgive you"

Plot: “I forgive you”

Overview of Plot Point

  • In The Trick is to Keep Breathing, the phrase “I forgive you” carries a significant emotional weight, serving as an important plot point in the narrative.
  • This moment is an intense one for Joy, who is unable to forgive herself for her role in her lover Michael’s death, and highlights her difficulty in accepting his death.
  • This plot point marks a step towards acceptance, a crucial phase in her healing process.

Key Interactions

  • The primary interaction in this plot point is Joy’s dialogue with herself, showing an internal struggle and the guilt she feels due to her perceived involvement in Michael’s death.
  • Another significant interaction is Joy’s hypothetical one with Michael. She imagines him from beyond the grave, forgiving her for her perceived guilt, providing a sense of release.
  • Joy’s acceptance of the words “I forgive you” highlight the stark contrast between her relentless self-flagellation and the extraordinarily bold, humane act of self-forgiveness.

Significance of the Scene

  • This moment signifies a turning point, the instance when Joy begins to accept herself and her situation and to work towards healing.
  • The phrase “I forgive you” serves as a reminder of the theme of self-forgiveness and redemption that is present throughout the narrative.
  • This plot point also brings to the foreground the contrast between self-condemnation and the power of self-forgiveness.

Key Themes

  • Forgiveness: The plot point centres around forgiveness, particularly emphasises that the road to healing often begins with self-forgiveness.
  • Guilt: The dialogue between Joy and herself reveals the depths of the guilt she feels, and how complex and multilayered these feelings are.
  • Acceptance: Joy’s acceptance of forgiveness is part of her journey towards accepting Michael’s death and moving towards recovery.

Relevant Quotes

  • “I forgive you.” - This simple phrase highlights the depth of Joy’s guilt and reflects her longing for forgiveness.
  • “Forgiving myself was something quite different.” - This quote reflects Joy’s struggle with self-forgiveness and becomes a focal point for discussion about guilt and redemption in the narrative.