Justice Play by John Galsworthy: summary

Justice Play by John Galsworthy: summary

John Galsworthy OM (1867 –1933) was an English novelist and playwright. Notable works include The Forsyte Saga (1906–1921) and its sequels, A Modern Comedy and End of the Chapter. He won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1932. Justice published in 1910. It was part of a campaign to improve conditions in British prisons

The play opens in the office of James How & Sons, solicitors. The senior clerk, Robert Cokeson, discovers that a check he had issued for nine pounds has been forged to ninety. By elimination, suspicion falls upon William Falder, the junior office clerk. William Falder is in love with a married woman, the abused and ill-treated wife of a brutal drunkard. Pressed by his employer, a severe unkindly man, Falder confesses the forgery, pleading the dire necessity of his sweetheart, Ruth Honeywill, with whom he had planned to escape to save her from the unbearable brutality of her husband. Notwithstanding the entreaties of young Walter How, who holds modern ideas, his father, a moral and law-respecting citizen, turns Falder over to the police.

The second act, in the court room, shows Justice in the very process of manufacture. The scene equals in dramatic power and psychological verity the great court scene in "Resurrection." Young Falder, a youth of twenty-three, stands before the bar. Ruth, his faithful sweetheart, full of love and devotion, burns with anxiety to save the young man, whose affection for her has brought about his present predicament. Falder is defended by Lawyer Frome, whose speech to the jury is a masterpiece of social philosophy. He does not attempt to dispute the mere fact that his client had altered the check; and though he pleads temporary aberration in his defense, the argument is based on a social consciousness as fundamental and all-embracing as the roots of our social ills. He shows Falder to have faced the alternative of seeing the beloved woman murdered by her brutal husband, whom she cannot divorce, or of taking the law into his own hands. He pleads with the jury not to turn the weak young man into a criminal by condemning him to prison.

In prison the young, inexperienced convict soon finds himself the victim of the terrible "system." The authorities admit that young Falder is mentally and physically "in bad shape," but nothing can be done in the matter: many others are in a similar position, and "the quarters are inadequate."

The third scene of the third act takes place in Falder's prison.

Falder leaves the prison, a broken man. Thanks to Ruth's pleading, the firm of James How & Son is willing to take Falder back in their employ, on condition that he give up Ruth. Falder resents this.

It is then that Falder learns the awful news that the woman he loves had been driven by the chariot wheel of Justice to sell herself. At this moment the police appear to drag Falder back to prison for failing to report to the authorities as ticket-of-leave man. Completely overcome by the inexorability of his fate, Falder throws himself down the stairs, breaking his neck.

The socio-revolutionary significance of "Justice" consists not only in the portrayal of the in-human system which grinds the Falders and Honeywills, but even more so in the utter helplessness of society as expressed in the words of the Senior Clerk, Cokeson, "No one'll touch him now! Never again! He's safe with gentle Jesus!"

The play opens in the office of the managing clerk at the firm of James and Walter How. Robert Cokeson, the managing clerk is sitting at his table adding up figures in a pass- book when Sweedle, the office boy appears to inform that a lady wants to see Falder, a junior clerk in the office. The lady is called in. Introducing herself as Ruth Honeywell, she tells Cokeson that she wants to see Falder on personal business. Cokeson replies that it is against rules to allow private callers in the office, but when she insists that it is a matter of life and death, he reluctantly allows her to meet Falder who has just come in.

Ruth informs Falder that her husband in a drunken state had tried to kill her and she fled with the children while her husband was asleep. As Falder reveals his plan to go away from England, they must pretend to be husband and wife. Ruth needs some money to make some purchases. Thinking that Falder is hesitant to go away with her, she offers to stay back with her husband and be killed rather than go away with him against his will. But Falder assures her that they will go and tells her to be at the booking office at 11:45 that night.

But meanwhile James How, the senior partner, points out a discrepancy in the balance amount in the pass- book and soon it is found that a cheque drawn for nine pounds has been cashed for ninety pounds. Walter says that he had given the cheque to Cokeson. But as it was his lunch time, Cokeson had given the cheque to Davis, a junior clerk to cash it. Cokeson is upset and draws the conclusion that Davis who has just left for Australia had forged the cheque.

Meanwhile, Cowley, the cashier of the bank who had encashed the cheque is called in so that he will be able to identify the person who had encashed the cheque. The cashier identifies Falder who has just come to James How’s room as the person who had encashed the cheque for ninety pounds. When the cashier leaves, James calls in Falder and asks him about the cheque. Falder admits that Davis gave him the cheque to encash it. He did encash it but it was for ninety pounds. Falder suggests that possibly Davis altered the cheque before giving it to him. But James How tells him that the counterfoil of the cheque was with Walter till Tuesday and hence it was not possible for Davis to alter the figures in the counterfoil as he had already left for Australia on Monday. Being thus cornered, Falder admits his guilt and begs to be excused, pleading that he has committed the offence in a fit of madness. Besides, he even promises to return the money.

Both Walter and Cokeson request James How to be lenient as this is his first offence. Walter would like to give Falder a chance for the sake of his future. But James is of the view that such persons are to be kept in prison. Meanwhile, Detective Sergeant Wister arrives and Falder is taken away on the charge of felony.

Act II opens in the Court of Justice. The Court-room is crowded with barristers, reporters, ushers and jurymen. The trial of Falder is in progress.
Falder is seen at the dock with a warden on either side of him. He is being tried for an offence he had committed on 7th July. On that day, he had forged a cheque. The offence was discovered on the 18th of July. He was arrested on the same day and was taken away to prison. He remained as an under-trial prisoner till October when the trial took place. In the trial, Falder is represented by Hector Frome, a tall young man in a very white wig. Harold Cleaver, the counsel for the Crown, is a dried, yellowish man, of more than middle-age in a yellowing wig.

Falder’s counsel Frome does not dispute the fact of forgery of the cheque but takes up the plea that he had committed the offence “in a moment of aberration, amounting to temporary insanity” caused by violent distress under which he was labouring. He presents to the court the circumstances of his love for a woman married to a brutal drunkard and how he had planned to rescue her. He appeals to the jury to consider the fact that the unfortunate woman has no other means to save herself and her children, except by escaping with Falder to a foreign country. For that they require money. Driven by a desperate impulse to obtain the much- needed money, Falder altered the figures in the cheque. Frome argued that as Falder was not in a sane state of mind, he could not be held responsible for his action and to prove his contention, he cites the evidence, first of Cokeson, and next of Honeywill.

After Frome, the defence counsel had examined both Cokeson and Ruth. Cleaver, the prosecution counsel, cross- examines Falder. In his evidence, Falder had taken the plea that he was off his mind when he forged the cheque and for four minutes, he knew nothing except that he ran to the bank. Cleaver’s contention is that since Falder knew that he ran, he could not by any means have been unconscious of what he did or did not do when altering the cheque. Cleaver’s view is summed up in this extract:
Cleaver: Divested of the romantic glamour which my friend is casting over the case, is this anything but an ordinary forgery? Come.

Falder: I was half frantic all that morning, sir.
Cleaver: Now, now! You don’t deny that the ‘ty’ and the ‘nought’ were so like the rest of the handwriting as to thoroughly deceive the cashier?
Falder: It was an accident.
Cleaver: (cheerfully) Queer sort of accident, wasn’t it?......
Cleaver attempted to prove that Falder was not at all off his mind but had done everything deliberately in a planned way including going back to work in the afternoon after encashing the cheque and depositing nine pounds and changing the figures in the counterfoil five days later.

Frome, the defence counsel, next addresses the jury by expressing his belief that the jury has already been convinced that the offence was committed in “a moment of mental and moral avcuity” arising from intense emotional excitement. He appealed to the jury that his objective was not to invest the case with “romantic glamour” but to show the background of “life” that had led to the offence. The act of forging the cheque was the work of four mad moments during which this weak and nervous young man had slipped into the cage of the Law. He had already passed two months in the prison as an under-trial prisoner and that had been punishment enough for him.

However, Cleaver, the prosecution counsel, crushes Frome’s plea of temporary insanity by quoting the managing clerk and the woman’s statements that the accused was not mad, however excited or “jumpy” he might have been. Besides the seriousness of the offence, two other points needed consideration to prosecute Falder: his action that would shift the suspicion to Davis, the clerk who was on tour and his relations with a married woman.

At the direction of the judge, the jury who had left the court room for a private discussion returns and announces that they have found Falder guilty. The judge agrees with the verdict of the jury that Falder is guilty of forgery. While agreeing that Falder was overcome by emotions, the judge clarified the immoral nature of the emotions for which any plea for mercy could not be considered. He observed: “The Law is what it is- a majestic edifice, sheltering all of us, each stone of which rests on another. I am concerned only with its administration………You will go to penal servitude for three years”.

Act III opens in the prison Governor’s room. The date is 24th December. We recall that Falder was arrested on 18th July, was tried in October and sentenced to three years of penal servitude.

The chief jail-warder, Wooder, has discovered a small, rough, handmade saw made by a prisoner named Moaney and who has cut his window bar with it. Moaney is an old jail- bird serving his fourth term. The warder reports to the governor that there is a general unrest among the prisoners, though they are in separate cells. The prisoner named O’ Cleary began banging on his door that morning. The governor is worried at the discontentment of the prisoners. However, the prison chaplain is all for breaking the will power of these prisoners.

Presently Cokeson, the managing clerk of the solicitors’ firm where Falder worked, enters and meets the governor. He tells the governor that he has come to talk about Falder who was his junior clerk. Falder’s sister had requested him to enquire about Falder. But the governor explains to him that as Falder is on a month’s separate confinement, he is not allowed any visitors. Cokeson is upset to hear this and remembers how it had affected Falder’s mind when he was an under-trial prisoner.

Cokeson relates to the governor Falder’s love with a married woman whose husband was a nasty and spiteful fellow. He refers to her desire to wait for him till he comes out. He tells the governor: “He’s got three years to serve. I want things to be pleasant with him. He sees no good in solitary imprisonment.” The Chaplain however doesn’t seem to agree with Cokeson’s views.

Meanwhile, the jail-doctor arrives and reports that solitary confinement is doing him no harm. But Cokeson refers to the great mental suffering of the young man. He then asks if the woman could be permitted to see Falder; that would do well to both of them. However, the governor tells him that such visits are against rules. Cokeson turns back sadly.
Scene ii of Act III presents a vivid picture of the effect of solitary imprisonment on the prisoners by bringing out the episode of the inspection of the prison governor of the prisoners undergoing solitary confinement. First, the governor sees Moaney, inquires of him about the saw that he has made and whether he would give him his word not to try it again. But when Moaney does not wish to give his word, he is given two days’ cell with bread and water. Next, the governor sees Clipton who is suffering from age complaints and is a nervous wreck for whom sleep is the only comfort. He complains about the noise from the adjacent cell. The governor then sees O’ Cleary, the Irish prisoner who banged on the door in the morning. Being asked why he banged on the door, he says that the impulse to make noise seizes him; he cannot be steady. The noise that he makes with his hands will be conversation to him. The governor then goes to Falder’s cell. He asks Falder to settle down to prison life calmly and not break down in nervousness. Falder says that he cannot sleep in the early hours of the morning and has the apprehension that he will not be able to come out of prison. The governor asks him to strengthen his mind and not to think of private troubles. Meanwhile, when the prison-doctor arrives, the governor asks him to examine Falder’s health. After examining Falder, the doctor reports that there is nothing wrong with him except his nervousness.

Scene iii of Act III takes us to Falder’s cell, a whitewashed space thirteen feet broad by seven deep- and nine feet high, with a rounded ceiling. His bedding lies rolled up in a corner. On a shelf above, lie several books. The novel Lorna Doone lies open on a small table. Above the table is hanging a shirt from a nail, his set work being to make button- holes in the shirt. There is a gas jet in a corner by the window covered by a thick glass.

Falder is seen standing motionless trying hard to hear something, any little sound outside the silent prison cell. He paces the cell like an animal in a cage. There is a sharp tap and a click. A sound from far away terrifies him at first. But when the banging sound travels from cell to cell, his weak brain is overpowered. He swings his hand in a sort of unconscious response to the sound and at last begins to beat the door.

Act IV opens in Cokeson’s room on a March evening two years later. This point is interesting. We know that Falder was imprisoned in October for three years. But now we see that he has been released in about two years. Obviously, he has got partial remission of the three year term as we understand from Ruth Honeywill’s discussion with Cokeson. She tells Cokeson that she met Falder the day before; he is all skin and bone. Falder had got a job but he could keep it for only three weeks.

Cokeson asks her if she can do something for him, till he finds his feet. But she tells Cokeson of her difficulty in that matter as the money she earns is not enough for the two children. Then her employer kept her as his mistress and treated her well. But now that she has seen Falder released from prison, she will no more return to her employer and asks Cokeson if Falder could be employed back by the firm. Cokeson does not promise anything but tells her that he will speak to the partners. Then Ruth goes out.

Presently, Falder enters the room. Cokeson shakes hands with him and tells him that he intends to speak to the partners about him. Falder then relates to him how, after his release, he found employment but when the other clerks came to know of his past, he gave up the job in shame. He then got another job, but could not stick to it. He did something wrong by giving false references and being afraid he left the job. He also tells Cokeson about his ill- treatment at the hands of his sister’s husband who wanted to pay him twenty- five pounds to see that he left for Canada for good. Cokeson too wanted to offer him the money but Falder declines the offer.

Falder next relates his meeting with Ruth and his love for her inspite of the fact that it has caused him so much misery. Falder remarks with bitter irony that everyone seems to be sorry for him but all are afraid to associate with him. Presently, when the partners of the firm, James and Walter How, arrive Cokeson sends Falder to retire into the clerk’s office in order to talk about him to the partners.

Cokeson pleads with James on behalf of Falder by saying that he is quite repentant. He requests the partners to take him to fill a vacancy which happens to exist in the firm. James, the senior partner, is rather unwilling to have an ex- convict in the office. But Walter feels that they ought to help Falder.

James tells Falder that he may have a chance in the office, but he must guard against two things. First, he must get rid of the notion that he is unjustly treated. But Falder states that if first offenders like him are treated differently and somebody could take care of them instead of sending them to prison, most of the confirmed jail- birds would not have been in jail at all. James, however, has his doubts about so much goodness in human nature. He tells Falder that he must put all his past behind him and build himself up a steady reputation.

Secondly, James asks Falder to give up his connections with Ruth. Unless he does so, he would not be able to keep straight. But to Falder, his love for Ruth is the only thing that he looks forward to all the time. James thinks that the reputation of the firm cannot allow him to have a clerk who is not morally strong. If Falder agrees to give up Ruth, he can come, otherwise not. However, Falder declares that they cannot give up each other. James adds that he might overlook if Falder had any chance of marrying her. Walter offers to see if their firm can manage a divorce. With James’ permission, Falder beckons Ruth to come up. Ruth comes in and stands calmly by Falder. James tells her about Falder and wants her to have courage enough to give him up if she wants Falder to be taken in the office again. But Falder is not prepared to give her up. However, at James’ insistence, Ruth agrees to leave Falder alone. At that moment, Falder realizes that Ruth had behaved immorally during his absence. He almost breaks down in despair.

At that moment, the detective sergeant, Wister, comes in and says that he is looking for the clerk named Falder whom he wants arrested here. He tells James and the others present that Falder has failed to report himself regularly to the police and lately he is wanted in connection with a forged reference with which he secured an employment. Cokeson tries to put him off by asking him to come some other time. James too does not show his inclination to help out Wister. But when Wister notices Falder’s cap left behind on the table, he makes towards the room where Ruth and Falder are waiting.

Wister catches hold of Falder and as they go downstairs together, Falder throws himself down. His neck is broken and the dull thud of the fall is heard by James and others in the room. Ruth is about to fall in a faint and as Walter and Cokeson take care of Ruth, Sweadle rushes out and with Wister’s help, brings in Falder’s body to the outer office. Ruth breaks down but Cokeson holds out his hand to Ruth saying that no one would touch Falder now; he is safe with gentle Jesus.

A close look at the subject-matter is necessary in order to decide whether the title ‘Justice’ is appropriate for the play. The play can be seen as a commentary upon the administration of criminal law in England during Galsworthy’s time. The basic issues raised are:

1.Even if the law is justly administered, does it do real justice to the criminal?
2.While the law aspires to be just to all, is a person given the deserved justice?
3.Does Falder, who is sent to prison for a period of three years, suffer more than he deserves at the hands of the harsh and unimaginative prison administration?

The solitary imprisonment administered to Falder for committing the offence of tempering a cheque is an important angle in our attempt to find an answer to the question whether Falder was dispensed the deserved justice. This whole effort is as the chaplain says, “to break the perverted will of the prisoners”.
After his release from the prison, he finds that he has not been able to escape the mental agony that he suffered during his solitary imprisonment. Justice was done to him by sending him to jail. But “the rolling of the chariot wheels of justice” crushes him and along with him, his beloved Ruth.
Galsworthy brings out the social system of contemporary England which is so indifferent to the individual. In the name of giving protection to them, the system administers a kind of justice which lies at the root of the tragedy. Hence, the title is quite justified in its implications of irony concerning the mechanisms of the legal system.
LET US KNOW
In the discussion of Justice, the term ‘social problem’ has been used on several occasions. Social problems are the themes of modern social tragedies. Because of their preoccupation with social problems, these plays are known as “problem plays”. In these plays, the individual is pitted against the big forces of society, suffers and perishes. Falder in Justice is pitted against the force of the law and is crushed at the end. The cause of his suffering and tragedy is rooted in social ills and errors from which he could not come out.

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