Sunday, April 22, 2007.
Passage: A Hanging by George Owell
Qns 1:
In the first paragraph, the first part of it describes how the cell looks like and how the situation is like. After all the descriptions, the last sentence, " These were the condemned men, due to be hanged within the next week or two, " finally gives us an indication of exactly who the people are. By placing the "men to be hanged" at the end of a paragraph, it gives us the feeling of impending doom of the convicts. This shows that the author is against the ordeal of capital punishment.
Next, the metaphor of the convict being "handled like a fish still alive" is used to show that he condemns the capital punishment, as it takes away the pride from a man. A man is a man, and when he is descibed to be an animal to be controlled by others, it means that the man loses his values as a human. This shows his condemnation of capital punishment, which he felt takes away the criminal of his pride as a human being.
Further down the passage, the author uses descriptions of how the man avoided the puddle to show how the man still has pride as a human being despite being condemned by others. Thus, this further supports the point of taking away man's pride throught capital punishment.
Then, he uses diction like "healthy", "conscious" and "wrongness" to show how it is not correct to take away a man's live, in this case, a convict, even though he is still a healthy man and his "oragns are still working" . This shows that he felt that it is not right to take away a man's life even though he had done something wrong, as the man is still able to live well, and still has the ability to think consciously.
The aruthor also uses the phrase "each cry another second of life" to show his condemnation of capital punishment. Through the usage of the phrase, it shows how each second of life is important to the man. The man is making use of every single second. When we talk to people about time in our life, we use things like "every year", "that month" and "yesterday". However, now, the convivt only has seconds to think about. This shows how vulnerable his life is now. This thus makes the point that capital punishment should be comdemned, as it cuts short the man's life, and is so vulnerable that he could only cry and do nothing about it.
Lastly, irony is also used. When one convict struggled and refused to move to be hanged, the warders said "think of all the pain and trouble you are casuing us" and that "he was troublesome". The way it is mentioned, it seems like the convict, by wanting to live on, is giving others trouble. Isn't it ironic then, as having the will to live on is always said to encourage people to overcome struggles, but now, it is not an appreciated thing. The fact that the man trying to live on is described as troublesome shows the lack of respect the they have for the convict. They feel that he has no right to live on, and he should die. This shows very strongly the condemation of the capital punishment, as it is a total disrespect for a convict's life and will to live on.
Qns 2:
People for capital punishment often cited that the criminals had done a lot of harm to human beings, and should be killed so as to prevent further evil doings by them. They felt that with them living in the society, it could only bring fear to the public, and pollute the purity of the public bath. They felt that the worse punishment is to end their life, so that they would then experience the pain they had inflicted on the victims, and get their so-called retribution. Next, by having such a harsh punishment, it will deter others from committing a crime.
On the other hand, people against capital punishment often cited that it is morally wrong to end someone's life, as none of us carries the right to do so. It is violating the human rights to end someone's life. Next, people felt that by ending a convict's life, we are depriving them of a chance to change, and saying that they are incorrigible. The convicts are then being condemned, and not given a second chance to prove their worth. Furthermore, it solves the surface problem(the instant threat etc.), but not the root problems(main cause of problems etc.).
Qns 3:
I feel that capital punishment should not be allowed unless there are exceptional cases. I feel that although the criminal might have done something very wrong, or immoral, they should be given a second chance, with proper councilling. By ending the killers' life, it will not bring back the life of the victim, or in cases like drug trafficking, it will not do much to solve the ongoing problem, though it will deter more people from doing so. It is not solving the problem, and there is not much significance is doing so. By taking away the criminal's life for a crime, what are we teaching the people? Why is it that we kill someone to teach people not to kill? Isn't it ironic then, that we have to end someone's life to teach others not to end people's life. Furthermore, i believe it is ethically wrong for capital punishment. And by killing the person, we are also causing his family more sorrows, especially if he or she has a young child at home.
However, i feel that there are cases of exceptions to capital punisment. For example, when the serious offence is repeated several times already, and despite all the punishments, still decides to harm the general public. They should then be killed to prevent further evil doings and inflicting fear to the public. Next, if the offence is as serious as killing another person, but is showing no signs of remorse and attempts to change. People like serial killers and masterminds behind immoral killings should be sentenced to death also, if the proved to be conscious of what their doing and insist they are right.
7teen
ex ijtp
anderson jc
02/07
nice old song...
2:34:00 PM
First official posting for gp blog.Passage: A Hanging by George Owell
Qns 1:
In the first paragraph, the first part of it describes how the cell looks like and how the situation is like. After all the descriptions, the last sentence, " These were the condemned men, due to be hanged within the next week or two, " finally gives us an indication of exactly who the people are. By placing the "men to be hanged" at the end of a paragraph, it gives us the feeling of impending doom of the convicts. This shows that the author is against the ordeal of capital punishment.
Next, the metaphor of the convict being "handled like a fish still alive" is used to show that he condemns the capital punishment, as it takes away the pride from a man. A man is a man, and when he is descibed to be an animal to be controlled by others, it means that the man loses his values as a human. This shows his condemnation of capital punishment, which he felt takes away the criminal of his pride as a human being.
Further down the passage, the author uses descriptions of how the man avoided the puddle to show how the man still has pride as a human being despite being condemned by others. Thus, this further supports the point of taking away man's pride throught capital punishment.
Then, he uses diction like "healthy", "conscious" and "wrongness" to show how it is not correct to take away a man's live, in this case, a convict, even though he is still a healthy man and his "oragns are still working" . This shows that he felt that it is not right to take away a man's life even though he had done something wrong, as the man is still able to live well, and still has the ability to think consciously.
The aruthor also uses the phrase "each cry another second of life" to show his condemnation of capital punishment. Through the usage of the phrase, it shows how each second of life is important to the man. The man is making use of every single second. When we talk to people about time in our life, we use things like "every year", "that month" and "yesterday". However, now, the convivt only has seconds to think about. This shows how vulnerable his life is now. This thus makes the point that capital punishment should be comdemned, as it cuts short the man's life, and is so vulnerable that he could only cry and do nothing about it.
Lastly, irony is also used. When one convict struggled and refused to move to be hanged, the warders said "think of all the pain and trouble you are casuing us" and that "he was troublesome". The way it is mentioned, it seems like the convict, by wanting to live on, is giving others trouble. Isn't it ironic then, as having the will to live on is always said to encourage people to overcome struggles, but now, it is not an appreciated thing. The fact that the man trying to live on is described as troublesome shows the lack of respect the they have for the convict. They feel that he has no right to live on, and he should die. This shows very strongly the condemation of the capital punishment, as it is a total disrespect for a convict's life and will to live on.
Qns 2:
People for capital punishment often cited that the criminals had done a lot of harm to human beings, and should be killed so as to prevent further evil doings by them. They felt that with them living in the society, it could only bring fear to the public, and pollute the purity of the public bath. They felt that the worse punishment is to end their life, so that they would then experience the pain they had inflicted on the victims, and get their so-called retribution. Next, by having such a harsh punishment, it will deter others from committing a crime.
On the other hand, people against capital punishment often cited that it is morally wrong to end someone's life, as none of us carries the right to do so. It is violating the human rights to end someone's life. Next, people felt that by ending a convict's life, we are depriving them of a chance to change, and saying that they are incorrigible. The convicts are then being condemned, and not given a second chance to prove their worth. Furthermore, it solves the surface problem(the instant threat etc.), but not the root problems(main cause of problems etc.).
Qns 3:
I feel that capital punishment should not be allowed unless there are exceptional cases. I feel that although the criminal might have done something very wrong, or immoral, they should be given a second chance, with proper councilling. By ending the killers' life, it will not bring back the life of the victim, or in cases like drug trafficking, it will not do much to solve the ongoing problem, though it will deter more people from doing so. It is not solving the problem, and there is not much significance is doing so. By taking away the criminal's life for a crime, what are we teaching the people? Why is it that we kill someone to teach people not to kill? Isn't it ironic then, that we have to end someone's life to teach others not to end people's life. Furthermore, i believe it is ethically wrong for capital punishment. And by killing the person, we are also causing his family more sorrows, especially if he or she has a young child at home.
However, i feel that there are cases of exceptions to capital punisment. For example, when the serious offence is repeated several times already, and despite all the punishments, still decides to harm the general public. They should then be killed to prevent further evil doings and inflicting fear to the public. Next, if the offence is as serious as killing another person, but is showing no signs of remorse and attempts to change. People like serial killers and masterminds behind immoral killings should be sentenced to death also, if the proved to be conscious of what their doing and insist they are right.
About me...
patricia lim angie7teen
ex ijtp
anderson jc
02/07
Now Playing...
nice old song...