Essay Questions

Why does Tom fly to Miami without telling his wife?

Tom’s wife was once married to Cowart, and the primary intention of Tom's secretive trip is to meet Cowart and discuss with him about his daughter, Becky. Tom knows that Cowart loves his daughter, and he is ready to support her at any time. However, Tom wants Becky to love him, too, because he is her stepfather and provides all the fatherly support she needs to grow as a happy child. After having a long discussion with Cowart in Miami, Tom returns home satisfied that his involvement in bringing up Becky is not in vain.

Is co-parenting one of the primary themes in Just Cause by John Katzenbach?

Parenting emerges as one of the key themes in the novel. When Cowart marries his wife, they are blessed with a baby girl called Becky. However, some years later, Cowart and his wife divorce, and he remains single for the rest of his life. Cowart's ex-wife gets married to Tom, a graduate of corporate law and lawyer. Interestingly, Cowart and his ex-wife are determined to co-parent to make sure Becky does not lack anything. Despite living with her stepdaughter, Tom is aware that her biological father is actively involved in her upbringing. Tom is also yearning for Becky's love and is doing everything to prove he is a good stepfather.

Why does Ferguson write a letter to Cowart?

Ferguson is sentenced to death for the crime of rape and murder. However, he hears from his fellow inmates that Cowart is a criminal investigative journalist who fights for the rights of wrongly convicted people. Consequently, he writes a letter to Cowart to convince him that he never committed the crime he was convicted of and would like to be released. When Cowart reads the letter, he is convinced that Ferguson is innocent and runs a relentless campaign for his release, which eventually happens.