Importance Of Torture In Elizabethan

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From the beginning of time torture has been used as a form of punishment and a way to warn others not to disobey authority. In today's society the use of torture is frowned upon; however, in Elizabethan times torture prevailed in society. Torture was used as a form of punishment because of the lack of development in the prison system. Prisons were used to hold criminals before their fate was determined at a trial instead of acting as their sentence. Examples of torture in history has been preserved through literature. Even Shakespeare has demonstrated crime and punishment throughout his many plays. Punishment and torture played an important role in Elizabethan culture and were necessary in order to maintain power.
Through the history of England,
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The disputes within the country created a need for strict rules and punishments for breaking the law. As a result of fear of the throne being overthrown torture was inflicted on anyone who dared to commit treason. Treason as well as matricide, murder, robbery, larceny, rape, conflicting religious views, and arson were all considered to be capital offenses and were given the highest form of punishment-- torture leading to death. All accused of these crimes were given a trial; however, the trail was often unfair and the accused rights were limited. Those accused and convicted of treason were to be hanged, but not killed by hanging, then cut down, cut open and disemboweled. Then their internal organs were to be thrown into boiling water/fire once this was completed, the victim’s arms and legs would be cut off. Finally, the victim would be beheaded and then their head would be placed on a big stick outside of the city in order to warn others. Wifes who murdered their husbands were burned at the stake. Those who were convicted of …show more content…
Public beatings were very common as punishment for smaller crimes such as petty theft or free speech. Additionally, the stocks were another way that used publicity as a punishment. The prisoner's hands and head would be locked down and the convict would have to sit in the middle of the town while common folk walked by while teasing and sometimes throwing objects at the victim. Notably, women had fewer rights and were not treated equal to men, because of this imbalance special punishments were created for the punishment and torture of women. Women’s actions were often judged more harshly than men’s actions because women were viewed as inferior they had fewer rights, making it easier for them to violate the law. A common device used to restrain women was called a scold’s bridle; the bridle was worn over the face acting as a gag in order to prevent the women from speaking, some bridles also had spikes in order to further prevent speaking. Masks were often made of metal and were worn similarly to a ski mask; some bridals had leashes attached to them so that the women could be paraded around town. Alternatively, a device given the name of a ducking stool was used to punish women. The dunking stool was a contraption in which the victim was strapped into a chair and continuously forced underwater for varying amounts of time, sometimes only the shock of the temperature

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