Act III of The Silver Box

John Galsworthy

Q.1

What purpose, in your opinion, is deserved by beginning this act of the play with case of the Livens girls, which has nothing to do with the main star? John Galsworthy starts Act III of The Silver Box with the case of the Livens girls, which has no direct connection with the case of theft of the silver box. However, this case is highly significant. The Livens are suffering from unemployment, disintegration of family and homelessness. In fact, they represent hundreds of such cases in the police courts. The deplorable socio-economic conditions of the masses give the reader foretaste of what is going to follow. The Jones children are likely to suffer the same fate when their father will be imprisoned and their mother will be unemployed. Thus, the reader gets the feeling that the faulty legal system will not dispense justice. Why are Mr. Barthwick and his son so anxious that as little as possible should be said in court about the purse and the little money Jones had in his possession? In Act III of The Silver Box, John Galsworthy presents us with two identical cases of theft in a fit of drunken mischief: Jack Barthwick steals a purse from a woman and James Jones steals the silver cigarette box and the purse. Jack is the son of Mr. Barthwick who is a highly respectable Liberal Member of Parliament whereas Jones is the husband of Mr. Barthwicks charwoman. Although Mr. Barthwick has brought the case of Joness theft to the court, he is anxious that his sons crime should not be talked about at all because his reputation is at stake. Any legal proceedings against his son will surely bring social ruin on him. Briefly discuss whether the Magistrate gives Jones a fair trial? OR Was justice done to Jones? Explain. It appears that James Jones was not given a fair trial. In Act III of The Silver Box, John Galsworthy presents us with two identical cases of theft in a fit of drunken mischief: Jack Barthwick steals a purse from a woman and James Jones steals the silver cigarette box and the purse. As a matter of fact, both Jones and Jack should have been treated equal treatment, but Jacks father who is a Liberal Member of Parliament was able to hush up his sons crime whereas poverty-stricken Jones is sentenced to one month in prison with hard labour.

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Q.2

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Q.3

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