Charles shows how deep his sense of compassion goes. Even though Ralph has shown himself to be an immoral and cruel person time and again, Charles still gives him a chance to reform. Charles’s approach underlines the novel’s views about both power and redemption. Concerning power, Charles uses the power he now holds over Ralph not to abuse or mistreat Ralph (as Ralph would undoubtedly do if the positions were reversed), but to treat Ralph as an equal. Charles’s statements also demonstrate the novel’s perspective that redemption is always possible if one is willing to change one’s ways. Ralph, though, declines Charles’s offer of mercy and redemption.