In the Midst of Winter

At the conclusion of the novel, Lucia justifies the intervention in Evelyn’s life and Kathryn’s murder as a means of pursuing “natural justice” (339). For Lucia, formal systems of justice have always had their limits. As a political exile from Chile during its dictatorship, she has learned that the law is often biased and is activated by the ruling parties of the time. Even after her return to Chile once a more liberal government has been installed, she is still unable to find justice for her disappeared brother. This suspicion of formal systems of justice and reliance on an internal compass of morality informs her decision to protect Evelyn when she arrives at Richard’s door.

Evelyn has known the limits of justice as well from her suffering in Guatemala. As gang violence is so pervasive and the government unable to seriously stop the rising influence of crime, Evelyn’s brothers’ deaths and her own rape never receive justice. The unfairness does not stop once Evelyn leaves Guatemala and enters the U.S.. After an incident with her stepsister exposes Evelyn’s undocumented status, she is forced to eventually go to trial to fight for her U.S. residency. However, the advice of one immigration official confirms the unreliability of U.