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William Stoughton Image Primary Source

Building Context

In the Puritan worldview, it was just to try and execute witches if they were found guilty. The image of justice below is found on the base of the lampposts located at the front of the Supreme Court’s plaza facing First Street. The John Donnelly studio of New York designed the lamppost bases.

Activity

Have students review the image and answer the following analysis questions. After analyzing the image, instruct students to draw their own image of injustice and explain the symbolism they chose to include.

Supreme Court Motif of Justice Stone

Image from the Supreme Court of the United States. https://bit.ly/3J8jiQ1 

  Analysis Questions

  1. Observe: Describe what you see. What do you notice first? What people and objects are shown? How are they arranged? What is the physical setting? What other details can you see? 
  2. Reflect:  What do you think the objects/symbols mean? Who do you think was the audience for this image? What can you learn from examining this image? What’s missing from this image? If someone made this today, what would be different? What would be the same? 
  3. Wonder:  What do you wonder about…