Discuss some examples of forgiveness in A World of Curiosities

There are multiple examples of forgiveness in this book. The most poignant is the final scene with Armand and Amelia, a deeply personal interaction in which Armand shares with her his initial denial of her application to the Surete and the reasons behind it, his remorse and embarrassment and explicitly asks for forgiveness. A forgiveness Amelia readily offers. It is an interaction which frees them both, Armand from his sense of shame and Amelia from a belief that she should atone for her father’s actions. It ends with Amelia invited to Sunday dinner. We know from Jean-Guy that represents inclusion in the Gamache family. It is hard to imagine a more moving example of forgiveness. But there are others-Anne Lamarque and the women banished return to forgive those who banished them, Reine-Marie visits Fiona in prison for the second time. Those suggest to me a more limited idea of forgiveness, one-sided but a deliberate decision to move on, to release one’s resentment regardless of whether they deserve forgiveness. It also frees the person forgiving to move forward and reclaim their time and energy.

I love that Armand and Amelia have forgiven each other. Armand realizes he has placed the burden of her father’s crime squarely on Amelia’s back. His grief over the loss of his parents temporarily fogs his normally clear thinking. By forgiving Amelia for her father’s role in the death of his parents, Gamache is working through his grief. Amelia is aware of her tenuous relationship with Gamache and that he was instrumental in getting her into the Surete Academy helping to secure a future for her. She now feels it is her duty to protect him and his family as a way of forgiving him for sending her back on the streets which could potentially have killed her. Another example of forgiveness involves Reine-Marie and Fiona. Reine-Marie has always been a bit hesitant about Fiona. But at the end of the book it is implied that possibly she has forgiven Fiona for bringing Sam and Fleming into her home and life.

Amelia and Armand’s relationship is a wonderful example of forgiveness. First, there’s an injury. In this case Amelia wasn’t responsible, but her father killed Armand’s parents “accidentally” in a DUI crash. Armand had so much anger and sorrow about his parents’ death, he felt the need to retaliate. He couldn’t do anything to her father, but he had the power to hurt her by refusing her application to the academy. His forgiveness began when he overcame his anger and admitted her, giving her the chance to save herself. Later, he used her to track down the fentinyl in Montreal, knowing that he was putting her life at risk. With the supports he had in place, she survived and went on to graduate the academy at the top of the class. In this book, he trusts her to go to the UK with Reine-Marie, the highest compliment he can give. When she returns, she ends up saving them by shooting Sam before he can kill Reine-Marie and Jean Guy. The last part of the book shows Armand and Amelia sitting on the bench above the village, watching as the villagers smudge the places that needed cleansing. She says “I know it doesn’t make us even, but maybe it helps.” This is when Armand asks for her forgiveness and she reflects that his decision to save her gave her the chance to save them. They forgive each other, but we all know that they had done that long ago. So, forgiveness turns out to be the way to heal from an injury, both for the injured and the one blamed for the pain. It isn’t a single, generous act, but a process that replaces blame with respect, recognizing the humanity of the other, perhaps even loving the other.

Libby Baker, Jane Baechle, and Cheryl Jette Poulin — great responses, great examples! I always felt that neither Armand nor Amelia really had anything to forgive one another for, as Armand never acted on his impulse to reject Amelia, and Amelia was in no way responsible for her father’s actions, yet it shows the depth of their goodness that even the thought of those wrongdoings would cause them to examine themselves and try to make amends. The story of Anne Lamarque and her fellow outcasts was remarkable and a great example to tie the theme of forgiveness into the storyline. I’m not sure I would have done what they did– go back and forgive those who cast them out; maybe not so much as for the inability to forgive their ignorance and misunderstanding, but more of a fear that they might react violently! I do feel that Reine Marie’s actions in the end were purposely vague and ambiguous— did she truly forgive and thank Fiona, or not? I tend to think she did, only because the theme of forgiveness is so strong throughout the story, and Fiona did indeed help save the day. And yet, I don’t see how Fiona intended to make all “well”— if they hadn’t seen the message on Jean-Guy’s phone indicating that Armand had indeed figured out Fleming’s identity and had called for backup, how was she going to get them out of that situation with those two psychopaths holding the upper hand? I think it was a bit of magical thinking on her part to assume that “all will be well.” Yet she was ready to act, and she thought quickly and knew her purpose was to save them if she could, so I give her credit for that. Turning against her family had to have been hard for her, but she did the right thing. I’m guessing that Reine-Marie did forgive her, but perhaps with certain reservations and boundaries. I hope we get to learn that conversation someday. As for who could I forgive, or not? I am not a saint. I see no reason to forgive Fleming for anything he did, nor Sam. I know they are damaged people, but I just don’t think I could ever wrap my mind around that. Fiona? Yes; eventually; maybe. Probably. Depends on whether she truly can break free of her family’s influence and find a better path. Forgiveness of the person is, for me, usually different that forgiving the acts. There are some people that I can never forgive for the acts they perpetrated, yet can actually forgive them as a person in my heart because it’s good to let go of the anger, understand their weaknesses, and try to move on from it and not let their influence define me. In some cases, it’s a work in progress, still! But it’s for me as much as for them that I try.

A few years ago, I chose to forgive somone who harmed me terribly and, for a long time irreprably. It was not an easy decision and I spent a full year dedicated to learning about how to forgive.
Here’s what I discovered forgiveness is and is not for me:
• Forgiveness is a journey, not a destination. It evolves over time and is not linear. And, I’m guessing, it doesn’t end.
• The journey to forgiveness starts with my mind. Making the decision to forgive is the first step. It’s an intellectual choice, which could be made even though my feelings did not agree.
• The journey to forgiveness continues through my heart. Empathy and gratitude—plus grit—helped me to push through the negative emotions, doubts, fears, and resentment.
• Initially, Forgiving does not mean forgetting. It’s a deeper way of acknowledging the harm caused. You have to confront the whole hot mess, then let it go as best as you can.
• Forgiving does not mean condoning or excusing offenses; nor is it the same as reconciling. Because:
• Forgiveness is for me, period. To give me peace of mind. To free me from corrosive anger. And to allow me to live more in the moment. As a result, I don’t need to formally grant forgiveness to those who have harmed me.
I agree with all of your examples of forgiveness vis a vis WoC.

Unlike Libby, I feel it’s implied that Reine Marie can thank Fiona, but does not forgive her, nor does she trust her. Maybe I am just transferring my own feelings to RM.