Innocent

Innocent's name is clearly loaded with meaning, but it becomes difficult to delineate the irony from the sincerity of his name. It becomes the most complicated in chapter 20, when Innocent confides in Elvis about his role in the war. "Well, dat time na rough time. I was only a child, you know" (209). He says it to Elvis more as a confirmation to himself that he shouldn't be held responsible for what he had been a part of. As he mentions, he was enticed by political idealism of the rebel army, but soon became disillusioned by the horrific violence and sexual deprivation, including the destruction of a church, murder of the congregation, and the rape of two nuns. The question becomes whether or not Innocent deserves his name. on the one hand, he was young when he entered the army, apparently seduced by the idea of change. Additionally, it's clear that he didn't want to participate in the more horrific acts. However, the notion of innocence is still up for debate. If one participates in a war, can one really be considered innocent? Even complacency may be grounds for guilt, so in the question of genocide, the question remains if Innocence is even possible.