Barabbas

Barabbas was conceived and born in hatred of all things created in heaven and earth and of the Creator of heaven and earth.

Fatalistically Barabbas was unable to have a God. So when he got acquitted and Jesus got crucified, he tried hard to believe, to behave like a Christian but failed miserably.
Lagerkvist portrayed Barabbas as a very dynamic character. Rational yet with a deep urge to believe. Aversive of society, yet kind in his unique way. Vindictive, but not when he is under attack. Confused but his heart is in the right place.
Lagerkvist explored Barabbas, along with some other fantastic character and that's also in only a very few pages, in a concise novel which moves, both emotionally and intellectually.