The Forgiven begins with the tumultuous childhood of the protagonist and his experiences in the Vietnam War, both of which contribute to his post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and alcoholism. Eventually, he overcomes these problems, and he learns to forgive his parents for their past transgressions. As time goes by, he becomes the owner of a landscaping business, which he sells to two Mexican brothers, and moves to southern Illinois, where he becomes an organic farmer. In the process, he is reunited with a former lover.
