The Sunflower: On the Possibilities and Limits of Forgiveness

Fleischner believes that Simon responds to Karl’s request for forgiveness nonverbally throughout their interaction, by holding Karl’s hand, by shooing the fly away, by listening and staying, and later by choosing to allow Karl’s mother to keep her memory of her good son intact. Fleischner believes this is a humane response.

Fleischner notes that, as she has taught The Sunflower over the past twenty years, interesting patterns emerge: the Christian students rule in favor of forgiveness, while the Jewish students believe that Simon acted correctly.

Fleischner tries to get to the bottom of this difference, understanding that the two religions have so much in common. Both believe in a merciful God, and both stress the need for repentance.

Fleischner attributes the difference to two factors: the first is a widespread misunderstanding of Jesus’ teaching to “turn the other cheek.” This is applied to a wrong done to oneself, not against another. Fleischner extends this to argue that only the victims are in a position to forgive, and therefore Simon could not have granted Karl’s request.

The second factor Fleischner finds in the differences between the two religions relates to atonement. Before the holiest day of the Jewish year, Yom Kippur, Jews look back over the previous year and ask forgiveness of those that they have wronged. Only after doing this may Jews then ask for forgiveness from God.

Fleischner points out that Karl cannot atone for his crime, because the victims are dead, and that Simon cannot forgive Karl in their name. She thinks that Simon perhaps could have said to Karl that he could not forgive him, but that God might grant Karl mercy.

However, Fleischner immediately qualifies this statement, believing that that asks a great deal of Simon in his situation. She also states that, rereading the story, she is struck by how oblivious Karl seems to Simon’s suffering as he makes his confession. She questions whether Karl could have tried to help the fate of at least a few Jews before he died, rather than summoning one to his bedside.