Page 1: Setting the Scene
George Orwell's "A Hanging" opens on a rainy morning in a Burmese prison, painting a grim picture of the colonial justice system. The author vividly describes the oppressive atmosphere and the dehumanizing conditions faced by the prisoners.
Highlight: The story begins with a powerful description: "It was in Burma, a sodden morning of the rains. A sickly light, like yellow tinfoil, was slanting over the high walls into the jail yard."
The setting is crucial in establishing the tone of the narrative. The condemned cells are described as "a row of sheds fronted with double bars, like small animal cages," emphasizing the inhumane treatment of the prisoners. This comparison sets the stage for the central theme of dehumanization that runs throughout the story.
Vocabulary: The term "condemned cells" refers to the area where prisoners awaiting execution are held.
Orwell introduces the main character, a Hindu prisoner, with a mix of pity and dark humor. The prisoner is described as "a puny wisp of a man, with a shaven head and vague liquid eyes," highlighting his vulnerability and the toll of imprisonment on his physical state.
Example: The author uses a simile to describe the prisoner's moustache as "absurdly too big for his body, rather like the moustache of a comic man on the films," creating a jarring contrast between the gravity of the situation and the almost comical appearance of the condemned man.
The preparation for the hanging is described in meticulous detail, emphasizing the mechanical and impersonal nature of the process. The warders' actions are portrayed as both forceful and oddly gentle, "with their hands always on him in a careful, caressing grip," illustrating the complex emotions involved in carrying out an execution.
Definition: Warders are prison guards or officers responsible for supervising and controlling prisoners.
The superintendent's impatience and casual attitude towards the impending execution further underscore the routine nature of this grim task in colonial Burma. His irritated comment, "For God's sake hurry up, Francis... The man ought to have been dead by this time," reveals a disturbing detachment from the gravity of taking a human life.
