I See London, I See Crimes, I See That It’s Cruel Punishment Time!
During Shakespeare’s life, the punishments for the smallest and most insignificant crimes were cruel and brutal. Even though many of the crimes that take place today may be similar to those that took place in the Elizabethan England, the methods and procedures have definitely changed a lot (Peter). We might believe that the punishments given today are harsh but in the Elizabethan period, the penalties can be viewed as torturous. Small offenses such as stealing birds’ eggs and the stealing of anything over five pence would result in a death sentence (Elizabethan). It’s horrible that something as simple as begging would be thought of as a serious crime. “As their punishment ‘poor beggars’ would be beaten until they reached the stones that marked the own parish boundary” (Elizabethan). The punishments were very bloody and no sign of mercy was shown. Basically, everyone that was caught doing something that in any was not positive, they would have to pay for the crime with agony and atrocious penalties. Mistaken crimes did not only result with a death sentence, but other methods of torture were done. Burning was a very vicious punishment that was almost unbearable to watch. It was so vicious that even the “executioners sometimes showed mercy to their victims by placing gunpowder at the base of the stake which helped the victims to a swifter, and less painful, death” (Elizabethan). If not burned to death the victims would die from the smoke inhalation. Though beheading and burning did take place, there were also some tools that were used to torture the helpless victims and make them suffer. For example, the ducking tool was an invention that was basically like a teeter totter that the criminal would sit on and be hung over a body of water and dunked repeatedly (Beyer). In the present, this would be considered unreasonable and irrational.
I strongly believe that people should have a say in everything. Democracy is much more acceptable than dictatorship in my opinion because it is much more rational that who we elect makes our country’s choices for us, instead of a bloodline that governs a nation without people’s consent. When receiving a punishment for a crime one has committed, that person should be able to defend him or herself and have a trial in jury. Thus, I do not think that I would have liked to live in the Elizabethan period. Having a monarchy that does not let me speak for myself and is unjust would make it hard for me to find happiness in life. Basically, if one were to commit a crime, that person has a right to show his or her perspective of the situation, which further demonstrates how we must stand up for ourselves as citizens. I do not think I would have liked watching small matters turning into the gruesome actions that took place in the city. The barbaric punishments of this civilized city is the only thing that stands in my way of wanting to have lived there. After all, curiosity is not accepted and one isn’t entitled to his or her own opinion, which gives us no individual rights. The punishments seen today might be thought of as unfair but next time we judge the consequence, lets look back into the Elizabethan period.
Works Cited
Beyer, Ashley and Passerini, Valerie. “Crime and Punishment.” Elizabethan England. 16 April 2007.
“Elizabethan Crime and Punishment.” Elizabethan England. 16 April 2007.
Peter, Brice. “Bloody Painful: Crime and Punishment In Elizabethan England.” Elizabethan England. 16 April 2007.