Justice or Vengeance

The novel weighs the idea of justice against that of vengeance and ultimately suggests that, in a world where the justice system is broken, the only way to achieve balance Is to resort to vengeance. When the women first decide that Spencer is guilty of the murders because of the Polaroid they find in Rosamund’s locker, they go to the police and demand that Spencer be arrested. The police turn them away because they have no proof. Franklin consoles Nessa by telling her: “The law is reason free from passion … Gut feelings don’t get you very far with D.A.s or juries. We have to take our time and collect the evidence we’ll need to get a conviction. Don’t get discouraged. Justice may be slow, but she’s also relentless” (246). Although Franklin is reasonable in his assertions, his words...