The Man Who Broke 1000 Chains - Moral Vs. Legal Issues

When looking at as issue as right or wrong, it is imperative that the issue be categorized into either a matter of legality or morality. While some may be both, the simple fact that an action may be immoral does not qualify it as necessarily illegal. The film A Man That Broke A Thousand Chains, based on the true story of Robert Elliott Burns, showcases many examples of morality and legality. If an action is immoral, that means it defies one’s moral code and is commonly perceived as “wrong” based on what one values. If an action is regarded as illegal, it is one that breaks a law and requires just punishment.

Once he escaped out of the Georgia camp, he made a move to Chicago, where he found a quaint boarding house to live in. The lovely female owner and Robert soon became very close; he told her his secret after she read it in his writings. They loved each other, though he did not want a commitment. After blackmailing Robert into marrying her, she became very jealous and ended up letting his secret out after she became very angry for not receiving enough attention. Being a big businessman of a huge magazine, this move was devastating. He was then sent back to the camp in Georgia, losing not only his fortune from business, but his new found love, Lillian. Though turning in an escaped convict is more legal than not, being what one would call a “tattletale” on account of being jealous or angry is wrong. His wife’s decision to turn her love over to the police was an act that showed cold-heartedness and most would say is wrong, since it seems wrong and foolish to incriminate one’s close friend. Though this action resulted in legal issues, this one case was a moral case.

When Robert first left home, he was desperate for money and was convinced to join a man who promised some profit. Unfortunately, Robert went with the criminal and was pulled into an armed robbery. Robert unwillingly followed the criminal’s orders and held a shopkeeper at gunpoint. As a beginning of the unfair tale, Robert was the only one captured and was tried. No matter his unwillingness or disagreement to the armed robbery, he still took part in it. An armed robbery is quite obviously legally wrong; it is illegal to steal money,