Journal entry# 6 Ambrose Bierce

Siu Faat Jimmy Wong
English 48b
January 11, 2008
Professor Lankford

Quote:

“I might throw off the noose and spring into the stream. By diving I could evade the bullets and, swimming vigorously, reach the bank, take to the woods and get away home”.

Summary:

This is quoted in “An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge”. I chose this quote since it explained what it was going on in the second part of the story.

Response:

After reading the whole story, I thought I really had been fooled to believe that the man was still alive. I was not willing to be cheated in this way. Indeed, this quote really made me truly believe that the man really escaped in the death penalty. I felt so sorry about him and from this quote, I could see the man actually missed her family so much and wanted to see them again when his neck was already encircled by a rope. He did not know when he would fall down and break his neck. He just knew that his family was his no.1. It showed me that even though he realized that the chance for him to throw off the nooses and spring into the stream was almost impossible, he was so unwilling to be killed at that time. I understand that every convict who is sentenced to death must have the same feeling as he did. I feel so sorry and sad. As far as I know, America still has death penalty in this modern decade though it always calls itself to be the country with the highest degree of freedom. I can’t see the point that this kind of penalty is still not abolished. I understand that the convicts must have done something very bad to others. They may murder others, rape others or rob others. However, it is already in a past tense. Jesus says, “We have to forgive others seventy times seven.” Therefore, why can’t we just look forward and give him/her a chance to make a return to the society instead of ending his/her life?