Preview

Dead Man Walking Analysis Essay

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
521 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Dead Man Walking Analysis Essay
The question of whether capital punishment is right or wrong has truly become a tough choice to make. One of our nations most controversial issues is capital punishment. Capital punishment needs to become abolished because the unjust and cruel system does not appear for those who cannot pay for proper representation. Rich men do not belong there for one reason, which results from hiring high trained and well-paid lawyers. Being unjust, one can think of numerous ways to approach an argument for or against capital punishment. And not only are these excellent arguments, they tend to change ones point of view constantly if provided with good grounds. Sister Helen Prejean’s novel, DMW, discusses and defends her personal views on capital punishment while stating that capital punishment should be illegal. Prejean successfully defends her views on capital punishment and was very brave and courageous for dealing with this delicate topic. She was a spiritual advisor and friend to two death row inmates, Patrick Sonnier and Robert Lee Willie. From these experiences, she developed her own views on death penalty. Prejean believed that capital punishment was morally wrong and spoke openly about it such as, “maybe violence is natural to him.” (11) The death penalty is legal because the government of the United States of America says that it is all right to execute another human being if their crimes are not punishable by other means. Even though Prejean knew Sonnier and Willie was dangerous and that there are no excuses for their crimes, she declared that a death sentence should not be the only answer.
Prejean as a spiritual advisor was successful when it came to dealing with the issue of capital punishment compared to others. DMW chooses to use the lethal injection form of capital punishment and hits on emotions that some people have never thought about feeling. Prejean tried her best to comfort the two inmates in their time of sorrow and need. Most of the time, this is
Continue Reading
View Writing Issues

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Satisfactory Essays

    Sister Helen Prejean's Dead Man Walking
    • 263 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Sister Helen Prejean's Dead Man Walking

    Sister Helen Prejean is against the death penalty and wrote Dead Man Walking to support her viewpoints on the death penalty; however, within the film her viewpoints on the issue appear to be neutral or unclear. There are particular elements within the book that Sister Helen embodies, which are not portrayed clearly within the film version of herself. Sister Helen, in the book depicts herself as confident, knowledgeable, credible individual about the penal system and the injustice within it. Possessing these attributes creates leadership skills and courage, which fuels her to stand by her views on the death penalty, and save the lives of the inmates on death row. Sister Helen Prejean believes life in prison or abolishing the death penalty is…

    • 263 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
    Read More
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Jeffrey Toobin Summary
    • 532 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Jeffrey Toobin Summary

    According to the author the modern executioner's job has changed, likewise, the death penalty has also changed. Jeffrey Toobin suggests killing prisoners who are on death row is necessitated but harm should not be caused. The author believes that the death penalty is uncivilized in our civilized society. Toobin also affirms the fact that the death penalty has become unpalatable and gruesome because of the great length's states have gone to come up with other ways of execution. For…

    • 532 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Analyzing Matthew Poncelet's 'Dead Man Walking'
    • 344 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Analyzing Matthew Poncelet's 'Dead Man Walking'

    Matthew Poncelet is sentenced to death for the murder of Walter Delacroix and Hope Percy. He has been closely followed by Sister Helen Prejean who is strongly against capital punishment, and today, we are to follow him for his last day.…

    • 344 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Darryl Hunt Research Paper
    • 436 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Darryl Hunt Research Paper

    My view upon death penalty before watching the video about Darryl hunt’s case, was strongly against it. I truly believe that we have no say in who is to take someone’s life. Who are we to decide who lives or dies? There is no standard that we can place on someone’s life, to determine their existence in this world. Life is a precious gift, no matter how cruel the crime may be that the person being accused of committing the crime. I strongly believe that incarceration for the reminder of their life is in my view, the most extreme decision as a society to make in determining an individuals future.…

    • 436 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
    Read More
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Memories Of A Dead Man Walking Analysis
    • 375 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Memories Of A Dead Man Walking Analysis

    In “Memories of a Dead Man Walking” Helen Prejean is completely in denial of capital punishment. She believes that a men who committed a crime and is in prison with a death penalty is still a leaving person and has rights. Such as “ the right not to be tortured” and “the right not be killed”. She also is convinced that this prisoner have decency as well. Prejean also talk about Patrick Sonnier who was sentenced to death penalty, she was his spiritual advisor until he waited for execution. In her essay she says that she noticed that only poor people are selected for death row. Also it is noticeable how personal and serious she takes this condemned prisoner. She was with him until the…

    • 375 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
    Read More
  • Powerful Essays

    Summary Of Death Penalty's False Promise By Anna Quindlen
    • 1349 Words
    • 6 Pages

    Summary Of Death Penalty's False Promise By Anna Quindlen

    She tries to relate to and get the attention of the readers who agree with the death penalty by saying for example, "the death penalty would act as a deterrent by eliminating recidivism." However, she goes right back to the opposing side of the death penalty by saying "I don't believe that deterrence is what most propenents seek from death penalty anyhow." She tries to capture all of her audience's attention by supporting both sides of the argument with examples of what she thinks is advantageous in both. Quindlen tries to relate to the opposing side of the death penalty by saying that "I think the killing of one human being as punishment for the killing of another makes no sense and inherently immoral." She also expresses how there is nothing anyone could do that is bad enough to replace the pain a parent has go through in losing a 6-year-old boy; not lethal injection or even the electric chair. In expressing her own opinions and giving examples to support them, Quindlen makes such a strong argument that it almost makes me want to re-examine my own opinions on the death…

    • 1349 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Powerful Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    What Are Ernest Van Den Haag's Arguments Against The Death Penalty
    • 1062 Words
    • 5 Pages

    What Are Ernest Van Den Haag's Arguments Against The Death Penalty

    Capital Punishment is regarded as one of the United States' hottest topics. Those for and against it constantly debate over the various issues that capital punishment brings forth. This essay explains just a few of these topics and my view on the death penalty.…

    • 1062 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Better Essays

    Analysis of Death and Justice, by Edward Koch
    • 1282 Words
    • 6 Pages

    Analysis of Death and Justice, by Edward Koch

    In his essay Death and Justice, Edward Koch argues in support of capital punishment, he believes it is just and it saves lives. He successfully delivers an argument laced with true and vivid examples of unforgettable murderous events. His intended audience consists of the opposing voters and readers of the New Republic, the political magazine that published his essay. Prior to reading Edward Koch’s essay I was sure that I would disagree but it became clear to me that he is right. There are seven commonly held views against the death penalty that Koch argues against in his essay. In what follows I discuss a few of his arguments and show that the death penalty is the most viable approach to deal with convicted murderers.…

    • 1282 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Better Essays
    Read More
  • Better Essays

    Cost of the Death Penalty
    • 1200 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Cost of the Death Penalty

    Costs and Consequences of the Death Penalty, written by Mark Costanzo, neatly lists reasons for opposition, and abolishment of, the death penalty. Costanzo provides a review of the history of the death penalty, a review of how the death penalty process is working today, questions on whether or not if the death penalty is inhumane and cheaper than life imprisonment. He also questions if the death penalty is fairly applied and the impact, if any, that it has on deterrence. He closely examines the public's support of the death penalty and questions the morality of the death penalty. Finally, Costanzo provides his own resolution and alternative to the death penalty. Each of these items allows the reader an easy, and once again, neat view of how the death penalty can work against out society rather than for it.…

    • 1200 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Better Essays
    Read More
  • Better Essays

    Pros And Cons Of Death Penalty
    • 1091 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Pros And Cons Of Death Penalty

    Further, Sister Prejean in her book points out that, “Justice William J. has witnessed over years and renders the graphic description of state t electrocution.” As well, Prejean introduces his honest opinion about the D.P. electrocution: The prisoners’ body parts, soon as the current is applied it turns red, white, and the strings of the neckline “stand out like steel bands.” The electricity energy is too potent that inmates “eyeballs sometimes pop out on their cheeks and afterward prisoners often defecates, urinates, and vomits blood and drool.” Once the assign doctors examine the inmates’ body by autopsy, they found out roughly organs damage and burning “that doctors said it could not be touch by the human hand” the corpses are severely injured and establishes the electrocution by electric chair is brutal, cruel, and physical torture. Thus, are the concerns to eradicate the capital punishment? Since the (U.S. Constitution) makes clear in the eighth amendment, the part “Cruel and Usual Punishment.” The article stands, to prohibit the federal governments and states to overuse their power on cruel and unusual punishment, including torture. In short, expresses to do not use excessive punishment while judging an…

    • 1091 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Better Essays
    Read More
  • Best Essays

    Capital Punishment: Looking at Both Sides
    • 1030 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Capital Punishment: Looking at Both Sides

    It’s so hard to say where I stand with the death penalty. There are those moments when a person commits a crime so heinous you’re in that state of mind of wanting the death penalty for them. But then you realize this is a human being. I truly do not believe in the death penalty. To me, I think executing someone for a various form of wrongdoing would not punish them. Instead I think that’s just taking them out of their misery. The punishment for doing something wrong that is, for that the person committing such an act, should not be killed but put through suffering by living in jail for the rest of their life. It’s tough, and honestly people have their opinions and it’s in their right to go with or without the death penalty. Capital punishment is one of life 's topics that leave many divided opinions due to its risqué nature. It has been a subject full of controversy for centuries and still continues to be discussed to this day. Throughout my piece I will explain the case that is pro Capital Punishment, as well as the contrasting side - the opposition.…

    • 1030 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Best Essays
    Read More
  • Satisfactory Essays

    What Do Murderers' Deserve?
    • 360 Words
    • 2 Pages

    What Do Murderers' Deserve?

    Feelings toward capital punishment have varied over time. Among democratic nations, few now impose it. In the United States, 38 states have death penalty laws while 12 have rejected the ultimate punishment in favor of other strong sentences, such as life without parole. Many death penalty states, including New Jersey, rarely impose it. The death penalty is an emotional topic but apart from the moral questions the death penalty evokes, apart from questions of whether it serves as a deterrent, apart from debate over whether it has a proper role in the administration of justice, the death penalty-when everything else is stripped away-is a matter of public policy.…

    • 360 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
    Read More
  • Powerful Essays

    Is the Death Penalty Constitutional?
    • 1139 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Is the Death Penalty Constitutional?

    Capital Punishment has been a topic of debate in America since the 17th century. Although many abiding citizens oppose the death penalty, there are many ways for them to feel this way. However, there are also various supporting reasons for 38 states to consider Capital Punishment as very effective. Some of the pros involved in this long-fought debate are justice, closure for victims’ families, cost of inmates, deterrence, and punishment that is equal to the crime which was committed. In opposition, some of the cons are cost of execution, humanity, morality, religion, and unnecessary pain for the family of the executed prisoner.…

    • 1139 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Powerful Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    The Death Penalty
    • 872 Words
    • 4 Pages

    The Death Penalty

    D 'elia, C.. (2010). Less than We Might: Meditations on Life in Prison Without Parole. Federal Sentencing Reporter, 23(1), 10-20. Retrieved December 17, 2010, from Research Library. (Document ID: 2161498561).…

    • 872 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Death Penalty
    • 666 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Death Penalty

    The death penalty has been most talked about for years, to some it is an unfair way to pass judgment on a person. The argument went as far as to say that conforming to such a method is a step backwards and offers no real solution. Critic Coretta Scott King argued strongly against the practice and rebukes the idea. One can always say what they want about the matter but insufficient knowledge with hinder their judgment. The death penalty ought to be considered as a means of punishment for those who commit ghastly murders.…

    • 666 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More

Related Topics