Sanders avoids falling into what would be justifiable traps of self-pity, all through acceptance of his past. He's not angry at his father; and this is evident from the fact that he continually tries to make excuses for his father's drinking habits. She never really blames him, she just blames her "illness". Furthermore, it should be noted that his lack of self-pity could be due to two reasons: either that through catharsis with the medium of his sage he has healed enough to wholeheartedly accept his past; or he avoided self-pity by being filled with self-deprecation and guilt for not being able to save his father, since he himself was strong enough to become the helpless prey of his children.