Moral principles tend to be a virtue that apply only within society and can be frequently distinguished from the law. Meanwhile, one’s morality can be based on purity and honesty while others are concerned with practice. In turn, what is illegal is not necessarily unethical. Many people feel it is their moral duty to fulfill and quench their desire for a better life, yet doing so may require violating the law. Ann Rinaldi’s novel, Acquaintance with Darkness, represents this dilemma between law and morality. Upon the passing of the protagonist Emily’s mother, she plans to move in with her best friend Annie Suratt. When Annie and her family are accused of involvement with the assassination of President Lincoln, she is forced to move in with her …show more content…
The use of illegally obtained bodies during the American Civil War era helped make profound discoveries about the human body and disease. Most thought body snatching was very wrong, because it inflicted physiological pain upon grieving relatives and friends when their relatives bodies were stolen before they can even arrive. Uncle Valentine used the dead bodies to advance his medical research, not to gain profit like other snatchers did. This aspect of Uncle Valentine’s body snatching shows a more enlightening side to the cruel practice. Consistent with the plot of the story Emily has “come around” and is finally helping with a body snatching mission. She places herself in this position without anyone else knowing. Marietta is ill she tells her Uncle Valentine said if she was unable to uphold her position, Emily is allowed to fill in. Although, Uncle Valentine did not approve of Emily’s involvement. She says, “This shipment is very important to your uncle do you know what the man died of , The Wasting Disease. Dr. Bransby will be able to study his lungs." (Rinaldi 227) Marietta explains how each body snatching is done purposefully. There is a significant degree of specificity to each target as each body warrants further study on a particular disease. Evidently, body snatching is well intended to Uncle Valentine, yet in the eyes of the law can serve as an unnecessary evil. Uncle Valentine proved his point as a doctor and excelled at his occupation. Not only was he able to treat others better because he knew so much about the human body, but he was able to expand his knowledge. On the other hand, in the authors note it discusses how the practice of body snatching dissolved. It shows how “...the medical profession succeeded in getting decent anatomy laws enacted and scientific methods made it possible for cadavers to be preserved for a very long time. By the twentieth century body