Analyzing The Murder Of Julie By Elizabeth Wein

Through depicting the murder of Julie by Maddie and the subsequent burden that she forever has to carry, Elizabeth Wein demonstrates that while Maddie had good intentions, it doesn’t classify her act as ethical because it goes against her human nature. One of the most common ethical principles explains that the “ends don’t justify the means”. This conveys that you can not do an immoral act for a future greater good, one of the reasons being that you do not know what will happen in the future. Maddie murders Julie which goes against the human nature to preserve our own life and the lives of others. This action brought on unwanted consequences to Maddie, one of which is having to live with her friend’s blood on her hands. Elizabeth Wein showed

Maddie describes herself as “dangerous too sometimes” and as a “bomb, unexploded and ticking” to make clear that at this point she was currently in a mentally unstable state from the murder of her friend. (Wein 289) She then goes on to justify her attack on the prisoner by saying “ISN’T THAT WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU KILL YOUR BEST FRIEND?” (Wein 290) She is implying that the murder has made her feel abnormal which is a consequence of going against her human nature. Wein also makes the point that the psychological consequences to killing a loved one is burdensome. The lady who took in Maddie after the attack turns out to be Julie’s great aunt, Damask, who had to shoot her terminally sick husband. Damask reflects on her murder in order to relate to Maddie by saying “We share a terrible burden” and “We are alike”. (Wein 292) Wein subtly makes the point that while there may have been circumstances in which the murders could be justified, the actions are still immoral and have consequences attached. At the end of the book, a letter is sent to Maddie from Julie’s mother, Esme. Esme writes that Jamie thinks that “Maddie did the right thing.” and that she thinks so