Dec 28, 2009

A Small, Good Thing | Themes

Compassion, Forgiveness, and Community

The death of Scotty is a heart-wrenching tragedy, but out of it, from the most unlikely of sources, comes compassion, the opportunity for forgiveness, and the creation of a sense of human community in the face of the suffering that is common to all.

The situation at the beginning of the story seems perfect. A loving mother orders a birthday cake for her young son's birthday party. What could be more representative in microcosm of the joys of human community than a birthday party for a child? Then comes the tragic accident, and the...