Gradience in Language

A Hanging By George Orwell - 799 Words

â€Å"A Hanging† by the visionary English writer, George Orwell, is a non- fiction prose. A Hanging is an account of Orwell’s experience of capital punishment. Orwell’s purpose of A Hanging is to evoke reader’s sympathy for the plight of the prisoner. This essay will discuss how Orwell’s account made the reader consider their views on the ongoing concern of capital punishment, through the use of effective language. The Autobiographical account is set in Burma during the 1920’s, when Orwell was stationed there as a senior police officer. He retells the incident of a hanging of a Hindu man where he witnesses what would seem minor incident which will form a turning point in his views about the use of capital punishment. In order to help us understand his views on capital punishment Orwell selects his detail carefully. The setting immediately highlights the poor conditions in which the prisoners are kept â€Å"small animal cages† the conditions in which the prisoners are kept in are described as being inhuman and zoo like. Orwell goes on further to express this image by describing the prisoners as being animals, â€Å"squatting† continues the animal image and evokes the reader’s sympathy. The setting and physical description of the prisoners combine to engender the readers sympathy for the prisoner which is the central purpose of the text. The contrast between the prisoner and the guard evokes the reader’s sympathy when the prisoner is described as â€Å"a puny wisp of a man† and then the prisonShow MoreRelatedA Hanging By George Orwell1141 Words   |  5 PagesIn George Orwell’s â€Å"A hanging†, George uses his personal experiences as an Assistant superintendent in the British Imperial Police from 1922 to 1927 to convey his argument against capital punishment. Orwell as an officer of the law is sworn to enforce the laws of the state, even if he disagrees with them morally. Orwell wrote â€Å"A Hanging† using an event he acted in to describe his point on why capital punishment is a crime against nature. Although as a police man he could not oppose the law, his storyRead MoreGeorge Orwell s A Hanging Essay2293 Words   |  10 Pagesside could be strongly argued. â€Å"A Hanging† by George Orwell is a prime example of this type of work, as the 1931 essay provokes thought on th e issue of capital punishment. The story details an experience Orwell had during his work in Burma in which he was present for one prisoner’s execution. There is certainly conflict within Orwell for taking part in this event, and for being in relation to the functionaries responsible for carrying out the sentence. While Orwell does not make his belief on capitalRead MoreAnalysis Of George Orwell s A Hanging 1765 Words   |  8 PagesUnder the pen name of George Orwell, Eric Arthur Blair writes an essay titled, â€Å"A Hanging,† to show how capital punishment is wrong. This essay is a past experience Orwell has been across. Orwell changes his view on capital punishment, who has the right to shorten someone’s life. Orwell witnesses a hanging of a Hindu man and realizes that it is inhumane and immoral to take a life away from someone. Although Orwell has helped with hangings in his past he realizes that capital punishment is wrong andRead MoreEssay about A Hangin g by George Orwell877 Words   |  4 Pagesimpact on you because of its effective style. Discuss how the writer’s style adds to the impact of the content. â€Å"A Hanging† by George Orwell is an influential, autobiographical essay, in which the subject of capital punishment is powerfully examined. The essay is based on a prisoner’s execution in a Prisoner of War camp in Burma during the Second World War. In the essay, Orwell is a prison guard for the camp and carefully illustrates his views on capital punishment. The structure of the essay isRead MoreGeorge Orwell s Shooting An Elephant And A Hanging 860 Words   |  4 PagesIn George Orwell’s Shooting an Elephant and A Hanging. The setting of both the spots was in Burma, a nation in Asia. In A Hanging the setting was principally in a correctional facility while in Shooting an Elephant was in a Moulmein, in lower Burma where an Elephant went quiet . The Characters in A Hanging were for the most part a Hindu who was little whit no hair and obscure fluid eyes, additionally he had a thick, mustache which was humongous for his body. Additionally George OrwellRead MoreAnalysis Of George Orwell s The Voice Of A Generation 884 Words   |  4 Pagesgeneration? George Orwell’s pieces of writing were the voice of an age due to his style of writing. Orwell follows the principles of imagery, tone and ethos, meanwhile creating his own rules. Orwell weaves these principles together to write two famous stories that are packed with ethos and told in great detail. Why give a common man more credibility than an emperor? Orwell’s writing style gives him immense credibility because of the sheer detail, vivid color and description. Orwell achieves thisRead MorePride and Power in George Orwells Shooting an Elephant and A Hanging975 Words   |  4 PagesElephant,† George Orwell describes his experience of shooting an elephant. In â€Å"A Hanging,† he describes the emotions that run through him as he watches the hanging of a prisoner. Both essays have similar key ideas that identify Orwell as a writer. The results of pride and power contribute to the themes that connect his essays and identify Orwell as a descriptive writer. One of Orwell’s distinctive characteristics is his emphasis of his emotional response to life and death in every situation. Orwell engagesRead MoreA Hanging By Eric Blair1412 Words   |  6 PagesIn 1931 â€Å"A Hanging† by Eric Blair, a little-known author from London, was published for the first time in the Adelphi magazine. Blair is a famous writer who is known today as someone who confronted some of the major political movements of his time. Although, Blair did not start his career off as a writer. For five years Blair spent his time in Burma working in the Indian Imperial Police, just like his father, until he resigned in January 1928. Somewhere along the line Blair realized that this lineRead MoreGeorge Orwells Stance on Capital Punishment in Essay, A Hanging611 Words   |  3 Pages The essay â€Å"A Hanging† by George Orwell speaks to the reader about the author’s stance on capital punishment. I believe that Orwell was able to communicate his po int, without actually saying I’m against capital punishment, through three steps. The first step is to set the mood and bring you into his perspective. From the dreary description of the morning to the slow procession of the condemned man to the gallows, Orwell puts the reader in a mood that conveys the experience of watching a man die.Read More Capital Punishment in the Work of George Orwell, H.L. Mencken, and Norman Mailer728 Words   |  3 PagesCapital Punishment in the Work of George Orwell, H.L. Mencken, and Norman Mailer   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Capital punishment in the essays by George Orwell, H.L. Mencken, and Norman Mailer was a necessary evil to deter crime. These authors incorporated the use of alcohol or drugs as mind-altering chemicals to relieve the pressures of the characters involved in death due to capital punishment. Chemicals such as drugs and alcohol can be used for the pleasure of relieving stress, a means to forget, or a way to subdue

Women and Minorities in Law Enforcement Free Essays

Women and Minorities in Law Enforcement Response Throughout policing history women and minorities have gone through so many changes as they tried to become law enforcers. In the beginning, when women and minorities were allowed to become police officers they would be hired but given lighter duties or assigned to lower crime areas. They weren’t given much opportunity to go out and experience first hand how everything was on the streets since the majority of law enforcers back then were males. We will write a custom essay sample on Women and Minorities in Law Enforcement or any similar topic only for you Order Now They worked more as social workers and it took a long time for them to be out on the streets fighting off crime. Over time their role in law enforcement has changed dramatically, back then they weren’t allowed to have higher ranks or work out on the field or basically do any job that was considered a men’s job (due to physical strength or upper body strength that men had and women didn’t). As time went on they were allowed to have higher ranks and given more opportunities, they were allowed to do what most male officers were doing at the time. There were associations made for women and minorities. One such association mentioned in the book is called: The International Association of Policewomen. Laws were created as well to enforce the hiring of racial and gender minorities as well as affirmative action policies. Affirmative action policies required that police departments create more than equal opportunities for everyone. They pressed that the police departments should hire minorities. Affirmative action basically ensured that those who had previously been excluded from particular types of employment would now have the access to those jobs. All law enforcement agencies that didn’t follow the affirmative action policies would face civil suits from the individuals who were denied that job. The hiring of minorities and women changed the role of modern policing as everything had to be changed to give way to minorities and women. For example: Physical agility tests and Written tests. As mentioned in the book: Policewomen and policemen are different in three key areas; policewomen do not draw their weapons as frequently; they use less physical force; and they are better at handling domestic violence calls. Grant Terny, 2008) The positive things about this integration are that many acts were made that required equal opportunities for women and minorities. Also, the police force no longer consisted of just men but women as well and so whenever there are victims that are women the female police officers could talk to them and they’d be a lot more comfortable to release information. As well as when they are going t o be searched. People of different ethnic backgrounds made it now possible as well to talk to certain victims who didn’t know the English language. The negatives are that many things had to be changed in the force, from physical agility tests to written tests, and even how things are done in a department because of this integration. Sexual harassment in the workplace became an issue; there were so many debates to whether women could perform jobs. Also women were looked at negatively and as not being able to perform the job, they were usually harassed or talked down upon by victims being arrested. The importance of women in policing should not be overlooked because they bring huge changes to every police department and are intelligent people. They are willing to refrain from pulling out their guns to resolve an issue and really do try their best to resolve it by talking to the individual. They have better communication skills and are less aggressive and I feel they are more responsible. In conclusion, the integration of minorities and women has changed so much for law enforcement and in so many ways it made it better because it’s only fair that all different races and people of different backgrounds were allowed to become a police officer if they met the requirements. Women or men alike can help keep our communities safe if they work together. How to cite Women and Minorities in Law Enforcement, Essay examples

Platos Analogy of the Cave free essay sample

Plato was a Greek Philosopher, who was a student of Socrates. The Analogy of the Cave in Plato’s Republic was written as a dialogue between Socrates and Plato’s brother Glaucon. In the Analogy of the Cave, Plato describes the prisoners who lived an isolated life in the confined space of a cave. Plato’s Analogy explains a philosopher’s journey to knowledge and the difficulty that he faces along the way and the prisoners in the cave who have not embarked on the journey to true knowledge and are living their lives, only seeing what is on the surface, and what they want to see. The Analogy relates to Plato’s Theory of Forms, which explains how the forms possess the ultimate reality. The World of Forms is the unseen world in which everything is constantly evolving and changing. The Analogy however, is the attempt to enlighten the prisoners and explain the philosophers place in society. He uses the story to explain the need to question everything like a philosopher does in order to distinguish between the unreal, physical world and the real spiritual world lit by the sun. The sun is the ultimate good and Plato gives the name of good the demiurge. The cave is a symbol of the world; it represents the World of Appearances based on what people see by their senses. It is an illusionary physical world in which people are trapped by ignorance and false truths. It is a world where people ignore the truth and are unenlightened. The prisoners are in this illusionary world where they think that what they are seeing is reality however it is not reality at all. In the cave there are shadows of truth and echoes of reality. It is filled with illusions. It is a world of senses where the prisoners have gained empirical knowledge which is flawed. Plato thinks that the prisoners’ situations are no different from ours, as we do not see the forms clearly, only the physical world. Plato believed that everything exists in its true, perfect form outside of the cave in the world of the forms. The Cave; the physical world imprisons a person by stopping them seeing the forms. The cave represents a world where everything comes to an end and will eventually die, however in the world of forms nothing will die or end. Everything is transcendent and evolving. People who leave the cave gain true vision and see reality. The cave can also represent he body in which our souls (the prisoners) are trapped. Our souls constantly yearn for the World of Forms in which nothing ever decays. The cave may also represent society and the prisoners cannot see the world for what it really is as they are trapped in the claws of society. The prisoners are humans who have a lack of knowledge and are oblivious to the truth and reality. They are in an ill usionary world. The prisoners are mankind or at least human thought and existence. They are chained mentally by culture; trapped in society and physically around their necks and feet, which means they are not able to move around. This means that their minds cannot wander elsewhere and they remain fixed on the shadows/their reality. The chains also represent humanities inability to become enlightened and our consciousness. Their reality is the shadows of truth and the echoes of reality. They have never seen true good, true reality; the sun. They represent human beings like us as they are ignorant and oblivious to the truth and the world of forms. Their minds are full of ignorance and false impressions. They have beards which show that they have been there since childhood, and that the darkness is all they know. The prisoners sit facing the wall and have spent their lives watching the shadow play. For them the appearance seems real, as they have never seen anything else. We have sympathy for the prisoners as they have been misguided and are oblivious to the ultimate good; the demiurge. They are people who accept everything at face value and never question or try to understand. Their lives are empty and meaningless. The people who carried the statues helped to shape the prisoners’ views however they also were thought to share the same views as the prisoners. In the ‘Republic’, Plato criticized philosophers and politicians who lead the people but do not actually know the truth. The people carrying the statues are like the philosophers and politicians; oblivious to the World of Forms. The prisoners also represent our souls, which are yearning to get to a higher place. They are trapped inside the body, which is a physical form. The shadows are made from ‘all sorts of vessels and statues and figures of animals’, a mere shadow show orchestrated by the unseen men. They are the shadows which create the false images of distorted truth. They are the limits of reality. The prisoner’s senses are misguided by the shadows. The shadows are deceitful; they are the false way people see things. The shadows that the prisoners look upon represent the perceived truth; the prisoners did not have the knowledge to look beyond the superficial, and only had the capacity to believe in shadows. We are also told about the fire. It burnt behind and above the prisoners. In front of the fire there was a puppet stage for the men to carry the object behind, this would cast the shadows. The only noises the prisoners would hear were the echoes of reality, and the only things the prisoners would see were the shadows of truth. The puppeteers are ignorant for carrying on teaching the prisoners false knowledge. The fire in the cave represents the power of the sun. The fire has the ability to illuminate the false truths inside the cave; it magnifies what the prisoners can see, which shows them what to believe in. The fire represents false and incomplete knowledge and is also deceitful. It represents the illusions that keep us in the dark from truth. The journey out of the cave is the journey to truth and reality; it demands that you must challenge your pre-conceived ideas. The prisoner’s journey out of the cave, his ascent is faced with hardships and struggles; escaping the chains, past the fire and up the steps. The reason the prisoner is described as being ‘dragged out the cave’ is because the journey is distressing and he is being forced out. Plato said ‘The object of knowledge is what exists and its function to know about reality’. It explains how reality is the world of forms and the job of the philosopher is to get knowledge, this is what the prisoner does when he goes out of the cave. He is the one who breaks away and makes the journey out; he is the philosopher who wants to know what is really going on. He wants to see past the distorted truths. ‘And those who strive for reality and knowledge are philosophers’. The escaped prisoner could represent Socrates (Plato’s tutor). The journey out of the cave symbolizes the journey of an average person into the world of knowledge and wisdom through philosophy. This is achieved by looking into the depths of meaning and searching for answers. The journey is uncomfortable as it requires the prisoner to challenge his beliefs. When the prisoner first breaks free he is in tremendous amounts of pain as his muscles have been unused for so long, and he is able to look directly at the fire rather than ust at the shadows. The path outside the cave is rocky, steep and unstable as the things that the prisoners once knew as reality are all becoming unclear. Once the prisoner is out of the cave, he is faced with the sun. The sun represents complete knowledge, wisdom and enlightenment. It represents the World of Forms, which the soul yea rns to reach. It represents the ultimate good, the ideas/forms; the demiurge. It reveals the world to the prisoner, and how things can be if you come out of the shadows. It represents truth, beauty and justice. When the prisoner see’s the sun, he becomes temporarily blind; this represents the enlightenment because he has discovered a world past the shadows. A world which is real. The sun lets him see the true beauty of things, not the shadows that he saw before. Plato suggests that in this world, the sun gives both life to being as without light, we and the plants and animals would not grow and flourish, and provides light by which these things can be seen. The sun is the source of truth and reason; it represents the perfection of realities. Through the sun we will see the truth, real beauty and real justice. He comes to see a deeper reality, a reality marked by reason. Once the prisoner has embraced his new found knowledge, he wants to maintain it and no longer live a life of confinement trapped inside a cave. Once he sees reality, he makes a painful readjustment back into the darkness of the cave. This journey back is also painful as once he has seen reality, he does not wish to reminisce in the deceit of the past. However he is a good man, who gains true knowledge and wishes to enlighten the others. He could represent Socrates going to enlighten Athenian Society. When he gets to the prisoners, he seems mad, as he describes a new strange reality. They laugh at him and mock him, and reject him to the point of threatening to kill him. Their disagree shows how previous philosophers such as Socrates were penalized and laughed at for their beliefs and ultimately killed. Plato’s Analogy of the Cave is a representation of the human condition, under the circumstances of our basic beliefs and behaviors in society. It represents the lack of human knowledge, and the difference between the two orlds. It shows that in the World of Appearances, everything we see or experience are shadows of The World of Forms, they are impure. They show that we live in a world full of flux and decay and we are just matter. The World of Appearances is a Visible World and a Finite World whereas The World of Forms is an Unseen World, full of phenomenons, forms and ideals. The World of Forms is constantly e volving and changing; ‘You cannot step into the same river twice’. The World of Forms is outside the cave, and it is where everyone aims to go. The soul yearns for a higher place.