The Sunflower: On the Possibilities and Limits of Forgiveness

Goldstein addresses her response directly to Simon. She wonders why Karl feels he has the right to die in peace. She notes that Karl summons Simon not as an individual but as a Jew—any Jew. Simon, by contrast, recognizes Karl’s humanity quite clearly.

Goldstein believes that when Karl turned from Christianity to Nazi ideology, his moral nature did not change much at all. He did not see the Jews around him with whom he was well acquainted (like the family doctor) as human beings. He only began to take pause when murdering them in large numbers.

Karl came to see his guilt to some extent, but not fully, Goldstein writes. If he had truly seen his guilt, he would have understood that he was beyond forgiveness and would never have asked for it.