In discussion of The Sunflower by Simon Wiesenthal, one controversial issue has been “What would I have done?” a question the novel leaves you with at the end of the reading. The main character and author Simon lets this question haunt him throughout the novel when he is asked for forgiveness from a former SS officer on his deathbed, after telling stories of the horrifying crimes he had participated in and awaits a sense of forgiveness from Wiesenthal. On one hand, some argue that he should be forgiven, because he was already on his deathbed and what difference would it make to Simon himself just to forgive him. On the other hand some contend that he shouldn’t be forgiven for all the horrifying crimes he committed and that he’s only confessing to Simon for his own absolution. Others even maintain that Simon did the right thing with his stunning response of silence. My own view is that this man shouldn’t be forgiven for these crimes he isn’t sincerely sorry for.…show more content… Wiesenthal didn’t know them and how they would of answered if they faced the same question, because people are more then likely not going to have the same answer to this question. It’s unfair to the people who suffered and died, for they were unable to have even been asked the question. The only thing he had in common with these poor victims was that Wiesenthal derived from a Jewish background like them. By taking these Jewish lives, he affects many other people as well. All the people who probably mourned over the bad news of lost ones, how is that forgivable. Taking something from others that they will never get