Dear diary,
We recently started following the rules of something called Hammurabi’s Code. Personally I think this is very helpful. It gives structure and order to our civilization. Sadly, being a woman the law hasn’t been very fair. For example in one of our laws #138 in states. “If a man wishes to separate from his wife who has borne him no children, he shall give her the amount of her purchase money and the dowry she brought from her fathers house, and let her go.” This means if a man would like to get separate from his wife he has to pay her and she leaves. In law #141 it states, “If a man’s wife, who lives in his house, wishes to leave it, plunges in to debt, tries to ruin her house, neglects her husband, and is judicially convicted: if her husband offer her release, she may go on her way, and he gives her nothing as a gift of release. If her husband does not wish to release her, and if he take another wife, she shall remain as a servant in her husbands house.” This means if a women wants to leave it is up to the man to decide. These laws make it unfair, and unequal. I find these laws the most unfair out of all of the laws. With these unfair laws there are also a few that are beneficial. Law #53 is really helpful because farming is a crucial part of our economy and survival. It states, “If any one be too lazy to keep his dam in proper condition, and does not so keep it; if then the dam break and all the fields be flooded, then shall he in whose dam the break occurred be sold for money, and the money shall replace the corn in which he has caused to be ruined. I think Hammurabi’s Code is a helpful way to bring order to our lives. Even though it is not fair all the time, it will help us for years to come.
Mya Laliberte's High School Portfolio 