Did Jefferson Hope Really Do The Right Thing?

717 Words2 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: The portrayal of women in american literature

Jefferson Hope, a man who was truly devastated by the death of his fiancé Lucy and her father Joseph. Deciding to take actions into his own hands, Hope plots a revenge spree on others due to the actions portrayed by the Mormon people. Because of his love for Lucy was tremendously robust Hope could not sit around and watch the justice fade away from her passing. Now for the real question, from a reader’s point of view did Jefferson Hope essentially do the right thing? Love can cause a person to go blind when it comes to emotions and actions. Jefferson Hope believes that he needed to get revenge for the death of his fiancé caused by a broken heart due to the murder of her father. Therefore, Hope went out on a death-dealing motivation towards …show more content…

I knew of their guilt though, and I determined that I should be judge, jury, and executioner all rolled into one. You'd have done the same, if you have any manhood in you, if you had been in my place." (Jefferson Hope, 113). Reading this quote from the text typifies the reasoning for his engagement; Jefferson realized he had to take action of the law personally. Obviously, the legal system would not do anything for the justice of John and Lucy, Hope is the one man who can avenge the murders for them. Because of that, Jefferson Hope is to some extent a relatable character, even with the murders of Drebber and Stangerson sitting on his shoulders. Holmes investigation later reveals that Hope is an intelligent man who may come across as ruthless and covetous notwithstanding the reasoning for his murders adds a sympathetic touch on …show more content…

When somebody gets away with a crime some people can view them having a bad rep against their name as being justified while other people believe that validation isn’t present until they feel the same pain as we do. In my opinion I view justification on a scale depending on how awful of a crime the person committed. When I see a story of someone brutally abusing a person and they are found guilt I believe that what they did to that certain individual should be done onto them “what you do onto other shall be done onto you” is something I say and truly trust in my mind. When it comes to small crime such as stealing and DUIs and they are found guilty then a little jail time spent with other aggressive criminals is justice well served in my mind. On the other hand, when a person gets off from an absurd crime and then admits to being guilty for the crime they cannot be put back on trial for the same reasoning due to the laws protection of double jeopardy, then revenge is generally plotted by loved ones taken place by the anger and hatred they have for that

Show More
Related

  • The Moral Ambivalence Of Crime In An Unjust Society Summary

    568 Words  | 2 Pages

    In “The Moral Ambivalence of Crime in an Unjust Society” by Jeffrey Reiman he offers a detailed explanation of many different ways to define justice and allows the reader to fully comprehend the meaning of it. Before he even began explaining justice he gave his own experience with crime as way to convey to the reader how his rights had been violated and he had been filled with anger at the criminals instead of the justice that failed him. This first hand encounter with crime allowed Reiman to prove to readers that justice is what is what protects us and it is the criminals who are the problem. To see that even a man who had thought and written about nothing but crime for thirty-five years could still become

    Read More

  • Jefferson's Actions During His Presidency

    710 Words  | 2 Pages

    In the year of 1800, Jefferson ran for the second time averse to former president, John Adams but unlike the previous election, John Adams wins the presidency, Jefferson was able to defeat John Adams. The Adams lost the election due to passing the Alien and Sedition Acts, Considered unconstitutional laws because the Acts took away the first amendment, freedom of speech. Jefferson was a more promising choice as he promised to have a “Republican Revolution”, Jefferson promised to help the yeoman farmer and decrease the Federal debt the United States had at the time period. Jefferson’s presidency was to a certain extent a “Republican Revolution” and to a certain extent it was a Federalist Continuation.

    Read More

  • Was Thomas Jefferson Justified Dbq

    612 Words  | 2 Pages

    Thomas Jefferson was a slave holder and the primary writer of the Declaration of Independence. Many will assume he was a racist and pro-slavery, but unless one were to look deeper into why Jefferson would even own slaves, this assumption is very believable. I would say Thomas Jefferson was a hypocrite, but he was justified hypocrite. As I think about why would Jefferson would want the abolishing of slaves, but on the other hand own slaves, it seems a bit hypocritical, but we must take a moment and really think was his hypocrisy justifiable? During this era nearly every successful white man owned slaves, so why would Jefferson not own them himself? Slaves were not just considered property, but they had valuable characteristics about them. They

    Read More

  • Pride In Gaines A Lesson Before Dying

    724 Words  | 2 Pages

    In Gaines' A Lesson before Dying, Grant Wiggins, a black male school teacher, struggles with the decision whether he should stay in his hometown or go to another state while his aunt, Tante Lou, and Miss Emma persuades him and gives him the responsibility to teach Miss Emma’s wrongly convicted godson to have pride and dignity before he dies. The wrongly convicted man, Jefferson, lost all sense of pride when he was degraded and called a "hog" as he was sentenced to death and announced guilty for the murder of the three white men at the bar he so happened to be in. Through Grant’s visits to Jefferson’s cell, the two create a bond between each other and an understanding of the simplicity of standing for yourself or others. In Gaines’ novel, Grant, Jefferson, and everyone around them go through injustice, prejudice, and race.

    Read More

  • Barry Scheck's Actual Innocence: When Justice Goes Wrong

    1116 Words  | 3 Pages

    In America we believe in the saying “you are innocent until proven guilty” but we the people are remarkably swift to point our fingers at someone we believe that committed the crime. This habit is frequently displayed within our criminal justice system when a crime is committed we quickly assume it has something to do with the first person we can link the crime to. We tend to naturally feel sympathy for the victim therefore; if the individual accuses one for a crime the jury has no reason not to believe the victim. Society does not bother to care if the individual did not do the crime because as long as someone was caught and accused of the wrongdoing, then we the people can proceed on with our lives knowing we punished someone for the crime

    Read More

  • Thomas Jefferson: Hero or Hypocrite?

    1433 Words  | 3 Pages

    During the 18th Century America was dealing with independence from Europe and trying to establish them as a strong country. As far as government goes, a monarchal government was not in question. Many people saw great opportunity to step up and contribute ideas that will make America into the country of preference. One of these men was 3rd president and member of the original founding fathers, Thomas Jefferson. While most Americans view Thomas Jefferson as an upstanding and honorable man, he was plagued with the moral contradiction of having fathered children with one of his slaves Sally Heming’s and as a result spurred a great deal of controversy. As a result of his action’s Jefferson’s virtuous demeanor is questioned and shows how hypocritical he is.

    Read More

  • Thomas Jefferson Hypocrite

    1208 Words  | 3 Pages

    Thomas Jefferson has been a household name and has been greatly known by everyone in the United States since the late 1700’s. Not only was he present and play a crucial role in the American Revolution, but he also wrote the Declaration of independence and was also the third President of the United States. During his time as president his views and beliefs really countered the views of famous federalists of that time. (George Washington and John Adams) Jefferson had very passionate beliefs that favored the rights of the people and really gave the people and the states a lot more power than the Federalist Party believed they should have. “Jefferson’s political platform called for shrinking the infant

    Read More

  • Thomas Jefferson And The Civil War

    909 Words  | 2 Pages

    Thomas Jefferson was born on April 13,1743 in Shadwell, Virginia. He was born into a family that had status, wealth, and tradition of public service. Jefferson was the third child in the family and grew up with six sisters and one brother. Thomas Jefferson was well educated; he attended private schools and at the age of seventeen he attended the College of William and Mary. Thomas Jefferson was interested in being a scientist, after learning that there was no opportunity for a career in science in Virginia he then studied law. In 1767, Thomas Jefferson was admitted to the bar in 1769, when Jefferson public career started he already owned more than twenty-five hundred acres that he inherited from his father who died in 1757. After marring his wife Martha Wayles Skelton whom was a young widow his property doubled. After the death of Martha’s parents, his property doubled again.

    Read More

  • What Is Freedom In A Lesson Before Dying Essay

    1026 Words  | 3 Pages

    Although Jefferson was stripped of his freedom by the whites in his town, he ultimately found purpose in his life by understanding how to achieve the freedom that he has been longing for. Jefferson initially believes freedom is an inherent characteristic that he is unable to achieve, but ultimately he learns freedom can be achieved by anyone no matter their race or status. During Jefferson’s trial, his defense lawyer argued that he was nothing but a “hog”. For Jefferson this hog reference highlighted that most believed he has no purpose in life and showed that he had internalized the hatred that the white community spewed at him during the trial. When Jefferson remarks, “You brought some corn? That’s

    Read More

  • Inner Conflict in Gaines' A Lesson Before Dying

    1286 Words  | 3 Pages

    "They sentence you to death because you were at the wrong place at the wrong time, with no proof that you had anything at all to do with the crime other than being there when it happened. Yet six months later they come and unlock your cage and tell you, We, us, white folks all, have decided it’s time for you to die, because this is the convenient date and time" (158). Ernest J. Gaines shows the internal conflicts going through the mind of Mr. Wiggins in his novel A Lesson Before Dying (1933). Mr. Wiggins is struggling through life and can’t find his way until he is called upon against his own will to help an innocent man, Jefferson. The help is not that of freeing him at all. Jefferson will get the death penalty no matter what. It is that of making him a man. When Jefferson’s defender tried to get him off the death penalty he called Jefferson a stupid hog, not even a boy. Mr. Wiggins wants to leave the town and everyone in it except for Vivian, his girlfriend, behind, but he can’t or won’t. Everything is hanging in the balance of what happens to Jefferson. Mr. Wiggins is characterized through a series of changes with the help of one man, Jefferson, throughout A Lesson Before Dying mainly shown in spoken quotes.

    Read More

  • Helen Robinson´s point of View in To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

    837 Words  | 2 Pages

    These injustices have begun long before Tom’s trial, but it is his trial which epitomizes the problems with our society. The first witness was simply just a misguided fellow named Heck Tate who it seems didn’t have much to offer to the case. Next, Atticus Finch called Bob Ewell to the stand. When I saw Ewell take the stand such a fierce hatred rose within me that I began to shake and tremble. Ewell wrongfully accused Tom of raping his daughter Mayella, however, with the grace of God, Atticus Finch had shown that it was very possible that it was Bob Ewell who because he was a lefty could have beat Mayella. If it were not for great men like Atticus Finch I would have lost all hope for this world. As I watched Mayella take the stand I wondered how such a kind looking person could be someone of such poor character. Her words seemed to paint a picture of a sad life; one where a father neglects her and she has fallen under hard times. Atticus, after pointing out it was probably Bob who beat her, asked Mayella who it really was that beat her. Mayella made it clear it was Tom Robinson, upon which Atticus asked Tom to stand. To the astonishment of the court Tom was handicapped! Tom was then called to the stand where he laid open for all to see the truth, explaining that it was Mayella who came on to him (that treacherous woman!). Soon enough the trial ended and every one awaited the verdict of the jury. The next few hours were the most nerve wracking of my life.

    Read More

  • Racism In A Lesson Before Dying

    949 Words  | 2 Pages

    The book opens with the statement, “I was not there, yet I was there. No, I did not go to the trial, I did not hear the verdict, because I knew all the time what it would be” (Gaines 1). This is said by Grant. He is the narrator of this story. This is a very powerful statement to open the book with, because it shows exactly how race was treated during this time. By saying this, it is clear how Grant feels about the situation. This is a quote directly related to race. Even without actually mentioning race within the sentence. He already knows what the courtroom is going to say. He already knows that Jefferson will be found guilty, even if he was not. Grant knows that the men that would be making the decision are all white men. This means that because Jefferson is black, he will be found guilty. And because of this, since Grant is black too, he feels as he was also there. Three people were in the alcohol store. A white man and two black men lay dead, only one man is left standing, and he is also black. Grant already knows how this is going to look to the jury.

    Read More

  • Pros And Cons Of Retribution

    537 Words  | 2 Pages

    Retribution – is a correctional aim which is to hold a person who has committed a crime accountable for committing a crime against another or society in the form of punishment. (Stojkovic and Lovell 2013) What we look at in retribution is when someone is punished there is legitimacy in the punishment of a particular crime that was committed. Some of the pros of retribution are retribution can make a person or society feel safer or a feeling of justice being served when a person is punished for the crime they committed. The con of retribution is during court proceedings the prosecution and the offender’s lawyer may come to a plea agreement which could give the offender a lesser sentence than what he or she would have gotten originally. (Stojkovic and Lovell 2013)

    Read More

  • Justification of Punishment!

    2840 Words  | 6 Pages

    Regarding the justification of punishment philosophers are not of the same opinion. According to the utilitarian moral thinkers punishment can be justified solely by its consequences. That is to say, according to the utilitarian account of punishment 'A ought to be punished' means that A has done an act harmful to people and it needs to be prevented by punishment or the threat of it. So, it will be useful to punish A. Deontologists like Mabbott, Ewing and Hawkins, on the other hand, believe that punishment is justifiable purely on retributive grounds. That is to say, according to them, only the past fact that a man has committed a crime is sufficient enough to justify the punishment inflicted on him. But D.D. Raphael is found to reconcile between the two opposite views. According to him, a punishment is justified when it is both useful and deserved.

    Read More

  • What is Justice?

    710 Words  | 2 Pages

    Without the understanding of what really happened in an event or place and time justice is not being sought out and can’t be dealt to those that need it. We all have felt wronged, at one time or another, in one form or another and I feel that is why we all have a common interest in seeking justice.

    Read More

More about Did Jefferson Hope Really Do The Right Thing?

Open Document