Forgive or Forget?

Most people struggle with the emotional and daunting task of forgiveness, a seemingly simple act from the surface. Author Tom Franklin explores this theme and the conflicts surrounding it within the characters from his fictional crime novel Crooked Letter, Crooked Letter. Franklin narrates the unlikely friendship between Larry Ott, a white, middle-class child, and Silas Jones, the son of a single black mother in 1970's rural Mississippi. However, this era's racial tensions led to the demise of the two boys' bond, after Larry's exchange of a discriminating insult. I highly advise Silas to forgive Larry's mistake, and rekindle the connection they once shared. Larry's unrevealed affiliation with a past missing persons case has fostered suspicion and hostility from many townspeople, including chief investigator Roy French who characterized Ott as an "'unusual fellow'" (64). The investigator serves as a synecdoche for those who do not tolerate nor understand Larry's reserved disposition. Silas's hesitance towards forgiving Larry most likely results from fear of judgement from men like French. Similarly, Larry's direct characterization as 'unusual' reveals the negative sentiment felt towards him within his community, Silas included. However, Jones's past experiences with Ott include memories that rise above suspicions of violent behavior. As a child, Larry introduced Silas to a gun and encouraged him to "'Go on, keep it"' (54). Larry's offer indirectly characterizes himself as generous, juxtaposing the townspeople's views towards him as malevolent and abnormal. Silas's positive, personal experiences with the shunned man should overcome his hesitance and eventually lead to forgiveness. I believe Jones, one of the few people who shares a genuine connection with Larry, should take advantage of this connection and free Ott of his ostracism. Although Larry made a discriminatory and patronizing comment to Silas as a child, Franklin reveals '"the memory shamed him"' (50). Larry's indirect characterization as guilty further defends my belief that Larry deserves to repent. The pathos created by Ott's shame evokes sympathy from those who seek redemption, and underscores Franklin's assertion that past mistakes should be forgiven. Although Silas experienced inevitable anger in response to the  insult, only he can free Larry of his embarrassment. The shunned man himself reached out in hopes of closure, and pleaded for Silas to contact him '"even if it's late'" (69). Larry's determination to speak to Silas illustrates his vulnerability and overwhelming guilt. Dramatic irony results from the readers knowledge of Larry's precarious injury, and that Silas possesses a small margin of opportunity to redeem his childhood friend. In my opinion, Jones should respond to Ott's persistence and absolve him of his derogatory comment. Although Franklin does not expose Larry's actual responsibly behind the community's suspicion, character development forces sympathy upon Ott. I highly encourage Silas to offer forgiveness, which will ultimately manifest itself in the heal of a broken bond, and insight into the crimes involving the missing women.