Change Of Heart Analysis

If religion can be interpreted in countless ways based off personal beliefs, how does one define it? This is the judge’s job for Shay Bourne’s case in Change of Heart by Jodi Picoult. Maggie is Shay’s lawyer, and she is trying to convince the judge that Shay practices his own unique religion similar to extinct religions. If salvation before his death is key to his religion, he must be hung instead of lethally injected to preserve his heart. His heart is a perfect match to Claire Nealon’s. Claire is the daughter of the police officer and stepsister to the young girl Shay is convicted of killing. If America is all about freedom of religion, Shay should be able to fulfill his duty to give Claire his heart. Shay’s dying request is to be hung, so he can finally do some noble for the family he did such cruel. In this journal, I will question Claire’s reasoning in denying Shay’s heart, connect with Maggie’s feelings of being a misfit, and predict Father Michael will not continue to be a priest. Claire has struggled with medical problems her whole life, so why would she stop fighting now when a new heart is almost available? A plausible answer is Claire does not want the heart because it previously was Shay’s. Most think a heart is a heart, and as long as the beats are steady it works. However, Claire perceives Shay Bourne’s heart as the heart
If that judge does not believe Shay’s claims to his religion, Shay will not be able to be free of his compunctions and save Claire. If it is impossible to put a label on religion, Shay should be able to be hung no questions asked. ☺ Although the judge is making the choice in the court, he is not the one who needs convincing. Shay Bourne’s last request for redemption is riding on the small shoulders of Claire