When first reading Kafka’s “Before the Law”, the story seems
to convey that the “law” is something that cannot be accessible by
insignificant people, or in this case a country man. The law is portrayed as
this mystical figment that can only be grasped by going through three gates,
guarded by powerful gate keepers. As I kept reading, the problem with grasping
the law became less of the accessibility of the law, and more about conveying
that we can be our own personal hindrance. The country man waited years, only
to stay outside of the gates so that he did not reject or disobey “authority”.
The irony of the situation is that no rules or regulations had been set in
place for the country man to follow. It
was almost like an instinct he had just to take the gate keepers word at face
value, versus questioning his authority and ability to let him through the
gate. The law, in this case, is not set up by a governmental system or a higher
power but through the country man’s willingness to obey the gate keeper. The
contradiction in that is the fact that the country man did not question his
authority. Most people do not question authority because they assume that the law
is the structure of society, and it should be obeyed. However, there are many
laws in place that people do not agree with such as the death penalty laws.
Another example is the number of years a person can get from having illegal
substances in their possession, versus the four years for manslaughter. It is in the human nature to obey and follow
the law, regardless if we believe if they are just or not. The country man had
no prior knowledge to what power the law actually had. He simply acknowledged
the gate keeper’s authority and respected it. Is society just following the law because it
believes in what the law stands for, or is it just afraid of the consequences
of over stepping its boundaries?
The society is just afraid of the consequences of breaking the laws. However, we have to accept that without laws, every society would be out of control. Some of the laws we respect because it makes sense. The legislative power create laws in order to organize our society, to keep it in control. To penalize who breaks that law, in order to protect who does not. Some laws are arguable, we can discuss if it is just or not. But as Thrasymachus said: Justice is the advantage of the strongest.
ReplyDeleteI don't believe that society is just afraid of the consequences of over stepping its boundaries. We've seen throughout history that many communities ruled by an unjust power end in rebellion. While there may be some corruption in the judicial system, I believe that most people in the US follow the laws because they know they're there to keep them and everyone around them safe.
ReplyDeleteYou made a very good point. In today's society most people obey the law because they don't want to suffer the consequences that are put in place. Now with that being said, some people who don't agree with the law, don't have a problem with disturbing the peace. I agree with Diego V. that laws are put in place to keep society in order because without it we wouldn't have our freedoms or access to the basic necessities we all enjoy. Sometimes we as individuals can be our own obstacle. We can let things stand in our way and not question authority just because we don't to be disrespectful or "buck the system". In doing that we can miss out on opportunities that could change our lives or someone else's.
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