A Related Journey: "The Prophet" On Crime and Punishment - Essay

The Prophet by Kahlil Gibran 

<Crime and Punishment>

Hosung Kim A

If a crime is committed it is natural to be punished. But in the modern society as we are living a system called Capitalism, money can solve these problems.

I'm Free because I'm Rich!

So what did Kahlil Gibran state in the story Crime and Punishment? If we look at the beginning of the poem, the line “That you, alone and unguarded, commit a wrong unto others and therefore unto yourself” we can indicate that Gibran wanted to emphasize that if humans are alone we turn to our natural appearances. If people are around us it’s natural to act kind or look like being kind. It’s because your social status obligates you to be an honorable man. So it is probable to say that we are an animal that has two faces. A kind one outside and a sneer smile in the inside. So it’s actually easy for people to commit a crime because it’s as easy as changing a mask. You may turn to your true selves. But this influences other people around us. Committing a crime is basically creating an atmosphere to promote crime. If we interpret this easily it just means committing a crime and influencing others in a bad way by stealing or harming them. But if we look at it more deeply it also makes people feel uneasy and gives confidence to the criminals. This affects you indirectly as well. If you steal things or commit crimes the crimes or the punishment shall all return to you as you are the source of these catastrophes. This is further explained along the lines of the poem “Yea, the guilty is oftentimes the victim of the injured” The guilty is also given the burden of one’s consciousness as they live their lives.

Are we God?

Another sentence that is emphasized is this. “Much is you is still man, and much in you is not yet man” If people are half man what does it mean? It explains previously that the ocean and the sun is our god selves as we remain forever undefiled. Also the sun knows not the ways of the mole nor seeks it the holes of the serpent. The god selves that we all have don’t even know how to commit a crime and is pure as a flowing stream of water. If we were fully gods we wouldn't commit any crimes. We can see the metaphor here that Gibran wanted to impose upon us. Humans are not fully gods and we are not fully human. So we have the capacity to be kind and helpful. But we also have the possibility of being evil as well. It shows the two-sidedness of humans. In a positive view we should all direct our attention to being gods in order to act like one.

To relate this poem to my true self I would like to suppose an experience that I will have later. I’m now a member of the Department of Justice this department must draw a clear line of crimes and punishment. Anyone can commit a crime as explained previously. It’s as easy as changing a mask. But giving them punishments are entitled to the judge and the jury. The choices that they make decide their whole lives. “What penalty lay you upon him who though honest in the flesh yet is himself slain in the spirit?” This sentence implies lots of meanings as it indicates that the criminal’s are also human and have suffered after their crimes. Is the right to decide a punishment being given to the judge or the jury? Aren't they all humans? We make mistakes as we are only half-gods. “And how shall you punish those whose remorse is already greater than their misdeeds?” If a criminal remorse about his crimes should we give him another chance? Or are we just to believe that someone must pay for their wrongdoings. And you who would understand justice, how shall you unless you look upon all deeds in the fullness of light? The human mind is as easy to change as the river flows down to a stream. 

Judge!

So it is concluded that even the judge couldn't make the just choices. But we should bear it in mind, I should bear in it mind that the law isn't always perfect, crimes are not always guilty, and punishments are not always necessary. With these doubts in mind we must pursue the meanings of justice. Doubts may be the things that strangle you, but it can also be the motive power for the boost of the justice system.