# Guilt and Conscience in Exiles

> Theme guide for Exiles by James Joyce.

Characters grapple with guilt over past actions, such as Beatrice's role in Richard's return and Robert's affair, and the moral weight of their choices, as seen in their introspective dialogues.

## Where it surfaces

- [First Act](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/exiles_se/chapters/first-act): Richard's guilt over his mother's death and his father's last moments, his prayer for hardness of heart.
- [Second Act](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/exiles_se/chapters/second-act): Robert struggles with guilt over his actions and desires, while Richard grapples with his own sense of shame and the moral implications of his past.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/exiles_se/themes/guilt_and_conscience
- Themes index: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/exiles_se/themes