“One day not long after the action of the novel ended, one of the villagers–the district attorney– happened to come across Uncle Julian’s box of papers. What he found convinced him to reopen the case of the Blackwood murders. Merricat was subsequently found guilty by a jury of the villagers.
In this assignment you are an attorney representing your client, Mary Katherine Blackwood, who has already been found guilty on all four charges of murder in the first degree, in a sentencing hearing to decide her fate.
You will begin preparing your defense by reading, “The Case Against Free Will” by Rachels and Rachels. Please pay particular attention to the various rationales for human behaviour that the article describes: Fatalism/Nihilism, Determinism, Psychology, Social-conditioning/Behaviorism, Genetics, etc. You will use one of these of a combination to argue that MKB is not entirely responsible for her actions.
“Write” an opening statement to the jury of no less than “500 words” in which you argue that MKB should escape the death penalty because she lacks sufficient free will to be held accountable. You will need to cite passages from WHALITC in support of your claims. The Honorable Judge J.W.E. Cates will deliver the sentence after all the arguments have been made.”
