The film Dead Man Walking presents a complex view of the death penalty, as the filmmakers avoid oversimplifying the issue or pontificating a particular point of view. Sister Helen (Susan Sarandon) is called upon to work with a man on death row: Matthew Poncelet (Sean Penn). Poncelet is presented as a thoroughly distasteful human being, one that the audience can scarce sympathize with at first. Yet as his immanent death approaches, Poncelet does change, however meaningless and futile that small change may be. His initial deceit fades into a frank recognition of his crime, and the audience is left to wonder if facing his mortality is really what triggered these psychological changes or whether he might have underwent a spiritual transformation while serving out a life sentence. Knowing what the audience does about Poncelet, it is doubtful that as an inmate he would have reckoned with the truth of his crimes, had he not been forced to face his own demise. It is likely that Poncelet would not have called upon the services of Sister Helen either, if he were not sitting on death row. Serving out a life term instead, Poncelet might have become even more entrenched in his white supremacist subculture, fomenting the hatred and bitterness that he too inherited from others. From this vantage point, it seems that the death penalty might indeed serve some function in stimulating remorse in those who would otherwise be incapable of moving beyond their warped sense of reality, and for preventing the taxpayer for funding the daily lives of the likes of Poncelet.
Dead Man Walking is successful because it frankly addresses the death penalty question as if each case were tightly determined on the basis of DNA evidence—which of course in reality it is not and many innocent individuals are sentenced to death in the United States. Also, because the family members of the victims do not seem to receive the level of satisfaction they expect from the execution, ultimately the film shows that the death penalty serves no overarching function except for a temporary sense of vindication. Therefore, the position taken by the film is summarily balanced and thought provoking.
I do not generally “believe” in the death penalty for several reasons, many of which are expressed in the film. For one, I do not believe that the criminal justice system is capable of convicting the truly culpable with sufficient certainty. I would rather a hundred guilty persons serve a life sentence than have one innocent person be sentenced to death wrongfully.…
Dead Man Walking-MLA DEAD MAN WALKING Capital punishment, also known as the death penalty, is a controversial subject in modern day America. Should criminals be put to death for their crimes? Or should punishments be limited to prison terms? Americans lineup on both sides of the issue with some States favoring executions and others banning the practice. Tim Robbins's Dead Man Walking is a film which delved into this subject through the
At the beginning of the film, she is clearly disturbed by the nature of the crime, and the criminal's apparent lack of remorse. But as the film progresses, and the killer and the nun establish a human bond, Sister Helen increasingly believes he is worthy of being treated as a human being by the law. This, for Sister Helen means, being allowed to confess his sins, as all human
Dead Man Walking Sister Helen Prejean, gained popularity as an activist working to abolish the capital punishment wrote 'Dead Man Walking'. As a member of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Medaille, which she joined in 1957, she has lectured on this crucial subject of capital punishment appearing on ABC World Tonight, 60 Minutes, BBC World Service and NBC. THE BOOK 'DEAD MAN WALKING' and THE FILM 'DEAD MAN WALKING', DIRECTED
This paper will examine the film Dead Man Walking as a means of discussing the greater issue of capital punishment. This paper will make the argument that while capital punishment is largely not beneficial for society, it does have a place in the justice system in certain occasions. These circumstances largely involve remorseless serial killers who are unable to be rehabilitated. The 1995 film Dead Man Walking directed by Tim Robbins
A good example is the 1985 murder of convenience store clerk Cynthia Barlieb, whose murder was prosecuted by a district attorney bent on securing execution for Barlieb's killer (Pompeilo 2005). The original trial and all the subsequent appeals forced Barlieb's family, including four young daughters, to spend 17 years in the legal process - her oldest daughter was 8 years old when Cynthia was first shot, and 25 when
Capital Punishment Like abortion, the institution of capital punishment is a very divisive topic. The line dividing the supporters and opponents of capital punishment is variably drawn across political philosophies, race, sex and religion. The Governor of Illinois, not long ago, declared a moratorium on death penalty cases in his state. This essay is dedicated to a presentation of facts about capital punishment, without delving into personal opinions in support or
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