Helen Prejean

Imagine a place where the whole society would run on the concept of an eye for an eye. Some people might think that it is fair and people deserve to be treated the way they treat others, but really, let us think about it carefully. Would you retaliate against a person who stole something from you? Would you ask the government to rape a convicted rapist? When it comes to vengeance in the case of theft or rape, people do not exactly want an eye for an eye. They think putting the convicted criminal…

feeling is longed for by all. Each must make an effort for another to feel these very moments that impact their existence. Compassion and dependency abolish dehumanization. Through analysing sacrifices in “Memories of a Dead Man Walking”, Sister Helen Prejean reveals compassion aids in demoralization. Compassion is the medicine that cures dehumanization symptoms. “The man was all alone. He had no one to visit him, and it was like a current in a river: I got…

human nor his dignity that comes from being created by God. However, it is supported by the words and actions of Sr. Helen Prejean,…

reporter who tried to save David’s life knowing he was innocent. Sister Helen was a nun sent to talk to the murderer, Matthew, to save his soul. Both of the women represent caring and understanding people, which is how most women are known in our society. Although the women have some similarities, there is one big difference. The audience watches as Bitsey realizes David did not actually murder Constance. In Dead Man Walking, Sister Helen knew Matthew committed the crime and never tried to help…

The Death Penalty: Justified for Limited Reasons Capital Punishment is considered to be a controversial topic in the United States and will continue to be for many years. Surely some states do not agree with the death penalty, but there are certain types of murderers who should receive capital punishment. The death of numerous people at once or a killer who murders a large number of people at different times are considered to be heinous and should receive capital punishment. Murders involving…

Many people do not really understand what goes on throughout the stages of death row and it is often not publicized. In the words of Helen Prejean she believes and many would agree “ that if executions were made public, the torture and violence would be unmasked, and we would be shamed into abolishing executions”(627). It should not be necessary to prove to people the cruelness of the death…

Initially, I was under the impression that this class was going to be a joke. I had lived in the South for 21 years and thought I already knew everything about the South. After reading Dr. Eckard’s syllabus, I knew this was not going to be the case. From religion to southern dialect, this class presented the opportunity to learn more about the South that I had been exposed too. My three favorite posts this year was the discussion of family and gender, religion in the South, and The Evening Hour.…

Dead Man Walking retells a true story of Sister Helen Prejean, who is a Roman Catholic nun who attempts to bring salvation to a convicted murderer and rapist on Death Row named Matthew Poncelet. Matthew writes a letter to Sister Helen, asking her to take on his case to compile a final appeal, one week before his scheduled execution. She agrees to meet with him, and decides to work with Matthew. Matthew is unashamed to be a racist along with a sexist, and to feel no remorse for the crimes he has…

Today, society has in its mind what it is called “death penalty” for those who “deserve it.” According to Prejean Helen, in the article “the death of innocents,” death penalty is “the most severe form of corporal punishment as it requires law enforcement officers to kill (to cause the death of, to end the life) of the convicted offender” (114). Different views are heard about this subject all around the world. There is much debate in whether or not the death penalty should be abolished. There…

Matthew Poncelet reaches out to a nun, Sister Helen Prejean, for help in his appeal. Sister Helen found an attorney, Hilton Barber, to fight for Matthew’s appeal. At the first appeal for a stay of execution Hilton makes a few very compelling points that make you question the death penalty and how humane it really is. As the movie goes on, it has more moments like that one where you question am I truly for or against the death penalty. The moment when Sister Helen is talking to Mary Beth and…