Impacts of Cultural and Social Structures, Essay Example

Introduction

In the stories, I Killed Her Because I Loved Her by Muhsin al-Ramli and An Eye for An Eye: A Katie MacGuire Short Story by Graham Masterton, cultural and social structures profoundly shape characters’ lives. The stories demonstrate how class, law and justice, and gender dynamics of power can create a wide range of experiences for individuals (Muhsin al-Ramli 28). In these stories, cultural and social structures play a significant role in shaping the narrative. It is clear from the analysis of class, rights, and power dynamics in both texts that the societal institutions in which the characters live significantly impact their lives and experiences.

Social Class

Al-Ramli’s story is set in Iraq, and the protagonist’s identity is rooted in his social class. He is a wealthy man with the power and privilege to do whatever he wants. In contrast, the protagonist in Masterton’s story is a young working-class woman living in Ireland (Muhsin al-Ramli 26). Though she is a victim of a crime, the justice system does not recognize her rights or take her case seriously (Masterton 11). This forms part of the big theme of the story.

The class structure in Muhsin al-Ramli’s “I Killed Her Because I Loved Her” is essential to the story. The protagonist, Khalid, is part of the lower class, and his lack of money and status leaves him with few options (Muhsin al-Ramli 26). Muhsin al-Ramli’s short story, “I Killed Her Because I Loved Her,” paints a vivid picture of the complex class structure in Iraq. Through the story’s protagonist, Al-Ramli explores the power dynamics between the wealthy and the poor and how the country’s class structure affects the lives of its citizens. Citizens cannot find help from the police officers since their work is to take tribes instead of helping the citizens. He cannot protect Fadhila the eldest sister from his father’s abuse, and his inability to provide her with a better life leaves her resentful and trapped (Masterton 8). This class structure creates a situation where the society looks powerless to make changes in peoples’ lives.

Social Rights

The rights of citizens in Graham Masterton’s “An Eye for An Eye: A Katie MacGuire Short Story” also illustrate the power of cultural and social structures. The protagonist, Katie MacGuire, is a police officer in Ireland (Masterton 9). She is an Irish Free State member and the only female officer in her department. Her gender, race, and class make her a prime target for discrimination and prejudice. Despite her best efforts, her male coworkers consistently undercut her ability to execute her job. The lack of rights and opportunities for female officers, combined with the toxic masculinity of her workplace, prevent her from doing her job effectively (Muhsin al-Ramli 28). This illustrates the power of social and cultural structures to limit the rights and opportunities of individuals in a given society.

Dynamics of Power

Finally, the power dynamics in both texts demonstrate the influence of cultural and social structures. In al-Ramli’s story, Khalid’s father is the ultimate authority in the family and has complete control over his son’s life (Muhsin al-Ramli 26). This power is further illustrated in Masterton’s story, where Katie is forced to confront the power dynamics in her workplace. She is constantly at odds with the higher-ranking male officers, who view her as an outsider and attempt to undermine her authority (Masterton 10). In both stories, the characters cannot escape the power structures in their societies, which highlights the influence of cultural and social structures on their lives.

The stories also demonstrate how gender dynamics of power are entrenched in the law and justice system. In al-Ramli’s story, the protagonist’s wife is portrayed as an object he can control and abuse, and he is not held accountable for his actions (Muhsin al-Ramli 27). He can get away with murder because he is a powerful man, and his wife is a powerless woman. In Masterton’s story, Katie’s crime is seen as revenge, and she is not taken seriously because of her gender (Masterton 8). Only when she takes the law into her own hands can she serve justice.

In conclusion, the stories I Killed Her Because I Loved Her by Muhsin al-Ramli and An Eye for An Eye: A Katie MacGuire Short Story by Graham Masterton demonstrate how culture and social structures can influence law and justice. Social class, law and justice, and gender dynamics of power play a significant role in determining individuals’ experiences of justice. The stories illustrate that it is only when people take justice into their own hands that they can get the desired outcome. This serves as a reminder that social systems should be structured, so that everyone has access to justice and equity regardless of their social class, gender, or other factors. cultural and social structures play a crucial role in both Muhsin al-Ramli’s “I Killed Her Because I Loved Her” and Graham Masterton’s “An Eye for An Eye: A Katie MacGuire Short Story.” It is clear from the analysis of class, rights, and power dynamics in both texts that the societal institutions in which the characters live significantly impact their lives and experiences. The power of cultural and social structures is a central theme in both stories. It illustrates how these structures can limit the choices and opportunities of individuals.

Works Cited

Masterton, Graham. “Eye for an Eye: A Katie Maguire Short Story.”. 15 June. 2016

Muhsin al-Ramli. “I Killed Her Because I Loved Her.” 10 Aug. 2018