“A Hanging” is a famous essay written by George Orwell. The action takes place in Burma in 1931 and recalls Orwell's time as an officer in the British Imperial Police in the 1920s. Orwell recounts in the first person the execution of a Hindu prisoner which evokes in him a powerful revelation. The writer uses a range of literary techniques such as setting, characterization, irony, and linguistic techniques to convey his message that killing another human being and capital punishment are against human nature. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get the original essay From the beginning of the essay, Orwell reveals through his description of the definition of his inherent feelings towards the upcoming execution. He describes the prison yard as being covered in a “sick light like yellow tinfoil.” The use of the pathetic fallacy adds an ominous atmosphere creating a dark and disturbing mood. The color yellow also highlights the poor health caused by the appalling conditions the prisoners were subjected to. The writer goes on to refer to these conditions: “the condemned cells… like cages for small animals” to express how inhumane their living conditions are. The dark and lonely atmosphere that permeates the prison environment is revealed: "a bugle sound, desolate, rarefied in the humid air." All of this involves Orwell's growing dissatisfaction with the treatment of prisoners and his discomfort with capital punishment. Furthermore, Orwell's characterization of the convict is essential in conveying his message. The prisoner is "a bit of a man", suggesting that he is extremely weak and unthreatening, contrasting with the unnecessarily harsh measures taken by the prison guards to restrain him. The Hindu man is “chained,” “handcuffed,” and his arms are “tied tightly to his sides.” This vivid description continues to suggest harsh treatment and Orwell's growing opposition not only to hanging itself, but also to the manner in which the condemned are treated until their death. He is described as having "watery, vague eyes", emphasizing the idea that he has accepted his fate and can no longer fight or attempt to escape. By describing the prisoner in this way, Orwell humanizes him by showing, despite the crime he has committed (which is never disclosed), that he is a human being and that this treatment and conviction is unforgivable. Orwell uses irony to illustrate the tragedy of capital punishment, criticizing the apathetic attitudes towards execution, the treatment of prisoners and lamenting the brutal reality of death. The first instance of irony occurs when a dog escapes into the prison yard. At this point we see that the treatment of the animals is better than that of the prisoners and that although the dog is allowed to move freely, the prisoners are locked in cages. Ironically, the dog, an animal, also displays more humanity than any of the other participants in the execution. “He rushed towards the prisoner and, jumping, tried to lick his face.” The dog heads straight towards the prisoner opposite one of the officials. Orwell uses symbolism here to suggest that all people are equal, regardless of their circumstances. Moreover, once again, the emotional reaction is described through the dog's behavior: "he stopped suddenly, barked, then retreated to a corner of the yard." The choice of the word “withdrew” suggests shock and disgust at what happened – which is more..