Judge Stone Chapter 57: Confrontation with Pastor Erskine and Uncovering the Past
Spoiler Notice
This section contains spoilers for Chapter 57 of Judge Stone by Viola Davis. If you have not yet read the chapter, proceed with caution.
Summary
Judge Mary Stone finishes her day in chambers and sheds her robe, hoping for a quiet escape. She reaches her car in the parking lot, but Pastor Erskine calls out to her. Dressed in casual clothes after coaching children at an after-school program, he approaches and mentions that several of his parishioners were on the jury panel for the Nova Jones trial. Mary is curt, reminding him that the jury is sequestered and he cannot have contact with them.
Erskine ignores her dismissal and presses closer. He recalls that Mary once confessed to him about having an abortion at the end of law school. He insists she cannot be impartial in the case because she is not pro‑life. When Mary denies this, Erskine blocks her car door and tells her that a woman who had an abortion and never repented will not enter the kingdom of heaven. The accusation stuns Mary, dragging her back to the moment twenty-five years ago when she sought absolution from him.
Erskine continues, saying that Nova Jones has repented for her abortion and that Mary could do good by upholding pro‑life values in the trial. Mary, sweating and shaking, starts the engine, and Erskine finally steps back. He has the last word: feeding the poor on her farm every Saturday is not enough to wash away her sin.
As Mary begins to drive, memories of that past counseling session flood back. She had hoped for understanding and forgiveness, but Erskine condemned her. She had not attended church since.
Suddenly, Mary stops the car, parks, and jumps out. She confronts Erskine, shouting that she was raped at fifteen—something he never asked about. Instead of helping, he broke her down further. She calls him a hypocrite and asks what he really has to offer Nova. Then she gets back in the car, tires screeching, and drives away, hating herself for the tears that fall.
Key Events
- Mary tries to slip out of chambers unnoticed but is intercepted by Pastor Erskine in the parking lot.
- Erskine brings up Mary’s past abortion, citing his duty as a pastor and the need for her impartiality.
- He claims Mary cannot be neutral because she is not pro‑life and uses her secret as leverage.
- Erskine tells Mary that an unrepentant abortion she will bar her from heaven.
- Mary reveals that she was raped at fifteen, something Erskine never asked about during their counseling.
- She angrily denounces Erskine’s hypocrisy and drives away, weeping.
Character Development
Judge Mary Stone: This chapter cracks open Mary’s carefully maintained composure. For the first time, we see raw anger and decades of buried pain. Her confession that she was raped at fifteen—and that Erskine’s condemnation only compounded the trauma—shows a vulnerable core beneath her judicial authority. The chapter marks a turning point: Mary stops running from her past and confronts the person who shamed her.
Pastor Erskine: Erskine is revealed as manipulative and self‑righteous. He invokes pastoral confidentiality not to protect Mary but to pressure her. His focus on her sin ignores the circumstances of her life, exposing a cold, dogmatic side. He claims to have guided Nova Jones through repentance, but his treatment of Mary suggests he uses shame as a tool of control.
Nova Jones (mentioned): Though not present, Nova serves as a foil. Erskine contrasts Nova’s repentance with Mary’s supposed lack of it, implying that Mary is less worthy because she was an adult when she chose abortion. This comparison deepens the moral complexity of the trial and Mary’s own judgment.
Themes, Symbols, or Motifs
The Weight of Secrets: Mary’s hidden abortion and rape are burdens she has carried alone. Erskine’s weaponization of that secret forces the truth into the open, symbolizing how suppressed trauma can explode when triggered.
Hypocrisy of Religious Authority: Erskine presents himself as a moral guide, yet he shames Mary rather than offers empathy. His claim to be a man of God contrasts sharply with his cruel judgment, questioning the integrity of those who use faith to condemn.
The Unseen Past: The chapter emphasizes that a person’s history does not disappear because they have achieved professional success. Mary’s past as a rape survivor and her abortion remain part of her identity, influencing her present decisions.
Confrontation as Liberation: Mary’s outburst (“You can shove your holiness up your ass!”) is not simply anger—it is an act of reclaiming her voice. The moment suggests that facing the past, even messily, can be a step toward healing.
Why This Chapter Matters
Chapter 57 is a critical pivot in Judge Stone. It forces Mary to stop compartmentalizing her past. The secret she buried for twenty-five years bursts into the present, directly affecting her ability to preside over Nova Jones’s trial. Erskine’s threat that she cannot be impartial raises a serious ethical dilemma: can a judge who has had an abortion truly be neutral in a case about abortion rights? More importantly, the chapter humanizes Mary by exposing her deepest wound and showing her fighting back. It also reframes the pastor as a potential antagonist whose influence could undermine the trial. This confrontation sets up high stakes for the chapters ahead, as Mary must decide how to proceed—both as a judge and as a survivor.
Study Questions and Answers
1. Why does Pastor Erskine believe Mary cannot be impartial in the Nova Jones trial?
Erskine knows that Mary had an abortion years ago and has never publicly repented. He argues that because she is not pro‑life in her heart, she cannot preside fairly over a case that centers on abortion rights. He uses this information to pressure her into ruling in a way that aligns with his religious views.
2. What truth about her past does Mary reveal during the confrontation?
Mary reveals that she was raped at fifteen, something Erskine never asked about when she came to him for counseling. She had gone to him seeking forgiveness for her abortion, but he only condemned her, never investigating the circumstances that led to that decision. This revelation shifts the reader’s sympathy and exposes Erskine’s failure as a pastor.
3. How does this chapter change your understanding of Judge Mary Stone as a character?
Before this chapter, Mary seemed controlled, professional, and perhaps emotionally distant. This confrontation shows her as deeply wounded, angry, and vulnerable. It explains her earlier actions and choices, making her more complex and sympathetic. It also suggests that her work with the poor on her farm may be a form of penance, as Erskine implies. The chapter deepens her backstory and makes her moral struggles feel more immediate.