The Cry of the Graves

Kahlil Gibran is the author who has highest degree of eloquence and strong voice. He is considered one of the most influential authors of twentieth century. He has written about numerous human and social issues which make him a universal author. His short story “The Cry of The Graves” is one of his best creation where he has addresses issue of social justice.

The issue seems very trivial one, yet it is one of the most important elements of any society. Gibran asks the question in the story such as: Why does justice system and judges see the criminals only? Why the motive of the crime is not considered serious as the crime itself? With Gibran’s typical style and narrative, these question are addresses with a beautiful artistic way.

At the beginning, three criminals, two male and one female, are brought to the court of justice separately. Males have committed crimes of murder and theft. While the woman is accused of adultery. They all are condemned to death by the honourable judge.

Next day, the narrator visits far area of the city and see those three corpses. To his utter surprise, one by one victims’ mourners come and bury their corpses. Out of curiosity, he does not help asking those people about their relation with the deceased. Once known, the narrator becomes disillusioned with the so-called system of justice.

In this sense, Kahlil Gibran aptly raises the question such as: A murdered is a murderer indeed but what about sanctity of the judge and police system who sentence him to death? A man who is denied of his livelihood by the stronger ones is left with no option other than stealing bread for his children. A girl who is sold to a richer persona is left with no other option but to meet her lover. A person murders Ameer’s soldier who cast a unholy glance at his fiancée will surely fight with the Ameer’s man.

This man-made law does not consider anything else but catching the accused and sentencing him. Even then this law is not equal for all citizens. It prevails for weaker only. Stronger always get escape from it. Gibran has slashed the existing law and justice system by calling it a discriminatory for treating men and women differently, weaker and stronger differently. One of the most vital question raised by Gibran is “Who has allowed human beings in position to judge fellow human beings and determine their crimes and characters?”

Quotations:

"Three creatures whom ignorance made wrongdoers because they were weak; whom Law destroyed because it was strong".

"When a man destroys his fellow, people say that such a one is a murderer. When one set in authority destroys, it is said that thus one is a faithful judge".