ipl-logo

Historical References In Clarence Darrow's 'A Plea For Mercy'

1283 Words6 Pages

In May, 1924, two boys, Nathan Leopold Jr. and Richard Loeb, sought to commit the perfect crime: kidnapping and murdering their 14-year-old neighbor, Robert Franks. However, instead of executing the perfect crime, they were caught the following day and were sure to be hung. Their families hired a defense attorney by the name of Clarence Darrow who made one of the most influential and well-known speeches against the death penalty: “A Plea for Mercy.” Darrow utilizes historical references, logical and emotional appeals, anaphora, and persona, to sway the court to not employ the death penalty for Leopold and Loebs’ murder. Darrow explains the relationship between past wars and contemporary themes and a large part of that is society changing to be more forgiving. He also uses these devices to show that society is partly to blame for this butchery and could have avoided this ridiculous situation had they changed. His most powerful device, however, is emotion, by reminding the court of how these boys’ families will be crushed and their future generations shamed, should the court decide on the death penalty. Darrow’s perspective is that war transformed society, which then taught these boys to place a cheap value on human life.
Darrow uses historical references to establish that the world has been drastically influenced by brutality and these ways of violence have been taught to the younger generations. He states: “These boys were brought up in it. The tales of death were in their

Show More
Related

  • Summary Of Getting Life By Michael Morton

    1667 Words  | 7 Pages

    Introduction The book that I selected is called “Getting Life” by Michael Morton, who is a man that was wrongfully convicted of killing his wife in Texas in 1986. This book takes us from a happy young couple to the day of the murder, through the investigation into his wife’s murder, Michael’s trial and conviction, 25 years in prison, appeals, release from prison, and reintegration into society. One unique fact about this case is that is the first case where the prosecutor in a wrongful conviction case was subsequently convicted of prosecutorial misconduct, stripped of their law license and sentenced to serve time in jail.

    Read More

  • Compare And Contrast Leopold And Loeb Murder

    1836 Words  | 8 Pages

    The Leopold and Loeb murder was very important; the want for the most perfect murder, and killing just for the thrill of it made a lasting impact on the shaken American people who wanted Leopold and Loeb to receive the death penalty. HISTORICAL CONTEXT America has evolved in many ways since our founding in 1776, 241 years ago. A Declaration of Independence from Britain, a Civil War leading to the abolition of slavery from the Union, two World Wars ending fascism, a Great Depression, and the Civil Rights movement. These are some of

    Read More

  • Roper V. Simmons Essay

    872 Words  | 4 Pages

    The most important issue that must be addressed in this case is the principle of the “evolving standards of decency” and the uses of a national consensus. The “evolving standards of decency” were developed by Trop v. Dulles and have been implemented in one way or another in all of the precedents dealing with “cruel and unusual” punishment. It is important to treat these principles as an important aspect of “cruel and unusual” punishment jurisprudence, therefore turning from these set of principles would be foolish and a disregard for every precedent. However, it is important to acknowledge that each case satisfies the standards by using a different method; some use the presence or lack of state legislature as a judgment of consensus while others look at foreign countries.

    Read More

  • Time To Assert American Values Summary

    548 Words  | 3 Pages

    The arguments and claims presented in “Rough Justice” are not just briefly explained. Instead, the author develops and conveys his message consistently throughout the whole passage, avoiding any illogical claims or fallacies. For example, the author constantly reiterates how “‘In Britain and in America, they keep very strongly to the presumption of innocence’” (Reyes 182). By being persistent and and reiterating his message, Alejandro Reyes avoids the use of illogical

    Read More

  • Mercy Disborough Case

    583 Words  | 3 Pages

    The results of the trial in Stamford was that Mercy Disborough was temporarily convicted of witchcraft while Goody Clawson was acquitted. The consequences for Mercy Disborough were that despite months and jail and continued peer accusation, she was acquitted. The consequences for the townspeople are blurrier, but it is evident that persistent hysteria was not one of them. The results of the trial in Stamford were largely reigned in from the massive hysteria and mass convictions associated with contemporary witch trials by the law.

    Read More

  • The Rescue Defence Of Capital Punishment By Steve Aspenson

    744 Words  | 3 Pages

    Capital punishment has long been a heavily debated issue. In his article, “The Rescue Defence of Capital Punishment,” author Steve Aspenson make a moral argument in favor of capital punishment on the grounds that that is the only way to bring about justice and “rescue” murder victims. Aspenson argues as follows: 1. We have a general, prima facie duty to rescue victims from increasing harm. 2.

    Read More

  • Why Is George Milton Wrong

    754 Words  | 4 Pages

    Georgie Milton did something not many people have the guts to do, he took the life of his best friend to save him from the torture that awaited him, but, he took the life of another man and he took this life with the intention of murder. Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, there is no difference between euthanasia and murder; and to this indictment, George Milton has pleaded not guilty. If I am to prove him otherwise, you must find him so. Lennie Small has been described to us as a caring giant. He had no bad intentions; and it is fair to say that our witnesses have provided us with sufficient evidence to support my argument.

    Read More

  • Just Mercy Thesis

    637 Words  | 3 Pages

    There are many victims of unfortunate circumstances in the world today, yet some of these results could have been easily avoided. In the novel, Just Mercy, the author Bryan Stevenson addresses many cases in which children under the age of 18 are incarcerated within the adult criminal justice system. By treating children as adults in the criminal justice system their innocence and undeveloped person, become criminalized. These children become dehumanized and only viewed as full-fledged criminals and as a result society offers no chance sympathy towards them. Stevenson argues that children tried as adults have become damaged and traumatized by this system of injustice.

    Read More

  • The Farm Angola Documentary Analysis

    546 Words  | 3 Pages

    Eventually down the road, Wilbert has lectured at universities, seminars, national and international conferences, and at meetings of organizations for the reform of the criminal justice system and against the death penalty. He also has been a consultant to both federal and state capital defense teams on dozens of cases around the country. Lastly, he also become an author writing about the American criminal justice system and the prison system. In the final analysis, from Wilbert Rideau becoming a strong positive representative to the lack of empathy that Vincent Simmons received, even though his case seemed a bit open and shut, to Eugene ‘Bishop’ Tannehill making a full turn around becoming a preacher to his once fellow inmates.

    Read More

  • Death Penalty In Truman Capote's In Cold Blood

    596 Words  | 3 Pages

    In In Cold Blood, the issue over the death penalty is prominent. Did Perry and Dick deserve to die? Should the severity of one’s crime determine one’s fate? Although Truman Capote writes the novel in a straightforward, “from a distance” way, he conveys, through his characters, theme, and plot development, that the death penalty is an issue that should be looked at from all sides and that the legal system itself is the real issue at hand, and that the death penalty is used as a means to suppress the distress and indignation of the citizens surrounding the case, instead of suppressing the victim himself.

    Read More

  • Edward Mars Dbq

    636 Words  | 3 Pages

    Homicides are unlike many others, since one’s intentions are discrete as soon as they have a reason to murder. Threatened obligations are innumerable due to the character's personality and their way of thinking into certain circumstances, although a distinct detail can affect the situation. When little to none consequences have any impact to the “murderer” who caused victim's injury, or death, they are responsible regardless of what their intentions are. For instance, a distressed officer, U.S. Marshal Edward Mars, pleaded to end his miserable life due to the pain he was suffering from the shrapnel. Everyone in the camp suggests the cruel deed.

    Read More

  • Essay On Just Mercy

    442 Words  | 2 Pages

    In Bryan Stevenson’s Just Mercy, he writes to illustrate the injustices of the judicial system to its readers. To do so, Stevenson utilizes multiple writing styles that provide variety and helps keep the reader engaged in the topic. Such methods of his include the use of anecdotes from his personal experiences, statistics, and specific facts that apply to cases Stevenson had worked on as well as specific facts that pertain to particular states. The most prominent writing tool that Stevenson included in Just Mercy is the incorporation of anecdotes from cases that he himself had worked on as a nonprofit lawyer defending those who were unrightfully sentenced to die in prison.

    Read More

  • Ethical Theory Of Immanuel Kant's Categorical Imperative

    890 Words  | 4 Pages

    The end does not justify the means. This was the principal ethical theory of Immanuel Kant and made up his ‘Categorical Imperative’, a deontological argument which showcased how certain actions are fundamentally wrong, such as murder, lying or torture and can therefore, never be justified. Contrastingly a utilitarian would claim that the ends do in fact justify the means and would enact a focus on outcomes in deciding whether or not an action is morally permissible. In 2002 Jakob Von Metzler, a boy of just twelve years, was kidnapped and a police officer threatened the kidnapper, Magnus Gafgen, with torture in an attempt to find and save the child. Gafgen told the officer that he had killed the boy and then disclosed the location of the body.

    Read More

  • Rhetorical Analysis Of Clarence Darrow's 'A Plea For Mercy'

    733 Words  | 3 Pages

    In Darrow’s closing argument he gives his famed “A Plea for Mercy” to the judge. This plea not only acted as a conclusion to his defense, but it also acted as an introduction the eradication of the death penalty. Darrow uses a mix of ethos, pathos, logos, and other rhetorical devices to impose a merciful effect on his audience in hopes to reduce his clients punishment and the use of capital punishment. Darrow gracefully uses all three appeals when referring to the rise of crime after war “I know that it has followed every war; and I know it has influenced these boys so that life was not the same to them as it would have been if the world had not been made red with blood.

    Read More

  • The Death Penalty In Stephen Nathanson's An Eye For An Eye?

    901 Words  | 4 Pages

    Death Penalty is a very ominous punishment to discuss. It is probably the most controversial and feared form of punishment in the United States. Many are unaware, but 31 of the 52 states have the Death penalty passes as an acceptable punishment. In the following essay, I will agree and support Stephen Nathanson's statement that "Equality retributivism cannot justify the death penalty. " In the reading, "An Eye for an Eye?", Nathanson gives objections to why equality retributivism is morally acceptable for the death penalty to be legal.

    Read More

More about Historical References In Clarence Darrow's 'A Plea For Mercy'

Open Document