Justice Versus Mercy PDF

JUSTICE VERSUS MERCY
Usha Jesudasan
Justice and mercy are twin concerns and challenges of every society. Both in life
and literature many people have mulled over and explored these concepts. Dose justice
mean an eye for an eye and tooth for a tooth?.,..ls it only what is right and due to each
person?.,,....Does justice take into account the grinding poverty that traps millions by
those who have the power to exploit? And what about mercy and compassion for the
unfortunate?.....Is there any room for it in our modern, fastpaced society?
The French writer Victor Hugo in his classic novel Les Miserables explores these
themes and reveals them in their true form. He also gives us a chance to air our thoughts
and doubts regarding the concepts.
Jean Valjean, a young unemployed peasant, stole a loaf of bread to feed his
sister and her seven starving children and was sent to prison for it. Because he tried to
escape several times, his sentence was extended to 19 years. In prison he becomes
bitter and angry at the unjust circumstances that reduced him to stealing a loaf of bread,
and for the severe punishment he had to bear for it. He finally escapes and goes to a
Bishop who gives him food and shelter for the night. Valjean, still angry and frustrated
at society and filled with hate for those who are privileged, steals the Bishop's silver
candlestick and runs away again. In the morning he is caught and brought back to the
Bishop's house. To his surprise, the Bishop admonishes the policeman who brought him
handcuffed and says that Valjean is no thief but a friend to whom he had given the
candlestick. A stunned Valjean is unable to understand the Bishop's kindness and
mercy to him, a stranger and a thief. After this, Valjeanes life takes on a completely
different turn. This one act of mercy and forgiveness by the Bishop spurs him on to a
new life. Valjean changes his name, goes to a different place, works hard and
eventually becomes the respected Mayor of that town and is able to repay the Bishop's
kindness to him to many others.
Javert the policeman who arrested him for stealing the Bishop's silver, was not
convinced of Valjean's innocence. He knew that he was guilty, but could not prove it as
the Bishop covered up for Valjean. Many years later, Javert comes across Valjean
again, but this time he is the Mayor. Javert exposes Valjean as an ex-criminal, a thief,
and one who escaped from prison to avoid justice being meted out to him. Valtean runs
away before Javert can take him back to prison. For the rest of the story, Javert spends
his time pursuing Valjean, determined to make him pay for his thievery and for his false
identity. Valjean has to hide and assumes different identities as a hunted man and lives
a tormented life full of fear and uncertainity.
In Javert's world, everything was black and white. His moral world was stark, it
contained no room for ambiguity and compromise, no shades of grey and certainly no
room for mercy. What contrast we have between the Bishop and Javert, and yet, 'aren't
we also a lot like them? Some of us find it easy to be the Bishop. Others identify more
easily with Javert. I wonder which one is really right? Shouldn't evil be seen for what
it is? Condemned and rooted out before It corrupts and destroys society? Didn't
Valjean deserve a second chance after being punished ruthlessly for a minor crime?
Wasn't it the Bishop's kindness and mercy that led to the change in Valjean and to the
good that he contributed to society as Mayor?
In the story, Javert ruthlessly pursues Valjean all his adult life till one day
Valjean has the opportunity to kill Javert. To murder his pursuer would mean the end of
his torment; he would no longer have to live a life of fear, moving from place to place,
always watching behind his shoulder. He could live again as a free man and no one
would know. But Valjean, remembering the Bishop's mercy to him, decides to forgive
Javert and spare him. Here again we see the incredible act of forgiveness and mercy—
the deliberate putting aside of one's feelings, hurt and bitterness, to stretch out to
someone who has harmed and hurt so much.
• Unlike Valjean, Javert could not respond to such an act of mercy. The man who
spared him was a thief. Javert's black and white world came crashing down. Returning
good for evil, pardon for torment and injustice, compassion instead of vengeance did
not exist in Javert's world. He was a strong, upright and just man. He did not want
favours from a thief. He would help no one, and he helped no one. It was his safe
world of rules. But now his life was turned upside down. So he took the only way out
for him-he killed himself. Was it from a huge sense of pride or was he really unable to
see the connection between Justice and mercy? Or was it that he couldn't accept the fact
that perhaps he too was flawed?
The conflict between justice and mercy occurs again and again In real life too.
Often it is the Innocent victims of social and economic injustice who have Justice
harshly pinned down on them while the real culprits wrangle free because of power or
fame or wealth.
How do you react to being forgiven? Like Javert, does it make you feel
ashamed? Do you eventually destroy yourself because of pride? Or does it change your
life for the better?

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JUSTICE VERSUS MERCY

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