"The Clemency of the Court" is a short story by Willa Cather. It was first published on 26 October 1893 in The Hesperian.^[1]

Title explanation

The title refers to Serge's being in prison for the rest of his life rather than being given the death penalty.

Plot summary

Serge, a man who was brought up by a Russian woman after his mother died, kills the babushka's husband after he kills Serge's dog. Serge is then sent to a borstal. The story ends with the rationale that even though life was tough in Russia, the United States cares for their children no better.

Characters

• Serge Povolitchsky, a young man whose Russian mother drowned in a pond
• Mrs Sholdi Davis, the Russian woman who cares for Serge
• Mr Davis, Sholdi's husband
• Matushka, Serge's dog