The Dark Prophecy

Apollo’s assertion to Meg that they must try giving Lityerses a second chance because “we only fail when we stop trying” (266) illustrates the text’s major theme of forgiveness and redemption. When Meg persists, asking Apollo if one must forgive someone “even after somebody tries to kill us” (266), he wryly counters, “If I gave up one everyone who has tried to kill me, I would have no allies left on the Olympic Council” (269). Though Meg can’t see the merit in saving Lityerses at this point, she knows the value of second chances. Earlier in the text, she says to Apollo, “Everything alive deserves a chance to grow” (216). Both Apollo and Meg’s belief in the value of second chances comes from realizing they have made past mistakes. This is particularly true for Apollo, whose thousands of years of existence as a god have included many mistakes.

As a human, Apollo begins to remember all these mistakes and winces at the memory, whether it is refusing to answer the prayers of his son Trophonius or killing Commodus. The guilt of his high-handed cruelty weighs heavy on him. Meg also knows she has done terrible things under Nero’s direction, even if it was to save her own life.