ind, even her soul--on the basis of the physical, or what she does with her body. Society assumes that Paula's past is one marked essentially by sexual activity which is deemed unacceptable by society, and that such activity is a sign of a corrupt mind and/or soul.
In that context, when Aubrey speaks of "compassion," he might be speaking in a religious sense, in that compassion for those who "suffer" (rather than for those who "sin" and should be condemned or at least ostracized) is seen as a redemptive force designed to save Paula's very soul.
In effect, what takes place on the physical level reflects what takes place on a mental or spiritual level. Aubrey takes Paula into his home and his life, into the physical realm he has created, in order to save her spiritually, in order to redeem her not only in her own eyes but in the eyes of society.
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