Customer Reviews

Facial Justice

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Good E or Bad E. Equality or envy? That is the main concern of the post-nuclear, holocaust world L.P Hartley creates in Facial Justice. The word 'envy' becomes so powerful and upsetting, few dare utter it in public. The story covers the exploits of Jael, an alpha female, whose beautiful face becomes a liability, and her final effort to avenge the loss of her individuality and discover the identity of the Dictator.
Jael lives in a nanny state that divides citizens into alphas, betas and gammas according to one's looks; and goes to absurd lengths to make everyone feel equal. Perfection is anti-social and individual initiative stifled; so that no one should feel superior to anyone else. Mediocrity is the norm; no progress is progress; and `courage at a discount' is summoned in the face of adversity.
All risk to life and limb is to be avoided except for an occasional `ritual assassination.' But the human desire for risk is manifested when the Dictator orders bus crashes on country expeditions to avoid the envy of less fortunate individuals who are not privileged enough to go on them. But, this fails to discourage travelers and even has the reverse effect; finally resulting in `No risk, no ride'.
The theme of Facial Justice is faintly echoed in one episode of "The Twilight Zone" TV program, "The Eye of the Beholder," in which beauty, in the classical sense, is suspect. I enjoyed the journey through this unenviable world and discovered another world of human pride and passion not far beneath the surface of the one in which we live.