Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson Literary Analysis Essay Example

Even though the Civil Rights Movement ended in 1968, there are still racial problems within the US, especially within the criminal justice system. In the book Just Mercy, author Bryan Stevenson organizes his text through the use of alternating chapter topics as well as including side stories to support his purpose that the judicial system needs reformations as it takes advantage of the vulnerable through punishing them with unreasonable sentences.

Stevenson’s organization of the book is very unique compared to others. All odd chapters are about Walter and all even chapters are side stories to help further develop the author’s claims. Stevenson writes about a small side story within the introduction in which he writes, “‘Capital punishment means ‘them without the capital get the punishment”’ (Stevenson 6). This immediately brings attention to the main theme within the book. Those that are poor, are most vulnerable and are the most likely to be punished with unreasonable sentences. Within chapter one the reader learns that Walter, “Grew up in one of several poor black settlements outside of Monroeville” (Stevenson 19). Walter was given life in prison without parole as he was charged with capital murder even though there was insufficient evidence. Since Walter was poor he did not have a public defender and was wrongly accused of murder. Even though there was insufficient evidence, since Walter was black and poor he was unfairly convicted of capital murder and put on death row. Stevenson further develops the theme of how vulnerable people are taken advantage of within the judicial system when he shares the story of Trina. She “was the youngest of twelve children living in the poorest section of Chester'' (Stevenson 148). When Trina was 14 she unintentionally dropped a match and lit a house on fire which caused the death of two people. She was charged with a life sentence without parole which is unconditional for the crime she committed. Not only was she just a child when this happened, but the crime committed was also an accident which makes this an unreasonable punishment. The use of Stevenson’s unique organization helps back his purpose that reformations are needed within the judicial system as the vulnerable are treated unfairly and are often given unconditional sentences.

Many side stories, additionally, are used within the text to further develop Stevenson’s purpose. Stevenson shares the stories of Ian and Antonio who were both kids who lacked proper parenting and grew up in poverty-stricken neighborhoods. As a child, Ian received life imprisonment without parole for attempted homicide. On top of that “Ian spent eighteen years in uninterrupted solitary confinement” (Stevenson 153). This is completely inhumane as he was not a threat to anyone, so he should not have been put in solitary confinement. The lady Ian shot wanted him to be able to get released from jail as she even realized his sentence was unfair and that he was just a child when he committed the crime. Antonio is another child who received biased treatment from the criminal justice system. When he was just thirteen, “Antonio Nuñez was riding his bicycle near his home when a stranger shot him in his stomach, side, and arm” (Stevenson 97). This just helps paint the picture to the reader of how rough of a life Antonio lived growing up. Antonio was charged with aggravated kidnapping and attempted murder of police as he was persuaded by older men to host a fake kidnapping to get ransom money. He was given life imprisonment without parole as he was charged as an adult as a child. Stevenson’s strategy of embedding side stories within the book helps to exemplify how the judicial system takes advantage of the vulnerable through punishing them with unconditional sentences. This helps the reader comprehend why there need to be reformations within the judicial system to fix the discriminatory treatment of children, African Americans, and people struggling with poverty.