David as the Christ figure

While reading this novel, I found that David was often viewed by Giovanni's as his "savior" or the person who would be there to transform his life. David recognizes why Giovanni brought him to his room, it was to "give Giovanni a new and better life", however "the burden of his salvation seemed to be on me and I could not endure it" (88, 114). This image of David as the savior seemed to recurrent through much of the novel, as in the scene following Giovanni losing his job. David was there to help pickup and rebuild many of the pieces of his shattered existence. None-the-less this viewpoint of David as the savior figure seems to shift characters after the return of Hella. After this point, the role is reversed and Giovanni, who meets his death at the blade of the guillotine, frees David's tormented soul. Giovanni's death acted as the catalyst for his sexual acceptance. Therefore, one could compare the death of Giovanni and subsequent salvation of David with the Jesus dying for the sins of men.