An Act of Prostitution

An Act of Prostitution In An Act of Prostitution, an enormous, foul-mouthed whore stands accused of solicitation. Jimmy Mulligan is her court appointed lawyer. Not wanting to waste his or the court's time, he advises her to plead guilty and take a plea. Having no desire to return to jail, Mrs. Brown declines the offer and maintains her innocence. Another lawyer, knowing Mrs. Brown's reputation, asks if perhaps her case be heard first, as his …

…plea seriously. Even her own lawyer laughs at her feeble attempts to defend herself. Trials for blacks being just a formality is a notion that is abundantly apparent. The judge has already made a decision before hearing the case, but goes through the motions nonetheless. The sense of the "good old boys network" throughout the tale leads one to consider that the story may have taken place in the south, a region notorious for inequality.