The document summarizes Karl Marx's view of society and justice system through the lens of his Marxist perspective. According to Marxism, society is divided into two major classes: the wealthy capitalist class and the poor working class. The capitalist class establishes institutions like the courts, police and prisons to exploit and oppress the working class for the benefit of the rich. In the play "Justice", the upper class characters like James and Walter How rigidly uphold the law to favor themselves, while the lower class characters like Falder and Ruth are constantly struggling and controlled. The institutions are depicted as serving the interests of the rich and exploiting the poor through oppressive measures, showing justice as a social conspiracy according to Marxism.

2. Justice ,
A Social Tragedy
/ Conspiracy
Steffi Santhana

3. Introduction
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”

5. The Basestructure in Justice
(EconomicClass Divisions)

6. Contd.
The Base structure in Justice
Upper-Class
o Rich people – rigid, emotionless & rulers .
James How , Walter How
o ”nothing for it prosecute”(James, Act I, pg 16)rigid
o “ 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

8. 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)

10. Cntd. The Base structure in Justice
 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

12. Court of
Justice
Industry
Prison
Marriage
Police

13. 
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

14. 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.

15. Cntd…
Superstructures in Justice
• To serve the interest of the rich
• Eg. James calling Scotland yard
• Cowley coming to James's office.

16. Cntd…
“To

Superstructures in Justice
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.

17. 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)

18. • 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

21. Cntd.. To favour the rich
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

23. 
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”

24. JUSTICE –
A SOCIAL
CONSPIRACY IN
MARXIST
PERSPECTIVE

25. 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