The Street Lawyer

Although Michael Brock, the protagonist of the novel, is a dynamic character, his changes are slower and slighter than those of an archetypal hero. Most of his physical, domestic, and occupational aspects change drastically within the first quarter of the novel, but his mentality, a key factor in Michael’s transformation, takes much more time. In fact, readers do not get any solid insight into his character until Chapter 6, when he visits his parents. As a side note during the golf match with his father, Michael offers this glimpse into his childhood:

“Like my brothers, I was not born with a social conscience. We gave offerings to the church because the Bible strongly suggests it. We paid taxes to the government because the law requires it. Surely, somewhere in the midst of all this giving some good would be done, and we had a hand in it […] [T]here was no money to be made by honest people. We were taught to be productive, and the more success we attained, the more society would benefit, in some way. Set goals, work hard, play fair, achieve prosperity. (57)

Although Michael Brock, the protagonist of the novel, is a dynamic character, his changes are slower and slighter than those of an archetypal hero. Most of his physical, domestic, and occupational aspects change drastically within the first quarter of the novel, but his mentality, a key factor in Michael’s transformation, takes much more time. In fact, readers do not get any solid insight into his character until Chapter 6, when he visits his parents. As a side note during the golf match with his father, Michael offers this glimpse into his childhood:

“Like my brothers, I was not born with a social conscience. We gave offerings to the church because the Bible strongly suggests it. We paid taxes to the government because the law requires it. Surely, somewhere in the midst of all this giving some good would be done, and we had a hand in it […] [T]here was no money to be made by honest people. We were taught to be productive, and the more success we attained, the more society would benefit, in some way. Set goals, work hard, play fair, achieve prosperity. (57)

Michael characterizes his family as almost cultlike, with his father at the helm. Through this description, the reader sees that, from birth, he has been indoctrinated into a belief that includes staunch rule-following, painstaking work ethic, clear goals, and unrelenting drive toward [monetary] success. Michael’s father’s beliefs include doing good deeds passively, and only through giving money, despite his reference to the Bible as an authority. His father sees the world as well-defined and fixed; there is no room for nebulous sliding scales like justice, love, and compassion. This dogma is the ruling force in Michael’s life, both growing up and as an adult in the first stage of his character arc, which explains why, before Mister, Michael has never given a second thought to the world beyond his bubble or reckoned with his Personal Privilege and Responsibility.

Almost immediately after the Mister incident, Michael decides to leave Drake & Sweeney because he realizes he no longer blindly agrees with their principles. He recognizes that Drake & Sweeney have violated DeVon Hardy’s and the Burtons’ rights, and he is moved to fight for them, but he does not yet acknowledge how deeply his pattern of thinking runs, nor is he aware of all of its ramifications. The second phase of Michael’s character arc, therefore, consists of him learning various lessons that gradually reveal to him the truth of his childhood perspectives, courtesy of the mentorship of Mordecai Green. For the bulk of the book, every time Michael helps someone or gains new perspective on his clients, he makes a comment that indicates his overall mindset is still catching up. For example, after he has been working with Mordecai for some time and learning the ways of street law, one night after work, he “[walks] fast and smart to [his] car […] The sidewalk [is] empty; no hoodlums, no gunfire, not a scratch on [his] Lexus.” He drives away feeling proud of himself for “surviving” the streets (133). At this point, Michael has had opportunities to do good in the community, but he still retains his Lexus—a symbol of his old life—which he does not intend to sell. He also refers to potential criminals as “hoodlums,” an antiquated, “othering” word typically used by people who stand outside their circle in judgment. Most ironically, he pats himself on the back because he imagines he can “survive on the streets,” when his actions and thoughts indicate that he is woefully unprepared to do so. Even as far as Chapter 27, he does not understand why the evictees he has been looking for would not want to make themselves available to him.

The final stage in Michael’s character arc is the beginning of his ability to be his own ruling force, guided by the principles of street law that he has embraced. This phase begins when he agrees to a nine-month license suspension in exchange for a larger monetary settlement that will provide support and retribution for people without housing and for the legal clinic. The court settlement is the first time Michael willingly sacrifices something important to him for the betterment of the community. He then reinforces that action with his parting statement that he is not looking to the future because he is still contending with the past. This confession shows a marked change in Michael’s self-awareness, which is the piece of the puzzle he has been missing for the entire novel. The line also sets the stage for a difficult mental journey upon which he is now willing to embark, which will happen in the fictional future.

Michael characterizes his family as almost cultlike, with his father at the helm. Through this description, the reader sees that, from birth, he has been indoctrinated into a belief that includes staunch rule-following, painstaking work ethic, clear goals, and unrelenting drive toward [monetary] success. Michael’s father’s beliefs include doing good deeds passively, and only through giving money, despite his reference to the Bible as an authority. His father sees the world as well-defined and fixed; there is no room for nebulous sliding scales like justice, love, and compassion. This dogma is the ruling force in Michael’s life, both growing up and as an adult in the first stage of his character arc, which explains why, before Mister, Michael has never given a second thought to the world beyond his bubble or reckoned with his Personal Privilege and Responsibility.

Almost immediately after the Mister incident, Michael decides to leave Drake & Sweeney because he realizes he no longer blindly agrees with their principles. He recognizes that Drake & Sweeney have violated DeVon Hardy’s and the Burtons’ rights, and he is moved to fight for them, but he does not yet acknowledge how deeply his pattern of thinking runs, nor is he aware of all of its ramifications. The second phase of Michael’s character arc, therefore, consists of him learning various lessons that gradually reveal to him the truth of his childhood perspectives, courtesy of the mentorship of Mordecai Green. For the bulk of the book, every time Michael helps someone or gains new perspective on his clients, he makes a comment that indicates his overall mindset is still catching up. For example, after he has been working with Mordecai for some time and learning the ways of street law, one night after work, he “[walks] fast and smart to [his] car […] The sidewalk [is] empty; no hoodlums, no gunfire, not a scratch on [his] Lexus.” He drives away feeling proud of himself for “surviving” the streets (133). At this point, Michael has had opportunities to do good in the community, but he still retains his Lexus—a symbol of his old life—which he does not intend to sell. He also refers to potential criminals as “hoodlums,” an antiquated, “othering” word typically used by people who stand outside their circle in judgment. Most ironically, he pats himself on the back because he imagines he can “survive on the streets,” when his actions and thoughts indicate that he is woefully unprepared to do so. Even as far as Chapter 27, he does not understand why the evictees he has been looking for would not want to make themselves available to him.

The final stage in Michael’s character arc is the beginning of his ability to be his own ruling force, guided by the principles of street law that he has embraced. This phase begins when he agrees to a nine-month license suspension in exchange for a larger monetary settlement that will provide support and retribution for people without housing and for the legal clinic. The court settlement is the first time Michael willingly sacrifices something important to him for the betterment of the community. He then reinforces that action with his parting statement that he is not looking to the future because he is still contending with the past. This confession shows a marked change in Michael’s self-awareness, which is the piece of the puzzle he has been missing for the entire novel. The line also sets the stage for a difficult mental journey upon which he is now willing to embark, which will happen in the fictional future.