What metaphor does Stevenson use to describe the legal system in "Just Mercy"?

• A. A "glass house" that is transparent.
• B. A "well-oiled machine" that functions effectively.
• C. A "broken machine" that produces injustice instead of fairness.
• D. A "fortress" protecting the innocent.

Answer: (C)

Bryan Stevenson uses the metaphor of a "broken machine" to describe the legal system, highlighting its fundamental flaws that lead to injustices rather than the intended fairness and equality. This imagery conveys the idea that the legal system is supposed to work smoothly and justly, much like a well-functioning machine. However, Stevenson emphasizes that, instead of ensuring justice, the system often perpetuates inequality, disenfranchisement, and wrongful convictions, particularly for marginalized individuals. By employing this metaphor, he underscores the urgent need for reform and accountability within the system, illustrating that it fails to protect the vulnerable and often harms them instead. This critical perspective is central to the themes of "Just Mercy," as it reflects Stevenson’s broader critiques of systemic racism and the failures of the criminal justice system.