Short essay 'A Hanging' by George OrwellRead the essay. Discuss the central theme. In your answer you should pay particular attention to: structure, narrative point of view. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay “A Hanging” is a famous essay written by George Orwell. It is set in Burma in 1931 and recalls Orwell's time as an officer in the British Imperial Police in the 1920s. Orwell recounts in first-person narrative the execution of a Hindu prisoner which evokes a powerful epiphany in him. The writer uses a number of literary techniques such as setting, characterization, irony, and linguistic techniques to convey his message that taking the life of another human being and capital punishment are against human nature. From the very beginning of the essay, Orwell reveals through his description of the setting his inherent feelings towards the impending execution. He describes the prison yard as being covered in “a sickly light, like yellow tinfoil.” The use of pathetic fallacy adds an ominous atmosphere creating a dark and disturbing mood. The color yellow also highlights the poor health caused by the terrible conditions to which the prisoners are subjected. The writer goes on to talk about these conditions: "the condemned cells... like small animal cages" to express how inhumane their living conditions are. The dark and lonely atmosphere that permeates the prison environment is made known: "a trumpet sound, desolately thin in the humid air". All of this infers Orwell's growing unhappiness with the treatment of prisoners and discomfort with capital punishment. Furthermore, Orwell's characterization of the condemned man is vital to conveying his message. The prisoner is "a puny man", which suggests that he is extremely weak and unthreatening, this is in contrast to the unnecessarily harsh measures taken by the prison guards to restrain him. The Hindu man is “chained,” “handcuffed” and his arms are “tied tightly at his sides.” This vivid description continues to suggest Orwell's harsh treatment and growing opposition not only to the hanging itself but also to the way the condemned are treated until they die. He is described as having "liquid, vague eyes", which underline the idea that he has accepted his fate and is beyond fighting or trying to escape. By describing the prisoner in this way, Orwell humanizes him by showing that despite the crime he committed (which is never revealed), he is a human being and this treatment and sentence are unforgivable. Orwell uses irony to illustrate the tragedy of capital punishment, criticizing the apathetic attitudes towards execution, the treatment of prisoners and the lament of the brutal reality of death. The first example of irony is when a dog escapes into the prison yard. At this point, we see that the treatment of animals is better than that of prisoners and while the dog is allowed to roam free, the prisoners are locked in cages. Even the dog, an animal, ironically shows more humanity than any other participant in the execution. "He rushed towards the prisoner and, jumping up, tried to lick his face." The dog goes straight towards the prisoner opposite one of the officers. Orwell uses symbolism here to suggest that all people are equal regardless of circumstances. Furthermore, once again the emotional reaction is described through the dog's behavior: "he stopped suddenly, barked and then retreated to a corner of the courtyard" the choice.