Essay Questions

What does Judge Dee mean when he says, “Justice outweighs human life”?

Judge Dee is a respected judicial member in his society and he believes in the rule of law. To accomplish the mission of his work, Judge Dee understands that his primary goal is to deliver justice to his clients regardless of their social status. He argues that a civilized society must adhere to the rule of law. At first, Judge Dee is introduced as a member of the elite class in which he is not supposed to accuse fellow elites in any criminal matters. However, Judge Dee finds it contradictory that the law should be applied selectively. Therefore, in this statement, he implies that there is no human being who is above the law.

What is the symbolic meaning of Judge Dee's disguise?

Judge Dee is treated with the utmost respect in his society because of his status. The local tradition positions him as an important member of the elite class and everyone is supposed to respect him. The attention Judge Dee receives from the public sometimes hinders him from conducting his daily routines away from work. Therefore, he decides to disguise himself as a normal person so that he can get out and see the reality of life. His disguise is symbolic because it represents normal life and reality on the ground.

What is the irony of the Literati class of people in China according to the book The Celebrated Cases of Judge?

Literati is the highest social class of people in China. The class comprises highly educated and wealthy people who receive the utmost respect from the society. Judge Dee belongs to this class and he is one of the most respected judges in Chinese society. The irony of this class is that it does not want to be accused of any criminal activity by Judge Dee. The reader finds this ironic because the law is not supposed to be applied selectively. The satire is that the law is made for the middle class and low-class individuals which should never be the case.