Plain Truth: A Novel
Jodi Picoult’s Plain Truth (2000) is a legal drama and cultural exploration set in Pennsylvania’s Amish community. The novel centers on Katie Fisher, an unmarried Amish teenager accused of murdering her newborn after the infant’s body is discovered on her family’s farm. Ellie Hathaway, a disillusioned defense attorney, takes on Katie’s case and must live among the Amish as part of bail conditions. The story examines clashes between modern justice and Amish traditions, themes of secrecy, faith, and maternal bonds. Picoult weaves courtroom tension with insights into Amish life, culminating in revelations about the infant’s death and Katie’s hidden trauma. The novel is noted for its research into Plain Sect culture and moral ambiguity.
FIVE
byPicoult, Jodi
The chapter opens with Aaron and Sarah discussing whether their daughter Katie should attend church on Gemeesunndaag (Sunday). Sarah argues that Katie, who appears unwell and is embroiled in a scandal involving a dead baby and an “Englischer,” should stay home to avoid gossip. Aaron insists she must go to maintain appearances and avoid fueling rumors. Their conversation reveals deeper tensions, including Sarah’s fear of the Meidung (shunning) if Katie confesses to premarital relations, and a fleeting reference to their estranged son Jacob, hinting at past family strife. Aaron ultimately asserts his loyalty to the church over his daughter if she is disciplined.
As the family prepares to leave for church, Ellie, the Englischer lawyer, intervenes, claiming legal custody of Katie and insisting she cannot go without her. Reluctantly, Aaron allows Ellie to accompany them. The buggy ride to church becomes a moment of reflection for Ellie, who is struck by the slow, deliberate pace of Amish life and the beauty of the countryside. Her arrival at the church—a simple farmstead—marks her first immersion into the Amish community, where she stands out conspicuously among the gathered families, drawing curious stares and whispers.
Katie, though visibly nervous, tries to ease Ellie’s discomfort by guiding her through the crowd. They are approached by Bishop Ephram, who warmly welcomes Ellie in English, a gesture meant to legitimize her presence and quell the community’s curiosity. His kindness surprises Ellie, and Katie explains that his public acknowledgment will help her blend in during the service. The interaction highlights the bishop’s authority and the community’s respect for his judgment, even as underlying tensions about Katie’s situation linger.
The chapter closes with Ellie’s growing awareness of her outsider status and the complexities of Amish social dynamics. The contrast between her modern worldview and the Amish way of life is underscored by the simplicity of the worship setting—a barn instead of a traditional church—and the communal nature of the gathering. Katie’s quiet resilience and the bishop’s diplomatic intervention suggest a fragile truce, but the unresolved questions about the baby and Katie’s future loom large, setting the stage for further conflict and revelation.
FAQs
1. What conflicting views do Aaron and Sarah have about Katie attending church, and what does this reveal about their characters?
Answer:
Aaron insists Katie must attend church despite the scandal surrounding the baby’s discovery, arguing that her absence would make her appear guilty. He prioritizes community perception and religious duty, showing his strict adherence to Amish traditions. Sarah, however, worries about Katie facing judgment and suggests she stay home, displaying maternal protectiveness. Their disagreement reveals Aaron’s rigid commitment to church authority (“I’ll side with my church before I side with my child”) versus Sarah’s emotional prioritization of their daughter’s well-being. The tension highlights broader themes of community vs. family loyalty in Amish culture.2. How does Bishop Ephram’s interaction with Ellie serve both practical and symbolic purposes in the narrative?
Answer:
Bishop Ephram publicly welcomes Ellie in English, a deliberate act that legitimizes her presence and discourages gossip among the congregation. This serves the practical purpose of easing Ellie’s integration into the Amish gathering, as Katie notes: “Now the people won’t all be wondering about you.” Symbolically, it demonstrates the bishop’s authority to mediate between the Amish and outside world, while also subtly asserting control over how the community processes the scandal. His actions reflect the Amish balance of separation from and engagement with Englischers.3. Analyze the significance of the buggy ride scene in developing Ellie’s character and the novel’s themes.
Answer:
The buggy ride marks Ellie’s first immersive experience of Amish life, contrasting her fast-paced urban existence with the deliberate rhythm of horse travel (“The world didn’t whiz by; it unrolled”). Her sensory observations—the horse’s gait, the Queen Anne’s lace—signal a dawning appreciation for simplicity, foreshadowing her potential cultural adaptation. This scene thematically explores the clash of modernity and tradition, while also humanizing the Amish for Ellie (and the reader) beyond stereotypes. Her initial discomfort (“completely surrounded by the Amish”) mirrors Katie’s earlier alienation in the Englischer world, creating parallelism.4. What does the unresolved tension about Jacob imply about the family’s history and Amish society?
Answer:
Sarah’s reference to their son Jacob—a “specter” whose name goes unspoken—hints at a prior family rupture likely involving the Meidung (shunning). Aaron’s visceral reaction (pushing back his chair) suggests deep trauma, implying Jacob may have been excommunicated or left the community. This subtext underscores the high stakes for Katie: the same rigid doctrine that severed ties with their son now threatens their daughter. The moment reveals how Amish families navigate unresolved grief while maintaining religious conformity, adding layers to Aaron’s sternness about Katie’s situation.5. How does the chapter use physical spaces (kitchen, buggy, church gathering) to reflect cultural dynamics?
Answer:
The kitchen becomes a battleground for private family conflict (Sarah “flattening her hands on the counter” during her rare defiance), symbolizing domestic tension. The buggy transitions into a liminal space where Ellie begins to perceive Amish life differently, its slow pace mirroring cultural values. Finally, the church gathering at a farm—without traditional religious architecture—emphasizes the Amish belief in community over institution. The progression from enclosed space to communal area parallels the narrative’s movement from intimate drama to public scrutiny, physically manifesting the collision of private and collective identity.
Quotes
1. “If Katie stays at home today, if she acts sick and don’t show her face, people are going to talk. People are going to think she’s not coming because she’s got something to hide. It’ll go better for her, if she makes like it’s any other Sunday.”
This quote captures Aaron’s pragmatic approach to community perception in their Amish society. It reveals the tension between personal struggles and communal expectations, showing how appearances can shape judgment in a close-knit community.
2. “But if she’s put under the bann, I’ll side with my church before I side with my child.”
Aaron’s stark declaration demonstrates the profound conflict between familial love and religious devotion. This moment highlights the rigid structure of Amish discipline and the painful choices it can force upon members.
3. “The world didn’t whiz by; it unrolled. Ellie, who had spent most of her life in a hurry, found herself watching in wonder.”
This beautiful contrast between Amish and “English” lifestyles through Ellie’s perspective encapsulates the cultural divide. The poetic description serves as a metaphor for the different paces and priorities of these two worlds.
4. “Now the people won’t all be wondering about you while we worship.”
Katie’s observation about the bishop’s public welcome of Ellie reveals the Amish community’s careful balance between curiosity about outsiders and maintaining their worship focus. It shows their deliberate approach to managing unusual situations.
5. “She was completely surrounded by the Amish… Ellie could remember feeling like this only once-years ago, when she’d spent a summer in Africa building a village as part of a college inservice project, she’d never been more aware of the differences between herself and others.”
This vivid description of Ellie’s cultural dislocation powerfully conveys the intensity of being an outsider in this community. The comparison to her Africa experience underscores how profoundly foreign the Amish world feels to her.