Death Penalty, confusing

Inspired by true events the film, DEAD MAN WALKING, is the story of a spiritual woman who must face the results of a vindictive nation. She is asked by a condemned (to die) man for spiritual counseling. The man in question, Mathew Poncelet has been tried by a justice system, which is accountable to society, for the death of two teenage lovers. In order to save his soul, Sister Helen Prejean, must help Mathew understand the teachings of Jesus. Involved as well are the victims families and their confusion and grief over the death of their children. Overall, it can be said that the situation involves an entire public and culture of which the crime, criminal, victims and results are of long term consequences. As the viewer of the story involving of all of the above, it makes us question the concept of a death penalty.

Our feeling for the various people makes us explore within our selves the feelings of hate, sympathy, anger, compassion and helplessness. These feelings effect our emotions, passions, values and most important of all our morals. To put a firm

. . .

View the whole essay, without interruption

At times though, the justice system may become contradictory upon itself. grip on our morals, society has turned to both justice and spirituality, both of which were depicted in this story. So the point of capital punishment might be to punish the criminal, prevent him from doing any other similar crime and to deter any future criminals.

Work Cited

Runes, Dagobert D, Pictorial History of Philosophy (Philosophical Library, Inc. We still have had a terrible crime committed and grieving families of the victims and of the families of the criminal, post death penalty. She had posed the question, would Jesus pull the switch? The ‘Golden Rule’ according to Jesus was “Whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them”(Runes vii). A ‘perfect duty’ would be universal. Therefore, according to the sixth commandment, society is just as guilty as is the criminal in that they have killed a man of similar mortal stature to his or her own. Some might say that this is a way he may have alienated himself from society and is therefore subject to the sociological justice system. She had relied on the teachings of Jesus to guide her and give her strength. Examples would be not to lie or not to kill. The sixth commandment says ‘you shall not kill’. Therefore, the ‘perfect duty’ would be contradictory in that society has killed a person, one of his or her own as well. If we look at Mathew in the story DEAD MAN WALKING we would clearly see that he had broken this commandment.

Approximate Word count = 951
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)

Simply subscribe to view this paper, and 100,000 others.