Reaction Paper: “the Hanging of the Mouse”

802 Words4 Pages
Elizabeth Bishop’s “The Hanging of the Mouse”, is a short story that drew my attention and continued to challenge my beliefs regarding punishment. The author does a great job of describing the environment surrounding what was a traditional occurrence in the early days, the hanging of criminals. This particular story is written with animals portraying humans as the characters dealing with life’s lessons. Although, some characters believed justice was served, most had mixed feelings to the justification of a hanging. The point of a public hanging was an example to assure anyone and everyone that committing a crime is punishable by death, in retrospect a moral lesson. Particular Idea This story is based upon the death penalty and the feelings everyone takes that is involved. It is known that a hanging would be conducted in the early morning hours. A mouse is being executed by hanging for a crime that was not revealed. Nevertheless, the mouse was in panic and crying. Before the mouse was ushered out by two large beetles donned in armor, a large crowd had already formed to witness the execution. Setting the stage was a raccoon and his son. Giving the mouse his last rights and religious speech was a praying mantis that was completely uncomfortable with the morning event. After the kings messenger, a bullfrog read from a scroll pertaining to the mouse’s death sentence, the hanging took place. In the crowd witnessing the spectacle, was a large cat who held her baby in her mouth. Personally Relate This story impacted me in a way that most people could not understand. It leaves the impression and reality of just what Capital Punishment and the death penalty really is. In my profession, I am required to obtain evidence of a crime. Sometimes this evidence exonerates a suspect but at times, when this evidence is compiled together and used to prosecute a criminal,
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