why were public executions (guillotine) a huge form of entertainment?

Question

I specifically want info on the guillotine. please site your sources. thanks

Answer 1

18th century France did not exactly live in an entertainment based culture like we do today. It was not like tv or the news or movies; it was very present, and people did not view it from the safety and comfort of their sofas at home. It was not for fun; it served a very necessary function within the community.

Society at that time did not have the same highly developed psychology discourse about leaving a man in a cell where he can spend years reflecting upon his crime and the result of his actions. Executions were a technique of power. And not just royal power; there was a very complex judiciary system in France where they used the guillotine and there were many levels of government which could sentence and execute a person. Often it was done as a result of public pressure and prisoners were executed for crimes against the community as often as for crimes against the sovereign. They did not have a highly developed prison system in those days and simply banishing criminals would not have made towns very popular with their neighbours.

The guillotine was brought into use as a scientific and humane way to execute criminals because it was fast and efficient. After centuries of public executions involving the rack, the wheel, drawing and quartering, boiling in water or in oil, and burning at the stake, the public felt very progressive and civilized to be able to cleanly chop off the head and get it over and done with.

While it was not entertainment, it was a spectacle. The prisoner might be paraded around in a cart or a cage so that everybody could see him or her. There was a large and dramatic scaffold which would be built in the public square, proclamations would be read, and often there was some form of confession which was disclosed to the public, and the truth of a crime would be revealed. The citizens did not have todays luxury of being able to banish convicts and guilty persons from their sight, locked away in secret cells. The prisoner was punished in public so that everybody could see and know that justice was being done.

The action of the execution was a demonstration of the results of crime against society. Traditionally, magistrates attempted to make the punishment fit the crime; if you murder someone then you will yourself be killed. And this could be varied quite a bit depending on the exact circumstances and severity of the crime. Instituting the use of the guillotine was actually percieved as being very democratic and regulating; everybody condemned to death got the same punishment exactly.

I don't think there were very many people who thought going to see an execution was worth packing a picnic lunch for, but citizens who wanted to make sure that the king, the nobles, and the magistrates were not up to any funny business would have had good reason to want to be there to witness the workings of justice. In many cases where someone who was being unjustly punished caused upset with the public, the consequences could be serious; rioting, storming public buildings; a corrupt or unjust judge could very easily end up beneath the guillotine himself.

Like today, the people of France had very well founded suspicions about those who held power, and it was important for these things to be visible, to do justice for all to see.

Answer 2

It wasn't that the guillotine was the only huge form of entertainment, as far as executions went. The noose was very popular too, as well as firing squads.

One particular moment in history that could answer your question is the execution of Louis XVI and Queen Marie Antoinette. The French during the revolution became enthralled with the guillotine, and besides, who didn't want to see the people they hated get their head cut off? Having the head of the enemy is the ultimate display of power.

During this time (Around 1779), the French Revolution, the guillotine was highly used. It was not only used in France, however, the Guillotine and other variations of it were used in Britain and Germany too.

Here's a link with more info:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guillotine

If you want, go to the library and check out one of the many books titled "Marie Antoinette." Most of them are pretty excellent, especially the one that the movie was based off of.

Answer 3

I think partly so that people realized the punishment for various acts(seeing it brought it home very well, as did public hangings in America's past) and also because it was a very bloodthirsty time and people liked it.

Answer 4

Same reason people are going to watch "The Hills Have Eyes II."

Answer 5

For the SAME reason why people go bonkers over American Idol today...-because we LOVE to be "entertained", and we LOVE to see people get "eliminated". So you see, the Times haven't changed THAT much... :)

Answer 6

I assume for the same general reason that people nowadays watch reality TV and hope for nastiness to ensue.

Answer 7

more like crazy hating mob wanting to see some blood.
Those French really hate their nobles.

Answer 8

football wasnt invented yet