Charles Dickens Views on Public Execution
By AmberLynn
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104615)
United States
February 28, 2017 10:39pm CST
I am watching the show that I referred to earlier, Murder Maps, and was intrigued when I found that Charles Dickens gave his opinion on Public Execution to The Times (this would be The London Times).
I did a quick search and found a picture of the actual article that was published. He wrote this after witnessing the hanging of The Mannings a couple who wa accused and convicted of murdering a man and then fled (or attempted to at any rate) to the far corners of Britain to escape.
Luckily the police force in London had become more incoprorated some years earlier, and their far reaches and new sciences enabled them to solve the crime.
In any case, I believe that Charles Dickens was right. That Public Executions only brought about public indecency and caused people to act inhumane. Charles Dickens didn't believe that executions weren't a necessity, just that they should be done privately.
The link provided is the letter he wrote to the editor of the newspaper and below it you will see a bit of background about it. It is stated there that it would be 20 more years before executions were held inside or prisons.
I figured I would share the article for those who appreciate history like I do.
https://www.bl.uk/collection-items/mr-charles-dickens-and-the-execution-of-the-mannings-reprinted-from-the-times
4 people like this
8 responses
@Poppylicious (11134)
• United Kingdom
1 Mar 17
It was a form of entertainment for people who normally had none. It was probably akin to watching celebrities make fools of themselves on telly. It's probably even the same sort of people who do these, close in mindset, but distant by 150 years. The 'let them hang!' brigade in the media are the sort who would have enjoyed being the baying mob at public executions!
2 people like this
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104615)
• United States
1 Mar 17
I am sure you could even say these people today descended from those who enjoyed the public executions back then.
Yes, executions would have been a form of entertainment in that world, but also a means to show the public what could happen if they were found guilty of crimes.
@kevin1877uk (36987)
•
1 Mar 17
Sound really interesting, I will take a look at it later today, getting tired and should be sleeping now lol.
1 person likes this
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104615)
• United States
1 Mar 17
Well, it is around 5 am there! Or atleast, when you posted this. You will have to stop the late nights when you get the job at the hospital.
2 people like this
@kevin1877uk (36987)
•
1 Mar 17
@ScribbledAdNauseum lol I know, oh well, 5:32am here.
2 people like this
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104615)
• United States
1 Mar 17
@kevin1877uk Might as well not go to bed at all!
2 people like this
@katsmeow1213 (28716)
• United States
1 Mar 17
Public executions didn't end until the 1930's..
I sort of like the idea of a public execution. Imagine if someone close to you were killed, and especially in a terrible way.. Wouldn't you love to see the person who brought harm, fear, and pain to that loved one get executed?
I think it was more or less a way of closure and revenge for those close to the victims.
I'm not sure I could stomach watching one unless I was extremely angry at the person being executed. It's not like I'd go for the fun of it.. I'd have to really be filled with hatred towards that person.
@katsmeow1213 (28716)
• United States
2 Mar 17
@ScribbledAdNauseum I agree some of the reasoning back then was ill advised..
I'm not sure if the families of the victims may still watch.. I hope to never find out. But that's still not public..
1 person likes this
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104615)
• United States
2 Mar 17
Not all executions were for crimes that we would consider heinous enough though. History tells ua that there were even children hung for things like petty theft. We look at that today and realize it was most assuredly driven by starvation and the overwhelming need to survive.
I don't believe i'd want to see an execution performed on a child, that's for sure.
I think, perhaps, I'd want to see the execution of an individual who killed or severely harmed a family or friend, though. I think we can do that today though can't we? The movies and t.v. lead us to believe that close family as well as the attorneys of both parties can be present for the execution of the individual.
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104615)
• United States
3 Mar 17
@katsmeow1213 You are right, it isn't public. I am also glad that they treat the younger criminals different that they did back then.
@responsiveme (22923)
• India
1 Mar 17
This reminds me of ...the tale of two cities.
1 person likes this
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104615)
• United States
1 Mar 17
I suppose that is your favorite book by Charles Dickens?
1 person likes this
@responsiveme (22923)
• India
2 Mar 17
@ScribbledAdNauseum Yes, it is.Thougfh I like Oliver Twist too.
1 person likes this
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104615)
• United States
1 Mar 17
Yes, and they are now private affairs. Though I do think that the accused counsel, the accused family as well as the victims family can be present for the executions today.
@snowy22315 (208776)
• United States
1 Mar 17
This article kind of makes me think if I had the opportunity to witness an execution would I do so? I might go, but I don't think I would actually watch the execution. I close my eyes for grisly scenes in movies. I am not much for blood and gore, or aphyxation and stuff..murder scenes in the Sopranos didn't bother me though.
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104615)
• United States
1 Mar 17
I think if you were to have witnessed executions in those days, you wouldn't need to have your eyes open at all. I think a lot of people got a sick joy out of it, and made a lot of uproar. Not just with The Mannings Execution but others as well.
I think I'd like to be in the crowd of one of these, but only if the people being hung had done something very atrocious like murder. So many were hung for what we consider petty crimes today.
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104615)
• United States
1 Mar 17
i was particularly speaking historically. However, I am also more for life imprisonment than I am for executing a person.
