Francis Casacant

• Quote 1

  • “My name is Francis Joseph Cassavant and I have just returned to Frenchtown in Monument and the war is over and I have no face.”
  • The first-person narration immediately sets the tone for Francis's emotional and physical disfigurement. His literal loss of a face symbolizes his deeper identity crisis and alienation. The repetition of “no face” emphasizes his belief that he is invisible to others and disconnected from his past.
• Quote 2

  • “I went to war because I wanted to die.”
  • This shocking admission shows the depth of Francis’s guilt and his emotional state before enlisting. Rather than a sense of duty or patriotism, he sees the war as an escape from the overwhelming burden of guilt he feels over what happened to Nicole.
• Quote 3

  • “I am not a hero, of course... I am a coward.”
  • Francis’s inner self-loathing defines his character throughout the novel. His inability to forgive himself for perceived failures — particularly his failure to protect Nicole — drives his emotional isolation. This sets up a contrast between the public image of heroism and his private self-doubt.
• Quote 4

  • “I had always wanted to be a hero, like Captain Marvel in the comics.”
  • This reveals Francis's idealised view of heroism before the war. The influence of comic books suggests that, like many young men, he had a simplistic, almost childish understanding of bravery. However, his later experiences in the war force him to reckon with a much darker, more complex reality.
• Quote 5

  • “I should have done something. I could have called for help, lifted the phone, but I did nothing.”
  • This moment of reflection encapsulates Francis's overwhelming guilt over his failure to intervene when Larry assaulted Nicole. The repetition of “I should have” indicates his belief that he had the power to prevent the tragedy but chose inaction — a source of torment that shapes much of his character arc.
• Quote 6

  • “I am a coward, a thief, a liar, and a deserter.”
  • This list reflects Francis’s self-punishment and intense self-criticism. He is unable to see his own worth or humanity, trapped in a cycle of shame from which he cannot break free. The use of harsh, accusatory language shows his complete rejection of himself and how deeply war and trauma have affected his sense of identity.
• Quote 7

  • “My mission is to kill Larry LaSalle.”
  • Francis views his quest for revenge as a moral duty — his way of making amends for not stopping Larry’s abuse of Nicole. However, this line also exposes his conflicted sense of justice. Is it truly justice, or is it an attempt to exorcise his own guilt? This mission, in many ways, becomes a metaphor for Francis’s need for closure and resolution.
• Quote 8

  • “I felt the emptiness of my life as I watched him go.”
  • Francis’s deep sense of loss — not just of Nicole, but of his own emotional well-being — is evident here. This moment highlights his isolation and the emptiness he feels after the war. The idea of “watching him go” also suggests that Francis feels powerless, even in his most pivotal moments.