Guilt

In Dostoyevsky's Crime and Punishment, a character remarks, "If he has a conscience he will suffer for his mistake; that will be punishment—as well as the prison." In other words, guilt is its own form of imprisonment, from which someone may never be released. In this collection explore titles that probe the questions and implications raised by the idea of guilt.

Ender's Game

by Orson Scott Card

Publication year 1985

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes War, Teamwork, Wins & Losses, Conflict, Appearance & Reality, Siblings, Guilt

Tags Science Fiction, Fantasy, Classic Fiction, Trauma & Abuse, Bullying, Military & War, Cold War, Action & Adventure

Ender’s Game (1985) is a best-selling dystopian science fiction novel by Orson Scott Card. The story follows a precocious boy’s fight against space aliens and his own government. The essence of the story first appeared in a small sci-fi journal in 1977 as a short story of the same name. Card expanded the premise into a series that includes 15 novels and 13 related short stories. In addition to winning a Nebula Award in 1985... Read Ender's Game Summary

End of Story

by A. J. Finn

Publication year 2024

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Perseverance, Forgiveness, Guilt, Hate & Anger, Loneliness, Memory, Regret, Gender Identity, Mental Health, Death, The Past, Fathers, Self Discovery, Justice, Truth & Lies

... Read End of Story Summary

Equus

by Peter Shaffer

Publication year 1973

Genre Play, Fiction

Themes Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Fear, Grief, Guilt, Loneliness, Shame & Pride, Masculinity, Mental Health, Sexual Identity, Coming of Age, Fathers, Self Discovery, Religion & Spirituality

Tags British Literature, Psychology, Drama, Love & Sexuality, Mental Illness, Religion & Spirituality

Equus is a psychological drama that delves into the complex mind of Alan Strang, a 17-year-old boy who blinds six horses in a fit of passion. The play unfolds through the perspective of Dr. Martin Dysart, a psychiatrist who attempts to understand Alan’s actions, leading to a profound exploration of religion, sexuality, and the nature of mental and emotional wellness. It was inspired by a true story of religious mutilation of horses near Suffolk. It... Read Equus Summary

Ethan Brand

by Nathaniel Hawthorne

Publication year 1850

Genre Short Story, Fiction

Themes Guilt, Good & Evil, Loneliness, Religion & Spirituality

Tags Classic Fiction, American Literature, World History, Fantasy

“Ethan Brand” by Nathaniel Hawthorne is a short story written in 1850 and published in his 1852 collection The Snow-Image and Other Twice-Told Tales. The author uses allegory, ambiguity, and the literary devices of Dark Romanticism to explore the themes of The Dangers of Amoral Intellectualism, Spiritual Damnation and Pride, and The Loneliness of Social Detachment and Rejection.Christian morality, spiritual anxiety, and the moral pitfalls of intellectualism and science appear throughout Hawthorne’s works. His most... Read Ethan Brand Summary

Eumenides

by Aeschylus

Publication year 458

Genre Play, Fiction

Themes Revenge, Justice, Guilt, Gender Identity

Tags Ancient Greece, Dramatic Literature, Drama, Philosophy, Trauma & Abuse

Eumenides is an Attic tragedy by the playwright Aeschylus (circa 525/4-circa 456/5 BCE). Eumenides was the final part of the Oresteia, a tragic trilogy first produced for the City Dionysia in 458 BCE. The Oresteia describes the murder of Agamemnon by his wife Clytemnestra and the aftermath of this act; in Eumenides, Orestes—the son of Agamemnon and Clytemnestra—must undergo a trial to be purified of the blood of his mother, whom he murdered to avenge... Read Eumenides Summary

Exodus

by Kate Stewart

Publication year 2020

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Grief, Guilt, Hate & Anger, Loneliness, Love, Regret, Revenge, Appearance & Reality, Family, Loyalty & Betrayal, Truth & Lies

... Read Exodus Summary

Fahrenheit-182

by Mark Hoppus

Publication year 2025

Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction

Themes Conflict, Perseverance, Forgiveness, Gratitude, Guilt, Hope, Loneliness, Nostalgia, Shame & Pride, Masculinity, Mental Health, Coming of Age, Death, Appearance & Reality, Teamwork, Self Discovery, Art, Music

Tags Memoir & Autobiography

... Read Fahrenheit-182 Summary

Famous Last Words

by Katie Alender

Publication year 2007

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Grief, Guilt, Gender Identity, Mental Health, Coming of Age, Self Discovery, Good & Evil, Power & Greed, Religion & Spirituality

Tags Horror & Suspense, Mystery & Crime Fiction, Romance, Fantasy

Famous Last Words (2014) is a young adult supernatural thriller by Katie Alender, an acclaimed American author known for her work in the paranormal young adult genre, including the Bad Girls Don’t Die series and Marie Antoinette, Serial Killer. Drawing on her background as a graduate of the Florida State University Film School, Alender sets the novel in a version of Hollywood where cinematic history provides a blueprint for contemporary murder. The story follows teenager... Read Famous Last Words Summary

Fatherland

by Robert Harris

Publication year 1992

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Perseverance, Fear, Guilt, Hate & Anger, Love, Race, Midlife, Future, Family, Teamwork, Self Discovery, Nation, Politics & Government, War, Equality, Good & Evil, Justice, Loyalty & Betrayal, Power & Greed, Safety & Danger, Truth & Lies

Tags Historical Fiction, Horror & Suspense, Mystery & Crime Fiction, Science Fiction, Military & War, World War II

... Read Fatherland Summary

Fear of Flying

by Erica Jong

Publication year 1973

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Love, Guilt, Loneliness, Shame & Pride, Femininity, Gender Identity, Mental Health, Sexual Identity, Marriage, Mothers, Self Discovery, Loyalty & Betrayal

Tags Love & Sexuality, Gender & Feminism

Fear of Flying (1973) is author Erica Jong’s first novel, considered by many to be semiautobiographical. Like her protagonist, Isadora Wing, Jong was married multiple times, published a book of poetry, and earned degrees from Barnard College and Columbia University. She also underwent psychoanalysis, a process in which Isadora has been engaged for many years. Isadora is married to an analyst, and the novel follows her as she attempts to reconcile her desire for sexual... Read Fear of Flying Summary