George Orwell's Stance on Capital Punishment in Essay, A Hanging

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The essay “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 point, 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. The second step is to compare himself to the condemned man, showing how we are all equal. A life is a life, whether you are a condemned man or not. The third step is to show how everyone tries to cope with the aftermath of the execution. This essay challenged my thoughts about capital punishment and I was forced to answer some questions about it. How do I feel about capital punishment and why do I feel that way? I see capital punishment as wrong because we are all equal and that it goes against human nature to take a life.
From the very beginning George Orwell sets the mood and tries to put...

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