Legal imagery
Much of this novel is set in a court room, so the focus of the novel's tone is somewhat legal and the question of justice is clearly in the forefront of the novel. This imagery also provides tactical language for explaining abstract qualities about justice and law. For instance, it becomes clear from the imagery that the only real variable in Western law is the human beings themselves. The actual human beings who serve as judge and jury vary wildly from community to community. The legal framework is clearly misused in the novel.
Religious imagery
Clearly, the Quakers themselves are literally metaphors to religious communities. Both in England and in America, whenever people thought of religious folks, they often imagined Quakers, because they dress a little bit different (a lot different sometimes), and because their strict (but beautiful) practice of religion is so evident. They spend a lot of time in churches in this novel. Yes, again, the human beings who hold roles in that church are dubious.
Imagery of the sublime and natural
The setting of Pennsylvania is undeniably beautiful, and the novel's focus on that land, on the quality of the natural balances that exist in nature—it provides a third frame of reference for these justice dilemmas. The implication from the focus on habitat is that these characters are still humans, which are animals that live on earth. In light of this, the injustice of the plot takes on a surreal, nearly satirical tone. Why are the judge and jury doing evil? Because they think they are so very civilized, they accidentally obey animal instincts in unfair tribal ways.
Imagery of justice and injustice
There is a motif that is seen in much of the imagery about justice. Since the plot deals with justice, the settings often reflect that intention. The whole of Quaker civilization seems oriented about that justice. Their clothes are strict and uniform, a sign of their obedience to community standards. Their church services are very long, a sign of the religiosity of the town. The town seems perfectly just on its face, but the novel shows the reader the difficult truth—they're lying to themselves about how good they really are as people.
