The 57 Bus

The 57 Bus

by

Dashka Slater

The 57 Bus: Part 3: The First Letter Summary & Analysis

Summary
Analysis
Slater includes a letter written by Richard to Sasha. “Dear, Victum,” the letter reads, “I apologize for my actions.” In the letter, Richard tells Sasha that he is “not a monster,” and he has no idea why he did what he did. “I’m deeply sorry for my actions,” he says, “I think about what happened every second.” He takes responsibility for his actions, prays for Sasha’s recovery, and ends the letter “Love, Richard.”
Richard’s letter is proof that he takes responsibility for his actions and is remorseful of Sasha’s assault. The awkward nature of Richard’s letter and they way he misspells “victum” reflects his ignorance and young age.
Themes
Adolescent Crime vs. Adult Crime Theme Icon
Accountability, Redemption, and Forgiveness Theme Icon