The Judge's "Spirited Woman"

Name: The Judge's "Spirited Woman"
Author: Mark Twain

A judge recounts a murder trial involving a Spanish man accused of killing a Mexican woman's husband. The atmosphere is lethargic, with the judge and lawyers disinterested and casual. The Mexican woman, however, is intensely emotional, oscillating between hope and despair as she seeks justice for her husband's murder. Despite the evidence against the accused, the jury delivers a "not guilty" verdict, reflecting the community's reluctance to convict a man of his standing. Upon hearing the verdict, the woman, filled with rage and disbelief, confronts the judge, questioning the justice of the decision. In a dramatic turn, she draws a revolver and shoots the acquitted man dead in the courtroom. The judge, taken aback yet impressed by her audacity, immediately adjourns the court. The community rallies to support her and her children, recognizing her fierce spirit and determination. The narrative highlights themes of justice, gender roles, and societal norms, showcasing the woman's defiance against a flawed legal system.

By Mark Twain · First published 1885 · Genre: Literary Fiction, Drama, Satire · 641 words

First lines

"I was sitting here," said the judge, "in this old pulpit, holding court, and we were trying a big, wicked-looking Spanish desperado for killing the husband of a bright, pretty Mexican woman. It was a lazy summer day, and an awfully long one, and the witnesses were tedious. None of us took any interest in the trial except that nervous, uneasy devil of a Mexican woman because you know how they love and how they hate, and this one had loved her husband with all her might, and now she had boiled it all down into hate, and stood here spitting it at that Spaniard with her eyes; and I tell you she would stir me up, too, with a little of her summer lightning, occasionally. Well, I had my coat off and my heels up, lolling and sweating, and smoking one of those cabbage cigars the San Francisco people used to think were good enough for us in those times; and the lawyers they all had their coats off, and were smoking and whittling, and the witnesses the same, and so was the prisoner. Well, the fact is, there warn't any interest in a murder trial then, because the fellow was always brought in 'not guilty,' the jury expecting him to do as much for them some time; and, although the evidence was straight and square against this Spaniard, we knew we could not convict him without seeming to be rather high-handed and sort of reflecting on every gentleman in the community; for there warn't any carriages and liveries then, and so the only 'style' there was, was to keep your private graveyard. But that woman seemed to have her heart set on hanging that Spaniard; and you'd ought to have seen how she would glare on him a minute, and then look up at me in her pleading way, and then turn and for the next five minutes search the jury's faces, and by and by drop her face in her hands for just a little while as if she was most ready to give up; but out she'd come again directly, and be as live and anxious as ever.

What this Textopian page supports

The Judge's "Spirited Woman" is listed on Textopian as a short story by Mark Twain, dated 1885 CE.

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Work type: Short story
Author: Mark Twain
Date: 1885 CE
Language: English
Genres: Literary Fiction, Drama, Satire, Western, Short Story
Length: 641 words
Structure: 1 section, 8 paragraphs
Reading fit: Standard (8th-9th Grade)

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Discussion starters

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Similar titles

Genres

Literary Fiction — The narrative explores complex themes of justice, love, and vengeance through character-driven storytelling.
Drama — The plot centers around a courtroom trial and the emotional turmoil of the characters involved, highlighting dramatic tension.
Satire — The story critiques societal norms and the justice system, using humor and irony to convey its message.
Western — Set in a historical American context with themes of frontier justice and cultural conflict, it embodies elements typical of Western literature.