Analysis: Memories of a Dead Man Walking, by Sister Helen Prejean - Essay Example

of the of the Concerned 23 February “Memories of a Dead Man Walking” by Sister Helen Prejean In the book “Memories of a Dead Man Walking”, Sister Helen Prejean’s primary argument against the capital punishment is that it is utterly wrong, not only because the religion says so, but also because the statutory provision of capital punishment is inherently contrary to the recognized and established moral values and ethics. Just as a criminal killing is not right, so also, the legally allowed killing of a convict is as much an act of cruelty and injustice.

I her words, “… I definitely don’t support the death penalty. Not only is it sin because it says so in Bible, but it is just immorally wrong” (pp. 47). A single human life is connected to, and attached to many other human lives. So the criminal or legal killing of a person not only affects that individual, but also creates immense pain and agony for other people attached to one. Sister Helen Prejean arrived at this conclusion on the basis of her interaction with the convicted murderers and their friends and family members.

Being a nun, Sister Helen was more than aware of the Christian values of love and forgiveness. Yet, her opposition to capital punishment was not merely the outcome of an intense and dry theological catechism. It was more of a deeply felt and well meditated upon conviction, arrived at on the basis of her personal involvement in the inner life and emotional experiences of death row convicts. Her message for the intended audience is as much a voice of sanity and reason as an appeal to their emotion of empathy and compassion.