Never Flinch

“I believe the INNOCENT should be punished for the needless DEATH of an innocent. Should those who caused that death be put to death themselves? I think not, because then they would be gone and the suffering for what they did would be at an end. This is true even if they acted with the best will in the world. They need to think about what they did. They need to ‘Rue the Day.’ Does that make sense to you? It does to me, and that is enough. I will kill 13 innocents and 1 guilty. Those who caused the innocent to die will therefore suffer. This is an act of ATONEMENT.”

Trig’s initial letter to the police outlines his plan and the shaky reasoning behind his murders, but it also contains hints as to Trig’s complex character. The question “Does that make sense to you?” is ironic, emphasizing that Trig’s moral logic does not in fact make sense. In the end, he claims the murders are an act of “atonement,” but he does not specify that the jurors are the ones atoning, which implies that Trig is guilty, himself. Trig’s insecurity compounds over the course of the novel as his moral justifications break down and his addiction to murder worsens.

“Holly doesn’t agree with everything McKay espouses, but when she talks about the sexual abuse of women, Holly Gibney is right there with her. She herself was sexually abused as a young woman and knows few women—including Izzy Jaynes—who were not, in one way or another. Also, Kate McKay has what Holly thinks of as strut. Never having been much of a strutter herself, Holly approves of that.”

Holly gives some perspective on Kate’s activism, noting how Kate’s discussions of sexual assault resonate with Holly as a survivor. Most importantly, Holly appreciates Kate’s “strut,” or confidence, which Holly lacks. This passage outlines the framework of successful activism, as Kate is essentially using her confidence to speak on behalf of women like Holly, who might not otherwise make themselves heard.

“‘You don’t mind being Kate McKay’s object lesson? Don’t resent me for it?’ ‘No.’ Is that the truth? Corrie wants it to be. ‘I want to take your picture. While your eyes are still red and puffy and your skin is still irritated. All right?’ ‘Yes.’ ‘People need to understand there’s a price for standing up. But it can be paid. They need to understand that, too.’”

Though Kate is a domineering character, she asks Corrie for consent to use her picture, which shows a measure of consideration for Corrie’s trauma. Kate’s framing of the picture seems manipulative, but her explanation that people need to understand “there’s a price for standing up” both speaks to the optics of activism and the real threat to activists.