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Redemption: To Be Redeemed by Christina Birkett
In the story Redemption, Jack Hawthorne runs over his younger brother David with a tractor and kills him. Following David's death, the family fell apart. Each one blamed Jack in some way. No one in the story was redeemed especially Jack. To be redeemed, Jack needed to forgive himself and come to terms with God.
Jack was unable to forgive himself for his younger brother's death. Jack blamed God for the death since God did not interfere to save the younger boy. Jack relates he "kept driving reacting as he would to a half-crushed farm animal, and imagining, the same stab of thought that perhaps his brother would survive." But David did not survive. Jack, who had previously believed in God, now can't find it in his heart to embrace God. He refused to say grace before meals. Even attending Sunday mass "sitting between his mother and sister" was a struggle for Jack.
Another struggle for Jack was being responsible for his father's absence after David's death. Jack's father left the family and responsibilities because his overwhelming sorrow. Jack had to take over the farm: "plowing, cultivating, disking, and dragging." This gave Jack time to relive David's death and continue to blame himself for the accident.
Yet another struggle for Jack was his feeling of shame. Jack felt he "never loved his brother... never loved anymore as well as he should have." These feelings lead to thoughts of suicide. Although Jack did not attempt suicide, he wanted to die like his brother did. Jack never would forget the accident, but was able to find a little comfort in playing music and writing poetry.
In spite of a few joys in his life like music and poetry, Jack does not ever forgive himself for the love of his brother, his father, and his religion. As a result of this, Jack is not redeemed by the end of the story. Perhaps in his future there may be forgiveness.
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