Galsworthy's Intention to Present the Grave Problems:
Undoubtedly, Galsworthy, with a view to reform the prevalent corrupt system of law and justice and prison houses, intended to put the grave problem of inhuman and callous treatment being mercilessly meted out to the criminals by Courts and then in Jails of England so that the farmers of law, custodians of justice and administrators of prison houses of England may be sounded and warned to introduce reforms therein by mitigating the degree of punishment before it is too late.
Galsworthy's Showing the Purpose of Law:
Galsworthy means to emphasise that in every case and for each individual convict his inherent nature and circumstances must be gauged, scrutinised and taken into account before inflicting and penalty upon him in an indiscriminate manner otherwise it would defeat the very purpose of law for which it is intended, that is to accord true justice and peace in society.
The Play Justice a Powerful Social Tragedy:
Play Justice is a powerful social tragedy. It is a strong satire on the contemporary English system of law and judiciary. Galsworthy brings into light the glaring shortcomings and defects in the legal system of England. He says that law is blind and inhuman process. Law does not take into consideration human psychology and innate human infirmities. The British judicial system is unfair and unscrupulous. It is a malignant process in which innumerable innocent and noble intentioned men are victimised. The prisons are like an ill-fated ship. Once a man is caught and convicted to imprisonment, there is no escape for him.
Solitary Confinement, the Greatest Horrible Treatment :
The greatest horrible and pathetic treatment meted out then to poor criminals was to condemn them to solitary confinement which was the worst kind or treatment and punishment ever inflicted upon living human beings. Cokeson says that he would not convict even a dog to solitary confinement. Act III of the tragedy, Justice throws light on the life of the convicts condemned to solitary confinement. The convicts lead a life of gross insults and humiliation. They are completely shattered, unnerved and demoralised physically, morally, emotionally and spiritually due to the adverse effects of solitary confinement.
Treatment with Criminals Indiscriminately:
It was a pity and irony of fate and the crudity of contemporary legal system in the days of Galsworthy that every criminal, be he a first one, a casual one and a sincere and gentle one or be he a repeated offender or a confirmed or professional criminal, was being treated alike in an indiscriminate manner. Law took no cognizance of the nature and degree of crime or of the individual nature and character of a particular convict. Everybody suffered miserably, pined and wished for human company which too was sadly denied to them. Thus they gradually decayed mentally, morally and psychologically, if not apparently physically. The greatest tragedy of solitary confinement was that a convict was completely cut off from the rest of society.
Want of Emotional Sense:
These atrocities and gross in human persecutions were mercilessly perpetrated upon the convicts confined in the prison cells, unnerving and demoralising them in perpetuity. The legal authorities and administrators of Justice did not realise their hardships. They only judged their outward physical pain.
Social Tragic Elements in the Play Justice:
Falder's Falling in Love With an Unfortunate Lady:
Falder develops a deep and passionate love for an unfortunate married woman, Ruth Honeywill. Ruth's husband is very cruel and heartless. He treats her most cruelly and insolently. He even tries strangle her to death. Under these circumstances, Falder develops deep sympathy with her. This sympathy gradually develops into deep love.
Falder's being Excited and Mad with Grief:
Early in the morning of the 7th of July she calls on Falder. She informs him that her husband has tried to strangle her to death that night. There were deep marks of fingers on her neck. Her clothes were all torn. Falder feels extremely sorry. He almost goes mad with grief, fear and anger. Falder wants to help her, but he is helpless for want of money.
Falder's Committing the Act of Forgery:
Falder goes almost mad under unbearable emotional distress and mental excitement. A cheque for nine pounds is handed over to him for encashment from the bank. He adds a zero after the figure of nine and ‘ty' after the word Nine. The cheque is cashed for ninety pounds.
Falder's Feeling Guilty:
After altering the figure in the cheque and getting money, Falder realises his guilt. But it is too late to mend his ways. He has been caught in the trap. There is no escape for him now. He thinks of throwing away the money and flinging himself before a bus.
Falder's Decision of Fleeing Away Abroad with Ruth:
Falder decides to go away with Ruth to some foreign country to start a fresh and peaceful life as husband and wife. Hence he purchases two tickets and asks Ruth to keep ready for departure that night. He also gives some money to Ruth to purchase necessary things for the journey. The decision of Falder of setting abroad provides a momentive happiness to Ruth. Ruth, completely unaware of impending danger, thinks that now her hardships will go to an end. But a heavy storm is ready to shatter her entire life.
Detection of Falder's Forgery and Trying in the Court:
But a few hours before his departure with Ruth, his crime is detected. He begs pardon and says that he committed crime in a fit of acute mental distress caused by an unusually trying situation. He says that he committed the forgery in a momentary fit of lunacy. He apologizes for the crime and promises to pay back the whole money gradually. He also takes oath that he would never repeat the crime again, but it is a tragedy with this society which is full of selfish, cruel, tyrant and emotionless people. Falder's passionate appeal is unable to melt the stony heart of the masters. Falder a noble-hearted young man of twenty three is handed over to the police and a few days later, he is tried in the court of law.
Falder's Three Year's Rigorous Imprisonment:
Frome, the counsel for defense, puts forth the plea that Falder is not a habitual criminal. He is an innocent and inexperienced young man. He cannot win over his primary human infirmity. He has already had more than his punishment in the form-of repentance, humiliation and mental torture. But the system of law is blind. It is unfair and unjust. Thus Falder becomes victim of a lifeless, feelingless, blind and malignant process of law and he is convicted to three year's rigorous imprisonment.
Falder's Life in Solitary Confinement:
Falder joins the ill-fated crew in the prison. The life in the prison is a prolonged tragedy. The prisoners live a sub-human life. No attention is paid to their emotional and psychological sufferings. All of them are first confined to solitary confinement. Falder suffers from a nervous breakdown in his solitary cell. He is socially condemned and boycotted. He languishes and pines to hear a human voice. He also feels desperate so much that he takes a lid of a tin and peeps at his reflection in it, deeming it as his companion.
The Effect of Solitary Confinement on Other Prisoners:
The prisoner, Moaney is branded by the warder in his report to the Governor that he made an iron saw to escape from the prison, while Moaney explains that he had no such plan and that he made the saw just to pass away his time. The tragedy of the convicts increases all the more when they are not given suitable work in jails so as to enable them to pass away their time properly. Moaney complains, "I have got another six weeks to do in here, alone. I can't do it and think of nothing. I must have something to interest me." No provision of allotting proper work is made in solitary cells. The convicts complain of being alone and companionless. They feel deserted and secluded. They are not satisfied for want of work and companion.
Clipton, another prisoner also complains that he is not able to see the sunlight by remaining confined in the dark solitary cells. The convicts remain confined in the dark solitary cells, sadly deprived of even a glimpse of sunlight for months together. Clipton complains of suffering from constant eye sore. He tells the Governor disdainfully, "I don't complain of my eyes. I don't see the sun here."
O' Cleary bangs the doors anytime frantically Ike a wild animal. He complains to the Governor that by banging or knocking on the door he feels as if he were talking to someone at his door. "İt is the great conversation, I would be having."
Cokeson says that he would not even confine a dog alone, even if he bites him all over, week after week. He further says that this type of solitary confinement can hardly improve the nature of the prisoners.
Falder's Problem in Getting Job after his Release:
When Falder is released from the prison, he tries to get work at several places. But circumstances do not allow him to continue long at any place. Wherever he goes, his past history ever chases him. He is hated and looked down upon everywhere. He has been caught in the trap forever. He cannot escape from the network over around him.
Falder's Requesting his Old Master to Give Employment:
When Falder is highly disappointed in getting job, he goes to his old firm and requested his employers to give him another chance. But here again a sort of bargain is made. His master agrees to appoint him again if he breaks off all the relations with his beloved Ruth. His exploitation is continued. He is asked to sacrifice his most previous thing in order to get the job.
Falder's Failure in Reporting the Police Station and his being Arrested:
It is necessary for every prisoner to report regularly at the police station. Falder had not been regular in reporting to the police, so he was to be arrested again for this crime. Wister catches hold of Falder and tries to drag him downstairs.
The end of Falder's Life due to Defective Law System:
The defects and shortcomings of legal system become the cause of Falder's tragic end of life. Falder is so nervous that he wants to escape or to run away from the grip of this inhuman legal process, but unfortunately, in this attempt, he falls down, breaks his neck and dies. The chariot wheels of the malignant system of law have run over him. He is now crushed to ashes. Thus the process is complete with the death of Falder.
Galsworthy's Insisting upon the Revision of the Rules:
Galsworthy drew the attention of the people of England as also of the authorities to realise the gravity of the situation prevailing in their country regarding the administration of justice which is indeed sadly denied to the poor convicts of England. Galsworthy makes further appeals in the press and to the Prime Minister of England. In the end, this tragedy Ieads to the revision of the rules relating to solitary confinement.