Dead Man Walking Inhumane

Words: 1631
Pages: 7
Open Document
Dead Man Walking was written by a nun called Helen Prejean, who had a spiritual revelation and wanted to help the poor. She became pen pals with a death row inmate at Angola, Elmo Patrick Sonnier. Inmate Sonnier was born in St. Martinsville, Louisiana. Which was not a nice town. She wasn’t surprised that he was in prison considering where he grew up. He was charged with the death of two teenagers and the rape of one. As, Sister Helen begins writing to him she starts to believe he is innocent of the crimes. She tries to help him fight his case with the help of attorney Millard Farmer. Although the parole board had never granted Patrick parole. Sister Helen became an advocate against the death penalty and tries to fight against it with hiring …show more content…
I do not understand the court’s decision when Eddie himself confessed to committing the entire crime and Patrick was only there to help his young brother. Patrick did rape the girl, but the gun was in eddies hand. Sister Helen states, “At Patrick’s second sentencing trial, Eddie, declaring, “I want to tell the truth and get everything off my chest” Testifying it was he who had killed the teenagers…” (“Dead Man Walking” p.16). Eddie confessed to pulling the trigger and murdering the two young lovers. Yes, Patrick was involved and an accomplice, but was not the mastermind behind the killing they both should have received life sentences. If the family was trying for a death penalty case, then Eddie should have been the one of death row not Patrick. Also, I do not agree with the supreme court decision to uphold that “…death by electricity was not cruel and unusual punishment…” (“Dead Man Walking” p.18). When in some cases it took up to twenty minutes for an inmate to die because of the electrodes bursting and falling off. It was an extremely slow and agonizing death for inmates. Another topic I disagreed with was the fact that the priests at the prison were trying to prevent the nuns from providing spiritual guidance. The priests preventing them because they threatened their power and would possibly become obsolete. They blamed it on the fact that women were too emotionally involved and caused countless problems due to
Show More

Related Documents: Dead Man Walking Inhumane

Capital Punishment In Dead Man Walking

Many people have very strong feelings about the use of capital punishment. Some people believe that the death penalty gives murderers what they deserve, while others believe killing anyone is wrong. The film Dead Man Walking is a movie about a nun, Sister Helen Prejean, who visits a man named Matthew Poncelet who is sitting on death row for the rape and murder of two teenagers. Although he is a murderer, Matthew Poncelet should not have been sentenced to die because he is poor and cannot afford a…

Words 640 - Pages 3

The Ethics Of Capital Punishment

how inhumane our means to deter crime can be, the questions on the ethics of capital punishment become more relevant in our society and we all should be convinced that capital punishment is not ethically acceptable. Many may argue that capital punishment is ethically acceptable…

Words 751 - Pages 4

Bataan Death March Essay

the stream by a Japanese soldier. The P.O.W. is not allowed to drink from the stream under any circumstances. He can no longer bear it, drops to his knees, and takes a drink of water from the stream. Although he does not hear the Japanese soldier walking up behind him as he takes out his sword. With one quick slash the P.O.W.’s head drops to the ground severed and bloody” (Kaufman 89). The Japanese soldiers were too harsh when it was not necessary. There was no reason for the Japanese soldier to chop…

Words 1227 - Pages 5

Essay on The Zombies and Annie Chase

Playing Dead The crisp northern Maine air nipped at Annie’s bare arms and legs, she was wearing her regular summer attire, a muscle tee and athletic shorts. The pleasantly warm summer nights were drawing to an end. She took a deep breath in, embracing the summer aroma of freshly cut grass and the smokey scent of barbecue because, in less than a week she would have to return to her third year at Plainview High School. She utterly dreaded going back after the break. She would miss nights like these…

Words 2232 - Pages 9

Examples Of Allegory In The Walking Dead

Stories of the twenty first century revolve around central themes or morals. For example, The Walking Dead is a narrative of how people in post apocalyptic societies prioritize close ones rather than strangers. A way novels address morals is through the structure of an allegory. Allegories depict for readers exactly what the author intends to convey through his writing. Each part of an allegory demonstrates a different part of the author’s message. Concepts existing outside of the novel, perhaps…

Words 1266 - Pages 6

Experencing About Ghost Essay

that truly exists as a rumor? I am in high school and I hear a lot of ghost stories by my friends: white ladies, a haunted house, devil spirit, ect. However good the stories are, I never believe that ghosts are real. But I really believe when the inhumane people die, they cannot go to heaven but will go to hell, and never be reincarnated (according to the monks). Yet, what really make up ghost stories? Therefore, I always question myself, “Is the rumor about ghost true? And if my parents say ghost…

Words 1804 - Pages 8

God Ethic Bible Jehovah Witnesses and Infanticide Essay

Jim Meyer Personal Research 03 November 2013 Jehovah’s Witnesses, God, Ethics and Biblical (Infanticide) Genocide and “The destruction was to be complete: every man, woman, and child was to be killed… the death of these children was actually their salvation…God does these children no wrong in taking their lives… So who is wronged? Ironically, I think the most difficult part of this whole debate is the apparent wrong done to the Israeli soldiers themselves.” [William L. Craig, Christian apologist]…

Words 7251 - Pages 30

Gp Essay Mainpoints

indulgently banging away at their pianos or doing less-than-funny spoofs of music videos (think the Two Chinese Boys in their dormitory room) • E.g. Temasek Review: an anti-government news portal • E.g. Political commentary by a certain Kway Teow Man • E.g. “Everyone Draw Muhammad Day” Facebook Page. Emphasis need for freedom of speech and expression that is often curtailed in Muslim communities but ended up causing much unhappiness amongst Muslims because the central religious figure in Islam…

Words 24667 - Pages 99