Absolution has been praised for its rich and complex portrayal of its protagonists’ inner lives. How does Alice McDermott describe the Vietnamese women that Tricia and Charlene interact with? Do they receive the same nuanced characterization? Why or why not?

Analyze the narrative structure of the novel. How does the novel’s structure help to illuminate important aspects of characterization and/or some of its key themes and ideas?

What aspects of white saviorism does Charlene embody, and which does she subvert? What does the novel suggest about the nature of white saviorism and its broader impacts?