51 pages • 1 hour read
Jon KrakauerA modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Chapter Summaries & Analyses
The chapter chronicles the legal battles that ensue after Cecilia Washburn accuses Jordan Johnson of rape. Kirsten Pabst, a Missoula County prosecutor, resigns from her position to defend Johnson. However, Judge Karen Townsend denies Pabst’s motion to dismiss the charges, setting the stage for a contentious trial. The chapter also highlights the challenges faced by survivors of sexual assault within the US legal system, particularly in cases involving high-profile defendants. Krakauer underscores the adversarial nature of the legal system, where survivors often face significant obstacles in their pursuit of justice. The trial is framed as a battle of narratives, with the outcome hinging on whose story is more persuasive, rather than a straightforward pursuit of truth.
Pabst, a former prosecutor turned defense attorney, leverages her extensive courtroom experience to undermine Washburn’s credibility and portray Johnson as a virtuous, upstanding young man. Pabst paints Washburn as a deceitful woman with a history of mental health conditions who fabricated the rape accusation out of regret over the encounter and a desire for attention. Krakauer notes that Pabst’s defense strategy relies on character assassination and the omission of Johnson’s history of alcohol misuse, which was barred from being mentioned in court.
By Jon Krakauer
Into The Wild
Into The Wild
Jon Krakauer
Into Thin Air
Into Thin Air: A Personal Account of the Mount Everest Disaster
Jon Krakauer
Under the Banner of Heaven
Under the Banner of Heaven: A Story of Violent Faith
Jon Krakauer
Where Men Win Glory
Where Men Win Glory: The Odyssey of Pat Tillman
Jon Krakauer
View Collection
View Collection
View Collection
View Collection
View Collection
View Collection
View Collection
View Collection
View Collection