Trusted since 2008
LoginRegister
Study resources on Kenyaplex

Get ready-made curriculum aligned revision materials

Exam papers, notes, holiday assignments and topical questions – all aligned to the Kenyan curriculum.

Browse exam papers
Or go directly to:
Class notes Holiday assignments Topical questions Other resources

"The gap between the rich and poor can be controlled through the use of social justice."Write an essay in support of this proposition drawing illustrations...

"The gap between the rich and poor can be controlled through the use of social justice."Write an essay in support of this proposition drawing illustrations from Bertolt Brecht's Caucasian Chalk Circle.

Answers

David
Its true that the gap between the rich and the poor can be controled by application of social justice as vividly portrayed in the play Caucasian Chalk Circle.
Social justice entails that the humanity side is more considered than the rules and status. For example, we have a remarkable Judge by the name Azdak, the man, unlike any other judge does not value what is written on the statutory book, instead of using it to rule the cases, he sits on it and rules cases on accordance to his own believes. He ends up favouring the poor, this is even after receiving the bribes openly from the rich.
According to the playwright, its not about the status but the intention on utility that deserves the ownership as a reward. That is why even at the beginning, the plantation is given to the fruit farmers instead of the goat farmers yet they were the initial owners. On the story on Grusha, though she is poor and she isn't the biological mother to Michael, the judge sees her deserving to be Michael's mother over his real mother, this was after considering her love for the child. After ordering the two, Natella and Grusha to pull the child, Grusha let's go his hand, she refuses to destroy a child she loves, its not in the statutory book but Azdak finds it humane enough to rule on her favour.
Azdak is a character that the writer uses to bring up social justice, initially, the court was corrupt, it ruled in favour of the rich. Azdak represents the poor society, he even has torn pants as an evidence of poverty , his ruling ends up bridging the gap to the poor and the rich, in fact some of the estate by the rich are made a playing ground for the children, obviously, to the children of the poor.
On the Easter day, there is so many beggars and peasants pleading for help from George Abashwili who is remarkably rich, this is just an evidence on the big gap between the rich and the poor. In most of their complains, they had been mistreated by those in the authority yet the governor himself ignored them, the establishment of Azdak as the judge therefore serves as a solution to the poor society, it sounds like a new dawn and indeed it is! The poor gets justice! Not by statutory book favouring the rich but through social justice!

OR

BERTOLT BRECHT - THE CAUCASIAN CHALK CIRCLE
INTRODUCTION:

Accept a general or contextual introduction e.g. The society depicted in The Caucasian Chalk Circle is one
divided by social class, where people are classified on the basis of esteem and prestige acquired mainly through economic or
political success and accumulation of wealth. In the play the rich can virtually get away with anything at the expense of the poor.
This briefly changes when Azdak sits on the judges seat as demonstrated below.
The poor in the society depicted in The Caucasian Chalk Circle are disregarded by the rich. As the play opens, the Governor
is going to church in the company of his family while the beggars and petitioners line up the streets looking for a chance to
have the governor address their grievances. However, his family is sharply contrasted with the beggars '---- holding thin
children, crutches -----' while on the other hand his son Michael has two doctors by his side, who never move away from him
pg.14-15. Also, as these beggars plead with the governor to have mercy on them, soldiers push them back, lashing at them
with thick leather whips, while a servant distributes coins to them from a purse. This incident clearly portrays the gap
between the poor and the rich.
The rich in this society can buy justice while the poor who do not have the money suffer injustice. When Grusha goes to
court, to defend herself in the case between her and Natella, she lashes out at Azdak because she thinks that Azdak will give the child
to Natella on account of her social class. “---- because we do not talk as refined as that crowd with lawyers” Pg.94. Azdak also
insinuates that justice is up for sale to those who can afford it.
He tells Grusha “you want justice, but do you want to pay for it? When you go to a butcher ------ funeral supper” Pg.94.
In the four cases that Azdak presides over after being made judge by the Iron shirts, he bends justice to favour the poor. He takes
this opportunity to make sure that the voice of the poor is heard. He dispenses justice in his own style where the rich pay for crimes
committed by the poor. For example, the case of the doctor who practices professional negligence but is
acquired. Though we are not told directly why he acquits him, we can deduce that Azdak acquits him simply because he had
performed an expensive operation on a man who perhaps could not afford it, for free. Pg.76-77. As well the case between Granny
Grusinia and the three farmers the Bandit Irakli and Granny Grusinia go Scot free
even when it is clear they have committed the crimes they are accused of. Once again it is Azdak hitting back at the rich (accept
any other relevant case judged by Azdak).
Azdak practices social justice, which the playwright seems to support in judging his cases. The singer describes Azdak as the poor
man's judge. He takes bribes from the rich and gives it to the poor, in a way trying to strike a balance between the rich and the poor.
'And he gave to the forsaken----- from the rich he?d taken” Pg.79. Azdak tries to compensate the injustice that there before has been
practiced on the poor. 'And he broke the rules to save them --- to give the beasts of prey short measure, he became a wolf to fight the
pack' Pg.82. In deed at the end of the play the singer tells us '----- the period of his judging as a brief golden age, almost an age of
justice' Pg.99.
In conclusion,

the playwright seems to advocate for a society that is treated equally irrespective of their social standing, thus
bridging the gap between the rich and the poor. That is why he concludes the play by saying “That what there is shall go to
those who are good for it----- that it yield fruit” Pg.99.Expect 4 well developed points
Introduction - (2mks)
Body - 4 x 3 = (12mks)
Conclusion - (2mks)
Language - (4mks)
Total (20mk)
Mwa limu answered the question on April 4, 2018 at 06:42

Answer Attachments

Next: Unda neno lenye sauti mwambatano KIK

Previous: How was man created superior to the rest of the creation in the Genesis creation stories. Explain

View more English Literature Questions and Answers  |  Return to Questions Index

Exams With Marking Schemes

Related Questions