Reading Journal, Trial by Fire

David Grann’s “Trial By Fire” is a carefully constructed, well-rounded piece. Like we discussed in class there are many ways to begin a feature piece, one of them being a provocative scene that drops the reader into the story straight away. Grann’s choice to begin with the fire achieves this exactly. However, it also serves another purpose. Because Grann’s article is concerned with the validity of the case (to put it lightly) against Cameron Todd Willingham, it begins with an objective scene, pieced together by factual evidence: the fire patterns on the walls; the description of Willingham’s lack of clothes; and the neighbor, Diane Barbee, temporary absence from the scene when she calls for help—as we will later learn she therefore cannot be a wholly reliable witness of Willingham’s behavior proceeding the breakout of the fire due to her absence. All of these factors play a role later in the story, and are interpreted by opposing parties as either condemning or exonerating evidence.

Grann, as if following protocol of a trial, begins first with the damning evidence presented against Willingham. We are also provided with “mini-profiles” of the people examining the evidence. By drawing a portrait of their personalities it allows the reader to, in a way, to participate in the case against Willingham. The reader is given an aerial view like perspective of the case because it is not solely concerned with dissection of evidence, but also of the players involved.

A noteworthy example is Dr. Gerald Hurst—“an acclaimed scientist and fire investigator”—who single handedly disproves the methods used initially to condemn Willingham. It is a nice touch on Grann’s part to include a miniature profile on Hurst. He is not only an interesting, eccentric character in himself, but it also provides the reader with a chance to step back from the case without feeling overwhelmed by the emotional response that elicits when reading the dispassionate, indifferent court order mandating Willingham’s death by intravenous injection, which immediately precedes the section about Hurst—also a nice touch by Grann to include the letter in full, contrasting the apathetic letter with its content.

Another way Grann allows the reader to participate is by including details provided by the witnesses that can be refuted with earlier details provided by Grann (like when Barbee left to call for help). Grann, however, holds out before tying it all together—by doing so, the reader becomes further immersed as they sort through the details themselves.