Blog #5

Connect two different passages from Caesar's Column to one of the themes we discussed in class. Discuss what the passages mean individually, and then how the passages relate to one another. Conclude by stating a claim about the theme overall.

"new-born infant would have of life in the den of a wolf" (pg 24) 
"still others had their liberty sworn away by purchased perjury" (pg 76) 

The theme I chose was injustice. Max explains how the world came to be ruined and talks about the modern civilization to Gabriel who just arrived from Africa. He tells him that the poor people have nothing on the rich people. He get's into a fight with one of Prince Cabano's carriage drivers. Gabriel was helping Max out not get run over by the carriage. In doing things got complicated and Gabriel almost got arrested, but Max saved him. When Max explains to Gabriel that he is no beggar and that what he did could've sent him to many years in prison. Gabriel was confused and he couldn't believe what Max was telling him. That a rich man like Prince Cabano with money can buy off the jury and the courts. That was the " modern civilization". Max compared a "new-born infant" would have no chance in surviving in a den full of wolfs to the chance of an "ordinary citizen" having fair treatment in a court against a millionaire. The millionaire would win no matter what against the ordinary citizen. This is a form of injustice. In the second passage on page 76, Max explains how the world came to be ruined by books and magazines he had in his library. He tells Gabriel about the history of the railroad tracks. Everything fall apart by the cause of corruption and the fact that no one with higher power did anything to make thing better for the poor who were struggling. He mentions the the "Brotherhood of Destruction arose" in which people fought back but also many others " had their liberty sworn away by purchased perjury". And that's how it came down. The working class/ poor people grew tired of the injustice and wanted to do something against it. Creating outbreaks. On page 80, there's a quote " universal justice means equal opportunities for all men" which to me would conclude the theme of these both passages, about equality and justice for everyone.