UnB 2011/1

Against Death Penalty

[1]     Those who judge and condemn, say that capital

punishment is necessary. Firstly, because it is necessary to

remove from the social community a member who has

[4] already injured it, and might injure it even more. If that is all,

a life sentence would suffice. What is the use of bringing

death? You may argue that one might escape from jail —

[7] keep better watch, then! Let there be no executioner where

the jailer suffices.

         One might also say society must avenge itself,

[10]society must punish. Neither one nor the other: vengeance is

an individual act, and punishment belongs to God. Society is

between the two; punishment is above it, vengeance is

[13] beneath it. Nothing so great or so small should be in its

sphere. Society should not punish in order to avenge itself; it

should correct, in order to improve!

[16]    The third and last reason remains, the theory of

examples. It is imperative to set examples. By the sight of the

fate inflicted on criminals, we must shock those who might

[19] otherwise be tempted to imitate them! Well; above all, we

deny the power of the example. We deny that the spectacle of

torment produces the desired effect. Rather than edifying the

[22] common people, it demoralizes them and blunts in them all

sensibility.

Victor Hugo. Le dernier jour d’un condamné, Paris, Eugène Renduel, 1832. pp XXII e XXIII (adapted).

According to the text above, judge the following item.