Linda Brent

1196 Words5 Pages
Did you ever think it was possible that a moral person, one who follows the law, is kind, and selfless, could ever be seen as unjust person? Well, in 19th century southern society, it was completely possible. By examining the life of a just and unjust man in Plato’s Republic, we see how Linda Brent is a representation of how a just person is seen as unjust in Harriett A. Jacobs’ Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl. First, in order to first understand how Linda Brent is a representation of how a just person can be seen as unjust, we must first examine Glaucon’s argument about justice versus injustice. Glaucon desires to find the true meaning of justice and to do so, he decides to praise injustice in the purest way so that Socrates will refute…show more content…
The man who is to be unjust must be entirely unjust, and the man who is to be just, must be entirely unjust. The unjust man will “act like a clever craftsman;”2 people like ship captains or physicians who knows his own powers an keeps within that limit, and who can recover if he shall fail. “In the same way, if he is to be completely unjust, let the unjust person correctly attempt unjust acts and remain undetected. The one who is caught should be inept;”3 for the highest reach of injustice is: to be deemed just when you are not. Moreover, Glaucon says that man will be completely unjust but we must allow him to have a reputation of a just man. If he is to slip up, he must be able to put it right by either by persuasion, “if any of his unjust activities are discovered,”4 and can use force if needed through his courage, strength, wealth, and friends. In contrast, examine the simple and noble man who as
Open Document