Ian Manuel Character Analysis in Just Mercy

Manuel is a young man from Florida who is convicted of assault and sentenced as a juvenile to life in prison. Because of his age, he is kept in solitary confinement. He develops psychological health issues related to his time in solitary. He forms a friendship with his victim, Ms. Baigre, who becomes his advocate. EJI represents Ian as part of an effort to reform laws giving life sentences to juvenile offenders. Stevenson describes Ian as intelligent, well read, creative, and thoughtful.

Ian Manuel Quotes in Just Mercy

The Just Mercy quotes below are all either spoken by Ian Manuel or refer to Ian Manuel. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:

).

Imagine teardrops left uncried
From pain trapped inside
Waiting to escape
Through the windows of your eyes

“Why won’t you let us out?”
The tears question the conscience
“Relinquish your fears and doubts
and heal yourself in the process.”

The conscience told the tears
“I knew you really wanted me to cry
but if I release you from bondage
In gaining your freedom, you die.”

The tears gave it some though
Before giving the conscience an answer
“If crying brings you to triumph
Then dying’s not such a disaster.”

Related Characters: (speaker)

Page Number and Citation: 147-148

Explanation and Analysis:

But to be real, I want to show the world I’m alive! I want to look at those photos and feel alive! It would really help with my pain. I felt joyful today during the photo shoot. I wanted it to never end. Every time you all visit and leave, I feel saddened. But I capture and cherish those moments in time, replaying them in my mind’s eye, feeling grateful for human interaction and contact. But today, just the simple handshakes we shared was a welcome addition to my sensory deprived life.

Related Characters: (speaker),

Page Number and Citation: 162

Explanation and Analysis:

Ian Manuel Character Timeline in Just Mercy

The timeline below shows where the character Ian Manuel appears in Just Mercy. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

Empathy, Mercy, and Humanization Theme Icon

The chapter begins with a poem by Ian Manuel, one of the inmates Stevenson features in this chapter who was incarcerated as a... (full context)

Systemic Power, Oppression, and Dehumanization Theme Icon

In Florida in 1990, thirteen-year-old Ian Manuel, a homeless boy abandoned by his family, went with two older boys to rob... (full context)

...for the “super-predator theory”. Stevenson writes: “This admission came too late for kids like Trina, Ian and Antonio.” (full context)

EJI began representing Ian, Trina, and Antonio years after their convictions, and the organization decided to fight laws allowing... (full context)

...175 years. With persistence, EJI gets reasonable release dates secured for Antonio, Joe Sullivan, and Ian Manuel. They develop a re-entry program, which will help persuade the courts to change sentences.... (full context)

...and sentenced to death.” Stevenson then describes EJI’s continued efforts on behalf of juvenile lifers. Ian Manuel and Antonio Núñez “have a chance to be released.” Despite noncompliance from the state... (full context)

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Ian Manuel Character Analysis

Ian Manuel Quotes in Just Mercy

Ian Manuel Character Timeline in Just Mercy

Everything you need
for every book you read.