# Guilt and Redemption in The Venetians

> Theme guide for The Venetians by M. E. Braddon.

The protagonist, John Vansittart, is haunted by a fatal stabbing in Venice, and the narrative explores his attempts to escape guilt through flight, self-exile, and eventual atonement through acts of kindness and support for the victim's family.

## Where it surfaces

- [Afterthoughts](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_venetians_se/chapters/ii-afterthoughts): Vansittart is consumed by remorse for his actions in Venice, yet he chooses to conceal the truth rather than seek redemption.
- [III: “Fairies!”](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_venetians_se/chapters/iii-fairies): Jack Vansittart's internal struggle with the memory of the fatal encounter in Venice and his attempts to suppress his guilt.
- [VIII: A Face in the Crowd](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_venetians_se/chapters/viii-a-face-in-the-crowd): Vansittart is consumed by guilt over the death of Fiordelisa's lover and is determined to make atonement, resolving not to run away this time.
- [IX: “Though Love, and Life, and Death Should Come and Go”](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_venetians_se/chapters/ix-though-love-and-life-and-death-should-come-and-go): Vansittart seeks to alleviate his guilt by providing for Lisa and la Zia, hoping to make amends for his past crime.
- [X: “As Things That Are Not Shall These Things Be”](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_venetians_se/chapters/x-as-things-that-are-not-shall-these-things-be): Vansittart seeks to atone for his past sins by providing for Lisa and her aunt, sacrificing a significant portion of his income as a form of penance.
- [XV: “Love Should Be Absolute Love”](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_venetians_se/chapters/xv-love-should-be-absolute-love): The revelation of Harold's alleged crime and Vansittart's internal torment reflect the theme of guilt and the possibility of redemption through love.
- [XVI: To Live Forgotten and Love Forlorn](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_venetians_se/chapters/xvi-to-live-forgotten-and-love-forlorn): Vansittart grapples with his guilt over killing Harold, seeking to atone by providing for Lisa while concealing his crime from Eve.
- [From the Evil to Come](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_venetians_se/chapters/xxi-from-the-evil-to-come): Vansittart's self-reproach and fear of Nemesis highlight his guilt over past sins, seeking redemption through family.
- [XXVIII: In the Blue Chamber](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_venetians_se/chapters/xxviii-in-the-blue-chamber): Vansittart's secret guilt over killing Harold, and his attempts to atone by caring for Lisa and Paolo.
- [XXIX: 'Tis Not the Same Now, Never More Can Be](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_venetians_se/chapters/xxix-tis-not-the-same-now-never-more-can-be): Eve feels guilt for loving a man she considers a murderer, while Jack expresses guilt and seeks redemption through acceptance of her judgment.
- [XXX: A Double Exile](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_venetians_se/chapters/xxx-a-double-exile): John's exile is driven by a desire to deaden his guilt over Harold Marchant's death. The harsh, primitive life offers a form of redemption through physical endurance and a re-evaluation of his past actions.
- [XXXIII: “Both Together, He Her God, She His Idol”](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_venetians_se/chapters/xxxiii-both-together-he-her-god-she-his-idol): Eve prays for the man who killed her brother, seeking his redemption and peace, while Vansittart's wanderings reflect his guilt and search for atonement.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_venetians_se/themes/guilt_and_redemption
- Themes index: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_venetians_se/themes