English Literature

Dura Lex Sed Lex (The law may be harsh, but it is the law). Through this line conclusion like the law is blind and in some cases not only blind but, deaf, unreasonable, and ignorant maybe drawn by many.  But the contention that the law is incompatible with ethics, in a sense that the law once clear must be applied irregardless, must be applied without fear or favor, to follow its mandate, not to temper with it, and that equity is not at all times material or required for judges to decide, has much bearing in the story.
Naguib Mafouzs The Lawsuit will be analyzed on the latin maxim while touching other pertinent issues of the society issues that transcend time and space. The story is a case brought before a court for a claim of property of a deceased person. The mans legal heirs are his children and his second wife. The controversy arises when the narrator branded the woman (the second wife) as The woman who robbed us and deprived us of our legal rights. True enough, the children cannot consent as to the legality of the woman as an heir. This woman is not the narrators real mother, as matter of fact, she was the woman whom the father married in his fifties while the woman was in her twenties. A woman described to be young, beautiful, sexy, etcNaturally, while this situation is very much even common today, many would ask the question as to how much love is there in so far as the relationship is concerned or such may only just be an instance of an illusion of love. On one hand, readers in the beginning of the story may judge the woman as only after of the money for her maintenance or a gold-digger and on the other hand she is just claiming a right which naturally she can impose. What is perplexing however is that it took her long years to show up and exercise which might be legally hers. While the lapse time of her claiming is a crucial point, the former issues are left only to speculations for it demands proof and how to prove is not an issue to be dealt with in this case. The narrator however justifies the position of the father describing him as a brilliant accountant who definitely knows how to handle his money.
Raising the issue on the length of time that elapsed before the woman claims for an inheritance may validate readers as to asking why. If only for her maintenance, why would it take her years to claim Isnt maintenance a daily need If shes only after for money why will it take her time Arent those who want money need it almost every day or hours perhaps Arent those gold-diggers always in the forefront when it comes to inheritance One compelling argument is the line Necessity has its own rules. This clear and powerful quote accordingly may sum up mothers, of mothers desperateness and intention.  It must be noted that the woman in the story, her actions lead to being apologetic, and almost to saying that as much as I do not want to do this but I have to, needless to say because of her being a mother. This is what necessity demands of her, the only thing she knows she has to do. 
The real issue is not whether or not court erred in its decision nor to whom the law is harsh. Is it to the children who naturally have the inclination to side with their mothers to the point denying substantial reasons  The real analysis of law is in the narrators judgment and mentality.  On one hand, the narrator may just be sour-graping because eventually the woman gets something, however on the other hand the narrator being almost all throughout the story was so furious but was able to grasp the idea of necessity having its own rules. Had the woman been rendered to have no legal right, granting she is just an adulterer the law would never look into the substantial issues, would not consider issues of necessity whether or not she needs the money, and would not even look into issues of equity provided that the law is clear, because what the law grants, the court cannot deny. It isnt the case in the story. The narrator came to the thought and understanding that it is self-rewarding through attainment of peace with oneself to understand that human nature has to come to terms with issues of necessity, not withstanding the fact that life has its own course through karma.  To know the line dura lex sed lex in parallel with necessity has its rules, one may understand that law deals not with issues of the heart it doesnt know compassion, and pity. Law does not understand when is giving is at its highest value  giving to an enemy of the heart and of the law.