I think it has been satirical enough and revealing. Especially the plot where Stephen thought he killed a boy when he was 12 but Andrew assured him that he didn't- people forgot what happened when they are young, or their memories have errors, like when your parents or classmates told you that you have done something in the past, you can't recall it AT ALL.
And of course the ending when Mitchell persuaded the woman lost her husband that it was him who found the body. He is less and less confident about himself and his way of communicating with people. Apparently it was not just the woman. It was HE with EVERYONE. I can so relate that sometimes I think my manners of communicating are so lame.
Review of Back
