A Hanging

Q1: George Orwell’s “A Hanging” has been described as a powerful condemnation of capital punishment. What techniques does Orwell use to draw from his readers the desired inference, as his condemnation is delivered indirectly rather than by more explicit means?

Ans: In “A Hanging”, George Orwell shows his disapproval of capital punishment through ways on how death is regarded as an insignificant matter. Examples like “cutting a life short when it is in full tide” and the superintendent wanting to finish the job of executing the Hindu man as quickly as possible justify this point. Moreover, the dead is not treated with respect as shown in the event of the superintendent poking dead with his stick to ensure his death. His point is further reinforced by the fact that the Hindu man is being held like a fish by the guards, showing that he is not treated like human being even when he is going to die.

Q2: What are some of the arguments for and against capital punishments?

Ans: Capital punishments should be carried out to remove villains from the society, make them pay the consequences for what they have done and from there, educate others on doing only what is right. But, life is precious, it cannot be retrieved once it is gone, hence it should only be applied as a last resort and could only be used on those who have done heinous crimes. Others that have committed less severe crimes should be punished in other ways.

Q3: What are your own views on capital punishment? In what circumstances (if any) can the death penalty be justified?

Ans: I personally feel that capital punishment should be implemented based on the circumstances provided. Criminals must be punished for the harm they have done on the society, on one way, it serves as a warning to the public, cautioning them the consequences they have to pay for their wrongdoings. On the other hand, this serves as a lesson to the criminals, such that they will not commit the same mistakes again. Capital punishments are justified under situations like murder, as it causes death of innocent people.