The Colonel, The Punishment, And Capital Punishment

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The three poems, “The Colonel” by Carolyn Forche, “Punishment” by Seamus Heaney, and “Capital Punishment” by Sherman Alexie, gives each reader a different view of punishment. They each give a different angle of their view, yet they all seem to favor punishment. Everyone in their life deserves a punishment for one reason or another for something they have done. These authors wanted to show a strong feeling towards the punishment. All three authors focused on punishment, however they have expressed it in their own meanings and used them in different situations. “The Colonel”, is narrated by Forche in first person. At first the poem gives a feel of comfort by explaining how the wife would bring in coffee, the daughter would file her nails and the son would go out at night, but then says there was a pistol on the cushion. Later, Forche explains how the Colonel dumped a bag of human ears on the table. This shows he is not against the punishment and does not mind it at all. “Punishment”, begins with the speeker, who seems to be the poet sees a girl lying dead. He describes the girl, which lets the audience feel as if they were right there with the speeker.. “she was a barked sapling that is dug out oak- bone, brain firkin: her shaved head like a stubble of black corn, her blindfold a soiled bandage, her noose a ring to store the memories of love” (Heaney, 1167). The punishment here is she was clearly beat to death, and the audience feels pain for the girl. However, the speaker, first says “my poor scapegoat” (1167), and we feel as if he feels the sorrow the readers do. Shortly after he says “ I almost love you” (1167). Which leads us to believe the speaker feels this woman should of received this punishment and has had a past with her. “Capital Punishment” is told in first person, a cook is preparing a last meal for an Indian man. He says “ I sit here in the dark

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