The Clemency of the Court
"The Clemency of the Court" is a short story by Willa Cather. It was first published on 26 October 1893 in The Hesperian.[1]
| "The Clemency of the Court" | |
|---|---|
| Short story by Willa Cather | |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Genre(s) | Short story |
| Publication | |
| Published in | The Hesperian |
| Publication type | Student newspaper |
| Publication date | 26 October 1893 |
Title explanation
The title refers to Serge's being in prison for the rest of his life rather than being given the death penalty.
Plot summary
Serge, a man who was brought up by a Russian woman after his mother died, kills the babushka's husband after he kills Serge's dog. Serge is then sent to a borstal. The story ends with the rationale that even though life was tough in Russia, the United States cares for their children no better.
Characters
- Serge Povolitchsky, a young man whose Russian mother drowned in a pond
- Mrs Sholdi Davis, the Russian woman who cares for Serge
- Mr Davis, Sholdi's husband
- Matushka, Serge's dog
References
- Willa Cather's Collected Short Fiction, University of Nebraska Press; Rev Ed edition, 1 Nov 1970, page 540
External links
- Full Text at the Willa Cather Archive
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