"Justice" by John Galsworthy - A Social Tragedy or Conspiracy
Transcript of "Justice" by John Galsworthy - A Social Tragedy or Conspiracy
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Justice , A Social
Tragedy / Conspiracy
Steffi Santhana Mary.S
Founders of “Marxism”
Karl Marx (German Philosopher & Political Economist)
Friedrich Engels (German Political Philosopher)
Societies two major divisions are – the wealthy ‘capitalist’ & the poor ‘working-class’
Capitalist – Ruling class
Pre-planned and Formulated “Institutions” to ‘exploit and oppress’ working-class
“Base and Superstructure”
Introduction
FRIEDRICH ENGLES KARL MARX1818 - 18831820 - 1895
The Basestructure in Justice(Economic\Class Divisions)
Lower-class
Middle-class
Upper-class
Contd. The Base structure in Justice
Upper-Classo Rich people – rigid, emotionless & rulers . James How , Walter Howo ”nothing for it prosecute”(James, Act I, pg
16)rigido “ I don’t see how it is possible to spare
him”(James, act I ,pg 17) rigid & emotionless
o “ I’ve been to see the pictures at the guilt-hall” (Walter ,Act I, pg 7)wealthy
Upper-class
Cont. The Base structure in Justice
Lower-class
Lower-class- constant struggle, being
ruled
Falder, Ruth
Eg “… my friend cried because he hadn’t
the money to get me away”(Ruth, Act II ,
pg 29)
Working-class
Between upper & lower class comes the
‘middle-class’- neither rich nor poor, struggle
hard to maintain current position.
Cokeson. Governor, Judge, Frome ,Cleaver
“ I like people to be open and jolly”( Cokeson ,
Act I, Pg 11) typical mind set
Cntd. The Base structure in Justice
Middle-class
Middle-cl
ass
Superstructures in Justice
Court of Justice
Marriage
PolicePrison
Industry
Cntd… Superstructures in Justice
To serve the interests of the rich
To exploit the poor
To oppress them
To keep the majority under constant fear
To favour the rich and the dominant group
CNTD… SUPERSTRUCTURES IN JUSTICE
To keep the majority under constant control
• Employ middle-class to govern, puppets of rich.
• “James: …..honesty is the sine qua non Cokeson(hypnotized):of course it is” (act I , pg 17)speaking for the rich
• “Cokeson:… honesty is the sine qua non”(pg22 , Act 2) repeats what he heard from his rich boss
• “ I don’t want to go against your father. If he thinks it is right” speaking for the rich in fear.
• The law is what it is— …. rest on another”(judge ,Act 2, pg 44) Believes that the law is flawless.
•To serve the interest of the rich
•Eg. James calling Scotland yard
•Cowley coming to James's office.
Cntd… Superstructures in Justice
“To exploit the poor
Rich take advantage of the poor
Eg. “…. My employer happened then.he’s
happened ever since”
When poor rebel crushed by rich
Eg “ Ruth : only that I never bowed …. Like
that”(pg 30, Act 2)
Ruth-oppressed & exploited . No equality b/w
men and women.
Cntd… Superstructures in Justice
Cntd… Superstructures in Justice
To oppress them
Falder rebels- crushed by law-trapped
Eg “ I seem to be……..it grows there”
(Falder, pg 68 ,Act 4)
• To favour the rich• Rich do wrong but escapes law .eg. ‘right-of-way’ case
Eg. 1)“ this right-of-way case we’ve got’em on deeds” “we needn’t worry about that . We’re the right side of the law”(Cokeson pg7 act I)
2)“Walter: about the right-of-way case?
James : Oh! Well, we must go forward there”(pg 8 ,act I)
• Right-of-way means legal right to make path through others property. The path is considered as a public property
AC
BLand B is Locked D
MAIN ROAD
DC
BA
Main RoadR
igh
t-of-
way
James made money dishonestly whereas Falder is punished
for 81 pounds “ the idea ……. hard Cokeson”(James, act 1
pg 11)
“Walter: Falder it can be managed”(pg 74 act 4)
“judge: The law is what it is ---- ……. favor” (act 2 ,pg
44,45) law is partial
lower-class are safe as long as they allow exploitation
eg. “ sweedle : they come to …… complain of it” (pg63 act4)
Institutions are illusionary . Created to oppress and exploit
poor people
Cntd.. To favour the rich
Fidel Castro says “ Marxism taught me what society was. I was like a blindfolded man in a forest , who doesn’t know where north or south is . If you don’t eventually come to truly understand the history of class struggle or at least have a clear idea that the society is divided between the rich and the poor and that some people subjugate and exploit other people you’re lost in a forest not knowing anything”
conclusion
JUSTICE – A SOCIAL
CONSPIRACY IN MARXIST
PERSPECTIVE
To help and save poor Marx and Engles pointed out “ social change” eg. French Revolution
Changes cannot happen from the rich it must happen from the lower-class people
Thank You
Bibliography
•Fidel Castro on discovering
Marxism 2009
• Mary Klages : Literary
Theory
• Peter Barry : Beginning
Theory