This quote from Peter Ackroyd's Foundation: The History of England from Its Earliest Beginnings to the Tudors offers a stark insight into a past societal framework grounded in deep injustice and economic stratification. The concept that a person's 'worth' could be assessed and monetized posthumously highlights the commodification of human life, where justice is not blind but deeply skewed by class divisions and power dynamics. The very idea that penalties for murder are not equal but contingent on the social status of the victim reveals a reality where inequity was institutionalized and normalized.

Such a system underscores not only brutality but also a calculated method of control. The social hierarchy, dictated by the exploitation of those labeled 'unfree', was sustain through this divisive approach to justice—creating a cycle where the oppressed had little recourse or protection under the law. It reflects broader themes of power imbalances and systemic exploitation that have persisted throughout history and in various forms continue today.

Reflecting on this quote invites us to examine modern legal and social systems critically. While many societies today strive for equality before the law, the shadows of the past remind us to remain vigilant against the subtle ways privilege and inequality can shape justice. The continuous exploitation of unfree individuals, whether through economic, social, or legal mechanisms, remains a cautionary tale about dehumanizing practices justified by structural inequality.