Humanity in A Hanging by George Orwell Essay Example For Students

Humanity in A Hanging by George Orwell Essay Humanity in A Hanging by George Orwell In the essay A Hanging by George Orwell, there are distinct references to a deeper humanity of the situation, as well as a genuine awareness of humanitys ambivalence. There are two powerful examples in the essay that illuminates this contradiction. First, Orwell employs references to animal captivity, and provides a startling contrast to the brutal living conditions of the prisoners with an event of animalistic affection. Also, Orwell explores the duplicity of the human conscience, again, inspired by a seemingly meaningless event: the prisoner avoiding the puddle on his way to being hanged. Such minor, yet crucial details are what make Orwell such an excellent writer-he sees the world as it is: full of wonder and ugliness. Orwell describes the condemned prisoners as brown silent men squatting at the inner bars, with their blankets wrapped around them. He makes them seem very much like caged animals in his description-the prisoners are, after all, waiting for death in small animal cages. The prisoner to be put to death is removed from his cell by six Indian warders. On his first appearance Orwell remarks that he is a puny wisp of a man, with a shaven head and vague liquid eyes, and that the prisoner wore an absurd moustache. Orwells initial description of the Hindu seems hardly human, ridiculous, not worth a care. The Hindu is handled in a careful caressing grip, Orwell observes, although this care does not exceed the caution used in handling a struggling fish. Ironically, a dreadful thing occurs, a dog enters the scene innocent of what is about to happen, and begins to play with the prisoner causing dismay among everyone present. This simple display of affection by the dog, forces them to see the terrible reality of what their doing: ending a mans life. The animalistic treatment of the man begins to dissolve with the appearance of a real, playful animal, compelling them to see him as a conscious, thinking person. Similarly, a small rational act of the prisoner disturbs Orwells conscience. Orwell notices the prisoner stepping slightly aside to avoid a puddle on the path, simultaneously he sees the mystery, the unspeakable wrongness of what they are about to do: end the mans life when it is in full tide. Orwell is mortified by the realization that in a few minutes time with a sudden snap one of us would be gone-one mind less, one world less. Orwell begins to feel a kinship of humanity with the condemned man. It is here that we see Orwells ambivalence: he indicts himself and his companions for acting against their true feelings. Perhaps not all present at the hanging share Orwells compassion. The superintendent, at least, seems troubled by his conscience. Orwell characterizes him as reticent towards what is about to take place. Twice Orwell describes him prodding the ground with his stick with his head downcast. Instead of cancelling the execution, the hanging is pressed on with even more haste, for the sake of their combined consciences-the prisoners cries, even muffled by the cloth bag are unbearable to the audience in the small yard. Once the execution is over (as well as the cries to God), the superintendent pokes the body with his stick, remarking: Hes all right.' But there is no way the dead man is all right-hes simply dead. It is the superintendent and the others who are now all right: their guilt dies as quickly as the prisoners cries for help. The following breakfast seemed quite a homely, jolly scene after the hanging, Orwell writes. An enormous relief had come upon us now that the job was done. .ua3ac7c06e2f178e13b7bff43cc8bdf3b , .ua3ac7c06e2f178e13b7bff43cc8bdf3b .postImageUrl , .ua3ac7c06e2f178e13b7bff43cc8bdf3b .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .ua3ac7c06e2f178e13b7bff43cc8bdf3b , .ua3ac7c06e2f178e13b7bff43cc8bdf3b:hover , .ua3ac7c06e2f178e13b7bff43cc8bdf3b:visited , .ua3ac7c06e2f178e13b7bff43cc8bdf3b:active { border:0!important; } .ua3ac7c06e2f178e13b7bff43cc8bdf3b .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .ua3ac7c06e2f178e13b7bff43cc8bdf3b { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .ua3ac7c06e2f178e13b7bff43cc8bdf3b:active , .ua3ac7c06e2f178e13b7bff43cc8bdf3b:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .ua3ac7c06e2f178e13b7bff43cc8bdf3b .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .ua3ac7c06e2f178e13b7bff43cc8bdf3b .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .ua3ac7c06e2f178e13b7bff43cc8bdf3b .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .ua3ac7c06e2f178e13b7bff43cc8bdf3b .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .ua3ac7c06e2f178e13b7bff43cc8bdf3b:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .ua3ac7c06e2f178e13b7bff43cc8bdf3b .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .ua3ac7c06e2f178e13b7bff43cc8bdf3b .ua3ac7c06e2f178e13b7bff43cc8bdf3b-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .ua3ac7c06e2f178e13b7bff43cc8bdf3b:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Animal Testing (1822 words) Essay One felt an impulse to sing, to break into a run, to snigger. All at once everyone began chattering gaily. They all seem to be relieved that this horrible deed is out of the way and they can go on with the normalities of prison life. These people seem only concerned with their own feelings, and not of the death of a man. They are able to eat and drink with the dead man only a hundred yards away; being distanced from their act consoles them. The hundred yards that separates them may as well be a million-the act is largely forgotten. George Orwells experiences in Burma reveal the hideous contradiction in all human beings; Orwell shows that he has a great understanding of the ambivalence of humanity, taken from his own life experience. He never once mentions the condemned mans guilt: Orwell is concerned with .