Miracle Creek

Young symbolizes the way one should explore narrative: listening to both sides, seeking confirming evidence, and only then drawing conclusions. For example, Young explores competing narratives when she attempts to discover the truth, comparing what Pak told her to the evidence she discovers on her own. She seeks out competing narratives when she asks Teresa to explain why Elizabeth said she fantasized about Henry dying. This is the process that Abe and Shannon should be following, but instead, they deliberately ignore evidence that does not agree with the narratives they have already constructed.

Part of this stems from their duties: Abe is required to present evidence that Elizabeth is guilty, and Shannon is required to present evidence that Elizabeth is not guilty. However, both deliberately ignore evidence that contrasts with these narratives, willing to act unethically rather than admit their mistakes. This is a part of human nature called confirmation bias—when we seek only to confirm rather than challenge our beliefs.

Kim is also commenting on the difficulty of ever knowing the true story. For example, much is made of the telephone call to the insurance company inquiring about Miracle Submarine’s fire insurance. When Young discovers that the caller was a young girl with no accent, she believes this is another piece of evidence that confirms Mary’s guilt.