Topic > The Role of Truth and Justice in Jasper Jones

Craig Silvey's Australian novel Jasper Jones highlights the importance of truth and justice in formulating human experiences, shaping one's understanding of oneself and the world. Highlights that events are not always positive; justice is not distributed equally and the truth can be a burden. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original EssaySilvey suggests that people's response to a revealed truth can strengthen or diminish their supremacy, creating a clearer understanding of their true human nature. When Charlie discovers Ruth's affair, his response is aggressive. According to him, “she keeps screaming spitting questions, filling this space with her stupid indignation,” images that illuminate Ruth's hostility. It highlights that his initial reaction to the confrontation is defensive, revealing his hypocritical nature. However, Charlie responds assertively, stating "but I feel calm." The disjunction “but” signals a change in Charlie's behavior and contrasts Ruth's reaction. Charlie's challenge is Ruth's punishment for her secret, expressed in “No! You dug this hole and fill it. The italics blame Ruth and prevent her from avoiding the truth. The imperative indicates progress in Charlie's educational journey, as he acquires the maturity necessary to defend himself. It also means a role reversal: Charlie is now powerful and Ruth is helpless, reinforced when Charlie thinks she “looks like a child. Scared, lost and unhappy... she starts crying. The child simile suggests that Charlie is now the adult and that once the truth comes out, Ruth can no longer hide behind her "maternal" exterior. Silvey illustrates that a fundamental part of the human condition is our response to a revealed truth. Silvey points out that learning the truth can cause regret: it can form a negative view of the world and become a burden. Charlie grapples with his knowledge of Laura Wishart's death, evident from the moment he learns of Laura's fate, declaring that “I feel like I'm underwater. Deaf and drowned. The drowning metaphor reveals Charlie's helplessness, shock, and anguish at the discovery. He constantly feels anxious because of this, expressed in the recurring insect motif: "There are bugs crawling on my shoulders", the bugs representing his ever-present anxiety and danger. Once Charlie finds out what really happened the night of Laura's murder, he still feels equally anguished, believing that if he hadn't followed Jasper Jones, “he would have stayed safe in my room…No one would have known. Much lighter. I had never had this terrible brick in my stomach. Charlie's bedroom is a symbol of comfort and security, his departure has thrown him into the deep end, referring to the metaphor of drowning. The symbol of the brick also reveals how he is anchored in knowledge. Silvey uses a stream of consciousness when detailing Laura's abuse, along with repeating the consecutive words, "This is what happened", this makes it clear that Charlie cannot contain the secret and needs to reveal it quickly. Silvey demonstrates that knowing a complete truth does not provide closure or comfort to those who know it. The text makes clear that human “justice” systems are innately corrupt and will use their privilege to, paradoxically, employ unjust methods to seek justice. This is expressed when the police interrogate Eliza. Charlie states that "She stood still when they filled her with sweets and lemonade and spoke reassuringly, even more still when they threatened her, when they hissed at her.