How do Mattie and Cogburn differ in their approach to justice?

• A. Mattie pursues personal revenge for a moral cause; Cogburn emphasizes pragmatic, sometimes violent justice.
• B. Mattie seeks legal reform; Cogburn adheres to strict due process.
• C. Mattie pursues vengeance as a primary goal; Cogburn avoids violence entirely.
• D. Both rely on communal consensus to decide guilt.

Answer: (C)

The main idea here is how motive shapes justice. Mattie is driven by a personal vow to punish the man who killed her father; her pursuit of justice is fueled by vengeance and a strong moral impulse to right a wrong she personally cares about. Cogburn, on the other hand, approaches justice as a duty and a practical task—focused on getting the job done, using the means that are necessary to bring a killer to account, without letting personal vendetta drive his actions. The option that pairs Mattie pursuing vengeance as a primary goal with Cogburn avoiding violence entirely highlights that contrast between a vengeance-driven motive and a restrained, duty‑based approach to justice. The other descriptions don’t fit what each character prioritizes—legal reform, strict due process, or relying on communal consensus are not how they fundamentally operate in pursuing truth and punishment.