Forgive Me, Leonard Peacock

Tall and attractive, Herr Silverman distinguishes himself from other teachers by never revealing his forearms. Leonard calls this detail “maybe the greatest mystery of my life” (6). He admires Herr Silverman—who teaches a high school Holocaust class as well as German classes—for treating students with attentiveness, respect, and kindness. Herr Silverman also conducts intense ethical debates about issues related to the Holocaust, which tend to confuse and offend all students but Leonard. Herr Silverman lives in Philadelphia with his partner Julius. 

Herr Silverman speaks often with Leonard between classes and reveals a new depth of humanity when he asks Leonard if he is thinking about suicide. Herr Silverman sacrifices his time and professional reputation to care for Leonard after his suicide attempt. He explains that he once struggled to find hope in the future as Leonard did, because Herr Silverman lived as a closeted gay man for many years.

Beneath his shirt sleeves, he reveals his two tattoos to Leonard. One is a pink triangle used to mark gay prisoners in Nazi concentration camps, and the other is a quote: “First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win” (220). By helping Leonard when he needs it most and sharing his story, Herr Silverman gives the protagonist reasons to believe his future will improve upon his present.  

Leonard despises Asher Beal, a popular bully from his high school class whom Leonard plans to murder. Formerly a fun-loving child and Leonard’s best friend, Asher shared many positive experiences with Leonard, such as a daring summer bike ride and a trip to Atlantic City for a Green Day concert. Asher changed after his Uncle Dan sexually abused him on a fishing trip. As Leonard says, “It was like something inside him broke and could never be repaired again” (176). After this incident, Asher sexually abused Leonard for two years. Now Asher continues bullying others and ignores Leonard. 

Leonard expresses little but contempt for his mother Linda. He mocks her career as a fashion designer and her French boyfriend. A former model, Linda married Leonard’s father after he became a famous musician but was left destitute after he vanished. Now she spends most of her time in New York, while Leonard remains home alone in New Jersey. Leonard blames Linda for failing to care for him and for forgetting his 18th birthday. 

After Leonard attempted to share the story of his abuse with Linda, she denied the truth. She does the same after Herr Silverman reports Leonard’s suicide attempt to her. Linda says, “He says you need therapy. Therapy? I said. Like that ever did anyone any good. Your father and I tried therapy once and look how that ended up” (260). In denial and consumed with work, Linda does not change during the novel’s events, suggesting that Leonard must look elsewhere for adequate support. 

An elderly widower with respiratory illness and a smoking habit, Walt lives near Leonard. Leonard socializes only with Walt, who loves Humphrey Bogart films and has a talent for impersonating the movie star. The two sit in his home, watch Bogart movies, and quote their lines back and forth to each other from memory. Leonard concludes that the gruff and quick-witted Walt “knows me better than anyone else in the world […]” (254). Walt provides steady, fatherly companionship that Leonard needs as an isolated teenager with absent parents. 

Leonard introduces his father, Ralph Peacock, in a footnote: “You won’t believe this, but my father was actually a minor rock star back in the early 1990s. His stage name was Jack Walker, which were his two favorite drinks: Jack Daniel’s, Johnnie Walker” (11). Leonard’s father had a single hit song, “Underwater Vatican,” which he followed with less successful music and substance abuse. He left the country due to tax evasion when his son was 15 years old. Leonard holds few positive associations with his father and remembers him as a neglectful, unhappy parent.

Leonard meets Lauren Rose as she distributes Bible tracts at the train station. A devout Christian, Lauren receives “[a]n education rooted in the Bible” (132) at home from her mother and pastor father. When Leonard and Lauren meet, she dates a boy from her church named Jackson, but the two later break up.

Leonard looks past Lauren’s ardent attempts to evangelize him and wants to date her because she resembles classic Hollywood actress Lauren Bacall. He also admires the innocence of her no-kissing policy and offbeat clothing choices. Meanwhile, Lauren remains single-minded in her quest to convert others, including Leonard, to her faith.