Sparring Partners

Fiction | Short Story Collection | Adult | Published in 2022

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Summary

Background

Chapter Summaries & Analyses

“Homecoming”

“Strawberry Moon”

“Sparring Partners”

Character Analysis

Themes

Symbols & Motifs

Important Quotes

Essay Topics

Tools

Beta

Discussion Questions

Symbols & Motifs

The Town of Clanton

In “Homecoming,” as in many of John Grisham’s other works, the small town of Clanton, Mississippi, is a microcosm of the US, reflecting its values, conflicts, and aspirations. The proliferation of lawyers in the town’s square reflects Grisham’s belief in the importance and prestige of the legal system in American life. Clanton is also a family-centered town; Mack’s abandonment of his family is seen as a greater crime than stealing from his clients. The prominence of family life in Clanton suggests that the family unit is the center of Grisham’s conception of American life. Clanton’s universality also makes it a productive space to explore the conflict of justice and injustice. Grisham’s exploration of these themes in this setting echoes the larger struggle for fairness and equity in the United States. In “Homecoming,” the town of Clanton is a place where wealthy Americans can buy their way out of prison time. Finally, Clanton is a symbol of the wider nation’s aspirations. Mack’s desire to improve his circumstances financially and professionally is a reflection of the American dream, even if he achieves it via illegal means. The fact that the protagonist Jake actively supports Mack’s efforts further suggests that these impulses are a community standard.

Cody’s Books

In “Strawberry Moon,” Cody’s collection of nearly 2,000 books symbolizes the freedom and humanity denied to incarcerated people like him. The books are introduced in the first sentence of the novella as an essential part of Cody’s identity. The fact that Cody was forced to sue the prison in order to hang bookshelves and build his collection indicates that his most basic freedoms—such as the right to have an intellectual life—have been taken away. However, his dedication to establishing the library demonstrates his commitment to maintaining a sense of freedom even while incarcerated. The books also help Cody to maintain his humanity by exposing him to experiences and perspectives that he has been denied. Because he was incarcerated as a teenager, Cody has never had sex; however, reading sexually charged novels like The Valley of the Dolls as an adult helped him to connect more to this aspect of being human. Similarly, reading the emotional novel Sophie’s Choice gave Cody a deeper understanding of the suffering of others, taking him outside of his personal experience.

The Tobacco Money

In “Sparring Partners,” the tobacco money awarded to Malloy & Malloy symbolizes the corruption and greed at the heart of the American legal system, underscoring the novella’s theme of Wealth and Privilege in the Legal System. The tobacco money came to Malloy & Malloy in 1998, when four tobacco companies agreed to settle a series of lawsuits brought by 46 US states, and Bolton Malloy correctly sensed a payout. Against the will of his partners, Bolton invested $200,000 in the litigation; the tobacco companies ultimately paid over $8 billion to lawyers involved in the case, and Malloy & Malloy took in $21 million. The firm’s tobacco money is a powerful reminder of the greed at the heart of the system: Bolton got involved not to administer justice, but to enrich the firm and himself. The fact that Bolton’s initial investment was magnified over 100 times is indicative of the financial bloat inherent in the American legal system. The novella indicates that the money would have been better used elsewhere, especially in supporting the victims of tobacco-related health harm. The fact that Bolton immediately attempted to keep the money from his partners and family is further evidence of the compounding nature of greed: Rather than reinvest the settlement in his firm, clients, and community, Bolton wanted to hoard it. The Malloy brothers repeat this pattern when they in turn attempt to take the tobacco money.