People in society today have changed their feelings towards humanity and religious practises. This change is seen clearly in the movie "Dead Man Walking." The characters go through changes in their view of religion and their feelings about human morality and humanity towards each other. The characters of Sister Helen, Matthew, and the victims parents all went through these changes during the movie for different reasons. These emotional changes that the characters went through are very common. Everyone changes their ideals and morals depending on their situation. Matthew's ideals changed because he feared that he was going to die alone....
Walter the victim can forgive him and accept that he knows what he was wrong and should be punished for it, but not punished to death. Hope's farther does forgive him at the vary end of the movie. As for the parents of Hope, Matthew hopes that his death makes them happy even after the death of their son. Matthew also accepts responsibility for what he did and Sister Helen explains to him that by doing that he is now a son of God and can die with dignity. This is what was needed for Matthew, as a person.