Themes and message

Responsibility

Responsibility is the main theme in the story “The Path to Heaven” by Mary O’Donnell. When Lauren is told about Adam’s abuse of his partner Kalina, she understands the seriousness of the issue. As Kalina has trusted her with this knowledge, Lauren feels responsible for Kalina’s well-being and believes that it is her moral duty to take action (ll. 89-90). 

As her plan eventually comes to nothing, she feels a sense of frustration that Adam “wouldn’t be left to regret his unkindness and violence. There would be no grand-style justice and retribution.” (ll. 175-177) It is hard to tell how much Kalina wanted justice, but Lauren definitely needed it.

When confronted with the same problem, Lauren’s husband does not feel the same responsibility, and he believes Lauren should not interfere. He does not think the issue of domestic violence is serious in this case, and refers to it jokingly “we’re talking about a man who gave his wife a clip on the back” (l. 123). 

Furthermore, he does not believe that it is his moral duty or responsibility to act and that i...