In Adam Bede, Hetty’s confession to Dina Morris illuminates the dissonance between testimonies made in religious settings and those made in legal ones. Using Kreuger’s argument, this dissonance is not reflective of variable levels of culpability, but rather reflective of an opportunity to “’read between the lines’” and further understand how the defendant wishes to represent themselves in cases of infanticide. However, Hetty’s explanaition, through the religious testimony.In Adam Bede, Hetty’s confession to Dina Morris illuminates the dissonance between testimonies made in religious settings and those made in legal ones— and using Krueger’s article, this illuminates some nuances surrounding Mens Rea. Kreuger advocates for the narrative truth of women in case of infanticide in his chapter, “Concealing Women’s Mens Rea Advocacy for Female Prisoners and Infanticidal Mothers”, writing that their narratives on their crime are not necessarily determinants in their culpability, but rather reflective of an opportunity to “’read between the lines’” and further understand how the defendant wishes to represent themselves in cases of infanticide (203). Through Kreuger’s interpretation, Hetty’s testimony to Dinah would be well used in court as an opportunity for legal narrative advocacy (236). However, if Hetty’s explanation of her crime— originally made through religious testimony to Dinah— were utilized as a legal testimony, it’s explicit descriptions of intent would incriminate her. While Kreuger could still see this testimony as an opportunity to contextualize Hetty’s act and perhaps use it to work as a form of advocacy for the destitute opportunities of a woman with low SES, Hetty would still be admitting to guilt (236). Unfortunately, while religious testimonies of sin result in forgiveness, legal testimonies result in “justice” and punishment. Thus, Hetty gained far more personal enlightenment from staying silent during the legal case and only professing her crime through religious testimony. Kreuger’s argument supporting the inclusion of defendant narratives would have prevented this— as Hetty would have been encouraged to use the legal system as an interpretive system for her personal responsibility, and ultimately would have been condemned by her representation of her Mens Rea. If Hetty had utilized her voice and narrative in court, her defense attorney would have been even less apt to advocate for her, as her narrative’s representation of Mens Rea does not excuse her crime. The dissolution of Mens Rea in religious testimonies (as all humans are seen as born sinners) opposes this, and allows Hetty to admit her sin and move forward with the understanding that she will face punishment or forgiveness through God. Ultimately, through Hetty’s explanation of the event in the context of a religious testimony (naturally sans concern for Mens Rea), it can be seen that Kreuger’s argument for inclusion of defendant legal testimonies— on the basis that their Mens Rea will serve as an opportunity for advocacy— it can be seen the Mens Rea could be as equally condemning as it could excusatory in legal contexts. In Adam Bede, Hetty’s confession to Dina Morris illuminates the dissonance between testimonies made in religious settings and those made in legal ones. Using Kreuger’s argument, this dissonance is not reflective of variable levels of culpability, but rather reflective of an opportunity to “’read between the lines’” and further understand how the defendant wishes to represent themselves in cases of infanticide. However, Hetty’s explanaition, through the religious testimony.
