History Main / ForgivenessRequiresDeath

Distinct from RedemptionEqualsDeath, which is the tendency of {{Heel Face Turn}}ers to [[KilledOffForReal buy it]] in a HeroicSacrifice soon after changing sides. An extreme case of SelfRestraint. Contrast DishonoredDead when even death isn't enough for forgiveness.

Alternatively, someone who hates Steve for this actions (and perhaps was someone Steve personally wronged) seeks to kill him, and should Steve try to apologize during their attempt, they tell him they will only accept taking his life as an apology.

* Pretty much the whole point of the Soul Society arc in ''Manga/{{Bleach}}''. [[DamselInDistress Rukia]] has pretty much accepted her fate. Her TrueCompanions don't see it that way, of course, all the way down to the guy who [[AloofAlly supposedly hates everyone like her]].

[[folder:Anime & Manga]]

* {{Seppuku}}, an old Japanese ritual suicide. Its almost a guarantee of forgiveness because it would be rude to deny it after someone disembowels himself for it.

* This is the thought behind the either life in prison without parole or the death penalty. The correctional system does not consider you to have adequately paid for your crimes against society until you are dead.

* Pretty much the whole point of the Soul Society arc in ''Manga/{{Bleach}}''. [[DamselInDistress Rukia]] has pretty much accepted her fate. Her TrueCompanions don't see it that way, of course, all the way down to the guy who [[AloofAlly supposedly hates everyone like her]]. It could have been {{Narm}}tastic, but somehow it works out to about one moment of awesome every few episodes and a handful of heartwarming moments to boot.

* In ''Anime/MobileSuitGundamSEED'', this is Flay's attitude towards Kira after he fails to prevent her father for getting killed. She says that the only way that she'll forgive him is if he kills himself fighting.

* [[spoiler:Cole Phelps]] from ''VideoGame/LANoire''

* ''WesternAnimation/AvatarTheLastAirbender'': "Avatar Day". But, thanks to issues with {{Reincarnation}}, the accused wasn't expecting to make a guilty plea beforehand.

* The death of Socrates.

*** Of course, this doesn't last and half a season later he's been turned back after absorbing the remains of a dying infant Changeling he had befriended. When he next encounters the Female Changeling who seems to have presided over the decision to turn him human, she considers the matter behind them, he's a Changeling again and "all is forgiven". Odo points turns this trope around her, declaring that while she/they may have forgiven him, he hasn't forgiven ''them'' (its unclear whether he means for turning him human or for being LawfulEvil interstellar warlords)

* ''Literature/HarryPotter'': Severus Snape was a character who constantly bullied and belittled Harry (and many others, but ''especially'' Harry), and the hatred reached it's peak [[spoiler:after Snape kills Dumbledore]] at the end of the sixth book. However, during the final book, after Voldemort kills Snape, Harry sees his memories which put his actions in context — such as Snape's loyalty to Dumbledore, love for Harry's mother Lily, and efforts to protect him. [[WordOfGod According to J.K. Rowling herself]], Snape died for Harry out of love for Lily, so Harry paid him tribute in forgiveness and gratitude.

* %%''Literature/CryTheBelovedCountry''

* ''You don't deserve this!'' The most common. The group that tries to find a way to prove Steve's innocence, while simultaneously getting him to accept it himself, lest the episode end in a FamilyUnfriendlyAesop regarding the legal system.

* ''Literature/CryTheBelovedCountry''

Distinct from RedemptionEqualsDeath, which is the tendency of {{Heel Face Turn}}ers to [[KilledOffForReal buy it]] in a HeroicSacrifice soon after changing sides. An extreme case of SelfRestraint.

* In ''Manga/{{Trigun}}'', Vash [[FirstEpisodeSpoiler is such a pacifist]] that he holds himself liable for the deaths of people killed by the villain. Thus, when people learn his identity, capture him, and proceed to torture him with every intention of eventually killing him, all he can do is submit. He even states that he's to blame. It's only the interference of those he's befriended that stops the violence and frees him.

* Happened to GreenLantern John Stewart in the animated ''WesternAnimation/JusticeLeague'' (and the comic-book story the episode was based on). He was framed into thinking a stray blast from his ring destroyed a nearby inhabited planet as part of a larger plot.

* ''Literature/TheBible'' teaches people that in order to be forgiven of their sins, something must die in their place as their substitute so they will not be killed, since the wages of sin is death. In the Old Testament, this was usually handled with animal sacrifices of clean animals that were ritually offered to God by the high priest. In the New Testament, however, Jesus Christ became the sacrifice that was pure and holy enough to cleanse people of all sin for all time, and was risen from the dead to show that death no longer has mastery over those who have faith in Him who has the power over life and death.

* Pretty much the whole point of the Soul Society arc in ''Manga/{{Bleach}}''. [[DamselInDistress Rukia]] has pretty much accepted her fate. Her TrueCompanions don't see it that way, of course, all the way down to the guy who [[AloofAlly supposedly hates everyone like her]]. It could have been {{Narm}}tastic, but somehow it works out to about one SugarWiki/MomentOfAwesome every few episodes and a handful of SugarWiki/HeartwarmingMoments to boot.