A Hanging by George Orwell


#1
The author uses vivid descriptions to draw from his readers the desired inference.
The fact that the prisoner to be executed was depicted as a normal person, like us. This can be seen from the sentence: " This man was not dying, he was alive just as we were alive. All the organs of his body were working..... -all toiling away in solemn foolery." The author also showed the prisoner as being helpless. There was no sign of struggle from him. In the last paragraph, it showed the insensitivity of the officials. "We all had a drink together, native and European alike, quite amicably. The dead man was a hundred yards away."

#2
In singapore, capital punishment is used for crimes like murder. The capital punishment we do here in Singapore is relatively the same as what it is described in the passage - hanging.
Arguments for capital punishment
Capital punishment is done to remind the public what will happen to them when they commit the crime of killing someone. By doing so, it will in a way 'fair' for the murdered.
Arguments against capital punishment
Capital punishment can give the person a lesson - death. However, is this too much as a punishment? Perhaps the person had sincerely regretted on what he/she had done. Perhaps the person did not do it on pupose, or maybe someone had instigated him to do it. By hanging the person, it may cause shame and trama to the family. The family members of the murderer would have to 'suffer' the stares from the public. In actual fact, they suffer more than that of the 'murderer'.

#3
I think that capital punishment should be done. However, we have to see if the person had really committed the crime and is not repentant. We should not use this on the people who are not-guilty.

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