"The execution of Tropmann," written by a Russian writer Ivan Turgenev reflects his own experience and thoughts on a public execution that took place in Paris, France in 1870. The condemned man, Tropmann, was said to be the murderer of a family, children as well. Tropmann plead as not-guilty, but was still sentenced to death. The author describes the whole execution whilst him and a small group of selected visitors are shown the process of the execution. Throughout the text Turgenev’s tone is some-what guilty and condescending, he wrote this essay to convey his thought on public execution and capital punishment in general.
Without going into depth or over viewing the entire text and context clues, one would think the story is just that, a story. However, after identifying certain rhetorical devices and specific word chooses, it is easy to see that Turgenev is making an argument. This aspect of stealthiness alone is a good device used to sway the readers opinion. Also, by describing some scenes or situations that could easily have been left out he is showing the reader insight, for example he mentions Tropmann’s lawyer trying to tell the executioner Trapmenn is innocent because he is crazy and therefore was not in the right state of mind. Which rises the question, is execution for those of the wrong state of mind as well? Turgenev also described Tropmen as "youthful," and "boyish" with handsome features, he mentions how he can not imagine him to be a murderer just from the appearance of him. This elicits sympathy for Tropmann and the rising swell of guilt. He describes the crowd in a negative way, and always mentioning his apart-ness, as if he knows he is involved with something so very wrong, yet he’s trying to dissociate himself from the other people who are looking forward to the execution.
Turgenev is not pushing people to stop the death, he’s at the execution, but he goes home and writes this piece because he feels all this guilt. Unlike the crowd who disperses and continues living their normal lives, not having second thoughts, Turgenev cannot live this down. The purpose of this essay was to shed light to the people pf the 1800's who watched executions for entertainment, he wanted them to see the immorality of it all and feel guilty for wanting it to happen.
I agree with Turgenev and his negative view of the whole situation. I would not even be able to face Tropmann knowing that I could do nothing while a man was killed in front of me. Death is not a form of punishment, it should not be viewed as such. Everyone has their own opinions but death is such a major issue that it should not be up to us as humans to decide that, no murders no capital punishment, no suicides. Death is a natural thing, everyone dies yet it should not be up to us to pick and choose who dies, it should happen when it’s meant to. There should be bo such thing as a planned death.
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