The Framework of Laws for the Civilized Society - Essay Example

An interpretative analysis of the play “No Crime” by Billy Goda. The need of the time is notonly the noble laws, but the noble individuals for their implementation! Introduction The relationship between law and society is profound. Another important factor is the individuals who implement the provisions of law. Once the law is passed by the government, it is the team of lawyers who interpret the law and it is argued before the judicial authorities. The existence of the society has no meaning without laws. When the administration of law is sub-standard, it is popularly known as the jungle law. Law is not a fixed entity. It changes as per the demands and aspirations of the people because it is the people who elect the representatives who frame the laws. The provisions of the law may be great and their intentions may be noble. But if those who implement them are not noble, the society will suffer and a law argued, defended and implemented in a worst manner is calamitous for the society. “No Crime” by Billy Goda is one of those postmodern plays which chuckles the guilty conscious of its readers, and touches their hearts at the profound depth. The author makes it very clear and his objective is evident and he articulates his viewpoint employing his characters and their mutual relationship. The ending of the play is also on the expected lines, though the author introduces a dramatic element of neutrality in the end of the play. The theme of the play is about the role of the law and its relationship with the society. The implicit purpose of law is to keep members of the society safe collectively and individually. It is the frame on which the society builds itself and it is supposed to keep the members of the society behind the lines of law. The law is supposed to be blind and both arms of the scale of law are equally important. Its main responsibility is to prevent the wrong and see that it does not get stronger and for the weak and support-less to provide the support within the provisions of law. The prime responsibility of the law and the judicial process is to identify the guilty from the innocent. This is the ideal position desired by any society. But the ground realties in almost all the countries leave much to be desired. Societies have never been able to give the true and honest benefit of the provisions of law to the people. The not guilty have been punished and the guilty ones have escaped the noose of law. Those who should have been punished have been acquitted. Though the theme of the play does not offer direct comments on the lacunas in the system of implementation of the legal provisions its hidden agenda and the style of presentation deals with those who are the custodians of law. The brief synopsis of the plot of the play is thus: Jim Abner is a fifty year old man, who is the boss of the firm and he is interviewing Cal Roberts who was a student of Jim’s friend Dave Horowits. Jim asks an interesting question to the candidate in front of him that has bearing on the entire judicial system. The question to Cal is what would be his course of action if a man comes to him and confesses a murder. Cal’s reply is stunning. He says if he has been the client of the firm, he is innocent! Jim articulates that the man has confessed to the murder! Cal argues that he has not confessed to the police as such he is innocent until it is proved in a court of law that he is guilty of the murder. The murder should be proved and as his lawyer Cal would prove that he is not the murderer. Jim liked this answer that offers him the first case and introduces him to the client who has smashed the head of a lady with a bat! The reflection of the materialistic civilization and aspiration of the people for achieving “American Dream”, no matter how they achieve the dream can be observed in the above dialogue. For the aspiring legal expert Cal, truth and client’s honesty is not important. Winning the case and the money earned through it are of consequence to him. The boss is interested in enhancing the reputation of the firm by winning the case and the interviewee is seized of this aspect of his mindset and his mind also works on similar lines. Upholding the law is not for the sake of truth, but for the sake of aggrandizement of wealth. The author gives an interesting turn to the interview, which is not related to the process of law, but explains a serious malady related to the society. Jim has the habit of chewing tobacco and offers the same to Cal, who too likes it. Jim informs him that none of the interviewees like tobacco. Cal states that the habit of chewing tobacco is disgusting and Jim agrees with his observations. In reality, tobacco symbolizes the nature of their legal functions and responsibilities and their perspective of it. Cal is welcomed by Jim into the fraternity of people who do disgusting things by taking up false cases and process it through the legal jargon, prove guilt of the innocent, or charge the innocent for the crimes that one has not committed and once the case is over consign the file to the dustbin as if! Just like the tobacco-chewer spits it when done with! This is not an isolated incident and it happens every day and the crime world and the legal world work in ‘harmony’ for their intended objectives, and the image of truth is badly bruised. What has happened during the interviewing process is just the representative sample as to what is happening in the world of crime and how the entire legal system works in support of the crime world, and nothing constructive is done to prevent it. The other grave part is there is a legally qualified section, which has vested interest in continuance of the crime situation. Thus in countries like America crimes are committed and the criminals are defended through the process of law. The play highlights strong reflection against prevailing legal system and how it has lost its vitality and instead of helping the society, how it renders dis-service to the litigants. A litigant does not come to the lawyer for pleasure. The services of the best lawyer are the assured source of protection to the professional criminals, as they are confident that their lawyer will find the legal lacuna to defend them and get them acquitted eventually. The meaning is clear. A successful lawyer has no hesitation for sacrificing truth, the famous lawyer is in real terms a liar and he is willing to avail any option to win the case. He has no place for humanity and he legally assists to send the innocent man to the gallows to save his own man from the gallows. The main strength of the postmodern plays is the importance of their themes. A nation’s strength and identity lies in the strength of the democratic institutions and whether they are discharging the responsibilities expected of them. Whether the professions like doctors, engineers and lawyers are true to their responsibilities or whether they are working in hand in glove with each other. Loss of self-identity is a form of social evil. When humanity and essential dignity of the profession is sacrificed at the altar of money the value system of the society is lost and eventually it gives rise to social unrest. The modern plays do not have a definite ending and they terminate abruptly to keep the readers guessing. This is the accepted writing style in modern plays and they depict the perplexities of the life of human beings impacted by the materialistic civilization that has engulfed the society. The values that form part of a particular profession, conventions and laws are continuously on the flux and the man enters circle within circles but does not know how to come out of that cobweb of circles. Ultimately he accepts the prevailing chaos, confusion and frustrations as part of his day to day existence. The younger generations have accepted the negative values in the initial phase of launching their professional careers as explained in the interview that takes place in a lawyer’s chamber. Conclusion The framework of laws is important for the civilized society, but what really matters is their implementation. The spirit of the law must prevail for which society needs to create not only the noble laws, but noble professionals. If the provisions of law are interpreted to the disadvantage of the honest man, the decaying process in the society will begin. When aggrandizement for wealth becomes the passion, the missionary zeal is lost and it is the beginning of chaos in the society. If the values of a profession are lost, such an individual becomes party and supporter to the perpetrator of the crime and it is as good as the ‘fence grazing the crops.’ “No Crime” by Billy Goda is one of those postmodern plays which appeals to the emotional world of the readers and it serve as the warning to those who indulge in malpractices in their professional dealings. In the world of law there are only two types of human beings. Guilty or not-guilty and all the acts and ordinances are meant to identify the guilty and protect the innocent. If that is not done in a fair and equitable manner, the people will lose faith in judiciary. The combustible younger generation in any profession is in a hurry to get monetary gains and means are of no consequence to them. This is the danger signal that indicates social decay and once the downward spiral begins, it will advance like the avalanche with disastrous consequences for the psyche of the society. In the case discussed in the above paragraphs the young aspiring lawyer is not worried about the element of honesty contained in the brief. He has tried to defend, just because he is an existing customer of the firm, and will pay for the services, probably a handsome amount! Thus the youngster is ready for the wrong start to his life, most willingly. Work Cited Young, Glenn. The Best American Short Plays (Best American Short Plays)-1998- 1999. Applause; New York, NY; 2001, Print Read More