The theme of redemption within The Conformist is prevalent throughout the story because Marcello is searching for normality. Normality is directly connected to Marcello's redemption in that he can only find redemption through normality and conformity. Redemption is the single most important thing in his life. He believes that the only reason he conforms is because of his inhibitions as a child, and the confirmation of his feeling of indifference when he killed Lino. Marcello felt indifferent because he never wanted to know whether or not he killed Lino until he was much older. Redemption means that the feelings and ideas he had as a child were wiped clean from his slate and he never thought of any evil thoughts in his life. Marcello believes redemption will bring him to normality, and the only way he can find normality is through redemption. He finds himself at an older age, with the feelings of confusion and abnormality. "At the university, he recalled, he had suddenly discovered, with a kind of joy, the there were at least a thousand young men of his own age that dressed, spoke, thought, and behaved as he did." (71). Marcello feels that if he can mold himself to be what everyone else in the community is, he will be normal and live a socially normal life, which in turn will make him happy. Marcello believes that with an outward appearance as an "average Joe", he will then no longer have feelings of indifference and social rejection. Marcello thinks every person analyzes everything he does, and if he can create an appearance as a normal person, he will no longer be under the social microscope. Therefore, Marcello thinks through normality, he can find redemption, and normality is found by social conformity, and similarity.
             Moravia presents the concept of redemption in a way that makes redemption and normality synonyms. He presents the story in a way that has Marcello searching for normality in order to find redemption. ...