Page 1: The Power of Description and Humanity
The opening section of this non fiction narrative essay example establishes both the setting and moral framework through careful literary construction. In 1930s Burma, Orwell transforms his experience as a colonial officer into a powerful meditation on justice and humanity.
Quote: "condemned cells"
Highlight: Orwell's use of transferred epithet emphasizes both the physical and psychological imprisonment of those awaiting execution.
Example: The comparison of prison cells to "small animal cages" creates a powerful metaphor for dehumanization.
The narrative builds tension through careful observation of the prisoner's humanity, particularly in a pivotal moment:
Quote: "he stepped slightly aside to avoid a puddle on the path"
Highlight: This simple action serves as the essay's turning point, forcing both writer and reader to confront the fundamental humanity of the condemned.
Vocabulary: Juxtaposition - The contrasting of different elements, as seen in Orwell's pairing of "destroy" with "healthy conscious mind"
The essay culminates in a powerful scene at the gallows, where the prisoner's final religious invocations ("RAM! RAM! RAM! RAM!") are brutally cut short by the "sudden snap" of the execution.
Definition: Capital Punishment - The legally authorized killing of someone as punishment for a crime, also known as the death penalty.
