I was wondering if anybody could shed some light on a query I have?. For centuries the public hangman was a person of ridicule and hate, despised by the populace and shunned by all decent folk.
Then by the late 19th century they had almost turned into cult figures, culminating into the Pierrepont dynasty, I’m not entering a debate on the validity of public execution, would just like views as to why the change in concept.
2007-06-06 10:22:20 · 5 answers · asked by craw 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Cultures & Groups ➔ Other - Cultures & Groups
Neither vilain nor hero but a sort of street theatre?
Look at the way a public execution in Britain was viewed as a jolly day out for all the family.
I'm sure if Parliament voted for public executions to begin again tomorrow, ticket sales would really boost the nation's coffers... now there's an idea, Tony.. you have an un-necessary war to finance and you want the Daily Mail to thinik you're tough on crime, don't you?
2007-06-06 10:32:25 · answer #1 · answered by AgProv 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
From the late nineteenth century when long drop hanging was standard in the UK there was a requirement for executions to be quick and painless. The executioner therefor needed to be competent at his job, neither leaving prisoners dancing on the rope nor decapitated by too longer drop. This, together with the ability to quickly pinion and shackle the prisoner quickly with minimal fuss elevated the executioner to the status of a professional.
2007-06-06 10:37:21 · answer #2 · answered by Clive 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I can understand the villain thing, obviously people are going to dislike the man who kills people, possibly friends and family. They were probably terrified of him as well, in his black hood and with his power to take life and get away with it. Then again, people are always attracted to power and executions were sources of entertainment for everyone. Maybe they also admired his courage to be in contact with death so often when others might be squeamish. I don't really see how being able to kill people in cold blood is something admirable though. Anyway, the change might have happened quite easily with some authority figure inviting them to tea and the sheep following. It's kinda like the crowd psychology thing where everyone just copies someone who takes the lead.
2007-06-06 10:34:04 · answer #3 · answered by toodlepipandcheerio 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
probably to do with methods of execution, also public or private
and then the evolution of law and "fairness".
nowadays it is still considered barbaric but the nature of the crimes that go with execution often make the execution "popular" because of no other known remedy for these crimes.
whereas in days gone past executions were commonplace for just "survival crimes", so the public was less supportive of these executions and the people that carried them out.
2007-06-10 05:03:49 · answer #4 · answered by tim 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
never given him a thought .....don't want to ... never will do ..... and as to cult figure ...no ..he person who ha s no beginning no end ...WHO ....he the executioner ...never heard of or cult figure he always had mask over face and so be it ...as bad as the villains me thinks how could he take another life without remorse .......no excuse ...think villains who take others life should serve until dying repenting there misdeed day ..suffering
2007-06-08 12:53:05 · answer #5 · answered by bobonumpty 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋