the suppression or fear of homosexuality
             that found its nastiest expression in Nazism. Physically and in many ways
             mentally and emotionally effeminate, Himmler may have compensated for his
             sense of inferiority by becoming a killer who took pleasure in the pain of
             others. Sex and pain are commonly considered as counterparts, but the
             connection between the two can find either innocent or morbid expression.
             In the case of Himmler and those like him, the suppression of natural
             sexual desires like homosexuality and masturbation can turn into harmful
             rage and violence. Even love can manifest in twisted means, as is exhibited
             in the story of Leo. His affection for his heroic older brother became a
             demented predilection for acts of torture. Griffin also weaves in her
             central theme of concealing secrets when she tells Leo's story, as Leo
             resorted to torture and cruelty to extract secrets from his prisoners. His
             plucking out a man's eye with his bare hands is an aptly symbolic gesture
             ...