Justice and the law

Justice and the law do not equate in this play; the conflict between them creates much of the dramatic tension.

- the first generation of Red Hook Americans, descended from Sicily, do not live by US law, rather, their lives are governed by the unwritten Sicilian code of conduct. This is evident in ……….

- Alfieri’s opening speech ….

- The dramatic action is driven by acts of fierce loyalty to family in the play which characters think are just but which do not abide by American law …..

- Both Eddie and Marco are frustrated by American law; in their eyes, the law does not allow them to carry out justice.

- The tragedy is, in part, brought about by the clash of the character’s codes of honour and the American law. Eddie transgresses his cultural laws to in order to exact “justice” on Rodolpho and Marco. When they are arrested, Eddie is publically ostracised. He triumphs by the laws of the land but ultimately perishes by the laws of his community.

Useful quotations on this topic

Analysis

Weapons or symbols of “justice”:

- the chair lifted above Eddie’s head by Marco