Essay Questions

What does Boyle mean by "outcasts"?

Boyle is aware that the people who come to him for a chance to work and get employed are almost all outcasts in some ways in the general society. Even the people who visit his church are described as outcasts by Boyle in some way.

Throughout the story, Boyle unfolds the word "outcasts" and what it means in society. Right from the start, Boyle emphasizes that being an outcast does not mean there's anything wrong with that person. Just because society has shunned a person on the basis of different things, does not mean that the person is not worthy of love and compassion and kindness. Boyle is of the opinion that everyone deserves compassion and love no matter where they stand in society and community. He gives several examples of people who had been labelled as "outcasts" for either their criminal records or their unusual behavior and yet they went on to turn their lives around and continued to lead a happy and successful life.

Even Jesus Christ, as Boyle reminds, was someone who shared his time with the supposedly downtrodden and poor people of the society, all while treating them with kindness and compassion and helping them see better ways to live.

What do the tattoos signify in the story?

Tattoos are a common sight to see on the people who are employed by Boyle in his business. Most of them are either gang-affiliated or the result of some type of criminal record in those people's lives. As such, for these people, these tattoos symbolize their troubled past and actions that they regret. For society, these tattoos serve as the basis of unfair judgement that terms these people as 'outcasts'.

However, Boyle's business serves as a second chance for these outcasts in more ways than one. Not only does Boyle employ those deemed unfit to work by others because of their past actions, but his tattoo removal service also gives them a chance to overcome that one physical proof of their past that they regret. This way his business also serves as a metaphorical shelter for those thrown out by society unfairly.

What do we see about Boyle and his relationship with his employees?

Right from the start, we see how Boyle perceives everyone through their current actions and intents instead of judging them based on their past or what others have painted them as through their biased opinions.

Through several interactions, we also come to see how kindly and compassionately Boyle treats his employs and those looking for shelter with him. He does not look over the differences between him and those he employs or teaches but he also does not let those differences taint his views and opinions of those people and how he treats them. In his view, respect should be mutual and should be something that transcends all differences such as age, gender, race, etc. Your actions should be the basis of gaining and giving respect.