Analytical Essay On The Novel 'Just Mercy'

Elle Jones

Ms. Duong

AP English Language

27 January 2023

Just Mercy Argumentation Essay Dating back to the inception of literature, storytelling has proven to be a powerful force shaping the education and emotions of mankind. Ranging from religious texts to scientific publications to even timeless fables, literature has proven have a significant influence on culture and social evolution. As time has progressed, literature, both fiction and nonfiction, has gone on to face relevant and pressing social issues, including racial injustice, wars, poverty, and more. Although it is widely assumed that non-fiction literature best addresses such important societal issues, fictional stories hold more value in that they are not factually limited and are

While nonfiction literature is both confined and defined by past events, fiction has no restrictions in terms of storytelling. For example, in the 1906 novel, The Jungle, the author, Upton Sinclair, confronts the appalling working conditions in the meat-packing industry, as well as the horrors of capitalism. While constructing a story based around a fictional Lithuanian immigrant, Sinclair bases his characters’ experiences on real life. Sinclair creatively addresses a series of otherwise overlooked societal issues in the shape of a story about the “American Dream”. The Jungle went on to reach a number of audiences, ultimately leading to the institution of new federal food safety laws. Although the issues addressed in the novel were of course nonfiction, the fictional way in which they were presented had no creative limitations and therefore better conveyed Sinclair’s message. Similarly, within Harriet Beecher Stowe’s infamous novel, Uncle Tom’s Cabin, messages of anti-slavery are conveyed. Stowe tells the appalling life story of a fictional slave, conveying the cruelties and horrors of slavery in the United States during the 1800s. The novel had a profound effect on the attitudes toward African Americans at the time, as it was authentically based on the realities of slavery. Bringing awareness to this immense societal issue, Uncle Tom’s Cabin,

To elaborate, fiction can be heavily based on the truth while better appealing readers through interesting characters or unique storylines. A key example of this is the widely known novel, To Kill a Mockingbird, written by Harper Lee. Lee confronts important societal issues of systemic racism and social injustice, all the while engaging and connecting with her audience using dynamic characters and an captivating plot. Moreover, Lee, unconfined by the limits of nonfiction literature, appeals to the emotions of her readers through active storytelling and a poignant conclusion that leaves readers thinking about the societal issue. Essentially, fiction has the ability to captivate readers while addressing important societal readers. In addition, the Dr. Seuss children’s book known as The Lorax is similarly engaging and moving. Addressing the societal issue of conservation and saving the planet, Dr. Suess captivates readers with colorful imagery and whimsical language. The Lorax confronts the issue that the planet is suffering due to the carelessness of humanity, not through statistics or pedantic language, but through engaging and moving storytelling. In essence, fictional literature holds value in addressing societal issues because it has the ability to be heavily