Justice of the peace: Summary

 

The poem is a conversation between a powerful man known as the Justice of Peace and a poor farmer. The state official is trying to seize the land of the poor farmer. The main theme of the poem is about the inequality in our world. In India, we always talk about the rich-poor divide and we say that the rich are getting richer and the poor is getting poorer. Two words which we should keep mind are - Landlord and Tenant.

 

In the first stanza of the poem, the speaker i.e. the Justice of Peace clearly tells the poor farmer that there is a difference is what they both own. The only things that the farmer possess are his shirt, a brimless hat and half a coat. The Justice of peace says that he is the kind lord of 50,000 acres of land. A land which he describes as fat which means that it is rich and fertile. Justice of Peace says that he has a right over that land. The stanza ends with a question - Do you understand?  We can see that the person who is supposed to maintain peace and give justice is threatening the poor farmer. He is threatening him to seize his land. 

 

In the second stanza, the word ‘right’ is many times along with the word ‘because’. Through these words, he makes it clear that is powerful and nobody can question his power and authority. He gives a piece of advice by telling the small farmer to be calm and good. He also asks him to obey the rules, to know his position in life and not to fight. He cannot fight against the goad - which is a weapon used to drive the cattle away. The goad has spikes (A thin, pointed piece of metal, wood) or thorns which will make even the farmer finally agree with the government. Justice of Peace describes demos - people as uncleanly if they start resisting the land takeover. Demos may also refer to democracy where everyone has an equal right. 

 

The third stanza, we listen to the poor farmer asking the Justice of Peace why he should feel jealous about his small estate. He adds that he is not jealous of the hat and shoe worn by Justice of the peace. This shows how greedy people are. Reminds us of the quote by Gandhiji - The world has enough for everyone's need, but not enough for everyone's greed.' Justice of Peace replies that it is stupid for the poor farmer to fight economic power. He also suggests that it is the fate of the poor farmer that he should sell his land. The last two lines of the stanza again show the power of Justice of Peace - He says I have got the upper hand and I will keep it as it is. The question is repeated - Do you understand?