Colum Mccann Let The Great World Spin Analysis

Our society defines our relationships through hierarchies. We have those who are powerful and those who are powerless. These ideas of power stem from a long history of the past and present both being deeply intertwined with each other. The criminal justice system, despite being a place where supposedly all are equal in the eyes of the law, is an institution where power is the greatest tool of all. Our thoughts about power and how we perceive it come together here in this institution. In Colum McCann Let the Great World Spin, Philippe, a white man, walks on a tightrope between the two twin towers, trespassing into the property as well as endangering the lives of others below him. Tillie, a black woman, is accused of stealing from a man who had

Despite this, Philippe's punishment was significantly different than Tillie's in that he was let off loosely only having to pay a penny for each floor of the tower while Tillie was sentenced to eight months in prison. If we closely look at the way Solomon interacted with them it's clear that Philippe and Tillie were viewed vastly differently in his eye.

When Tillie is first presented to the court, Solomon initial reaction is poor. He notices the color of her skin immediately and assumes that she is a prostitute by the way she is dressed. Without even understanding her situation, he already presents himself with a negative perception of her that is only skin deep (McCann, Let the Great World Spin). He draws a connection between blackness and criminality and doesn't even give it a second thought. This racist connection comes from subtle assumptions and deeply rooted fears (The Color of Justice crf-usa.org). And while unintentional, it speaks a lot about society as a whole. If a judge, who is supposed to be fair and impartial, makes a racist assumption, then what does that say about the rest of society? This type of racism is deeply embedded in American society and is invisible to us because it all comes from the subconscious mind. We let

Power can be defined in many different ways, but ultimately, it is about how we interact with our surroundings. However, power is problematic and yet we ignore its long abuse towards different groups of people. The criminal justice system reinforces the notion of power and its ability to make or break a person's life. But that's the norm. That's how it has always been. But why? Perhaps it's because of our long-standing history of white supremacy and how those ideas have seeped into our institutions. Perhaps it's because we feel the need for there to always be an authoritative voice. Perhaps it's because of our own selves and the fact that we believe what society tells us. And while these are only suggestions, the fact is that race plays into every single one of them. We cannot ignore race and pretend it does not exist. It consumes our daily lives. It is part of who we are and who we are as a society. The criminal justice system is an institution that works against minorities and yet we still believe that justice will be served under this system. It is a corrupt system that has to be changed but can only change with the entire population because that is how power works. Power is something we have set up as a society to fill our own needs and pleasure and we must change the way we interpret power. Power is not something to be abused. It is not something that should give us satisfaction.