Numbness presents itself in the wake of tragedy and the notion of numbness is best exemplified in the novel during

the trial. During which Michael describes the numbness that had presented itself within him and in many of those in court. The judges and lay members were affected the strongest. They were unable to hide their initial shock and horrification. Then later, after months and months of the intrusion of horror into daily life (102) they became numb to it. However, to become numb is become devoid of emotion and indifferent. The thoughts of those that succumb to numbness become more and more selfish as indifference builds. This is epitomized by the judges and lay members who managed to smile during a trial and who got excited at the prospect of traveling to question a witness. Michael senses that the court had had enough by the end of the trial. That they were no longer paying attention but were somewhere else, or rather here, back in the present after weeks in the past (137). Numbness, thusly comes to be dangerous. Granted it provides an escape from pain both physical and emotional. Nonetheless in numbness, there is no room for sympathy or empathy. The court had distanced itself from the trial, and in doing so it distanced itself from the victims and the reality of their suffering. When faced with the unimaginable atrocities committed by their fellow man they retreated into themselves. Focusing not on the pain caused by the defendants but on their own increasing desire for the trial to be over. Thus hindering their ability adequately condemn the guilty and leaving the reader to question their morality.