Double Killer Kill Harris Analysis

Would you feel empathetic towards a mentally unstable man? A man whose actions were a result of his life’s incomplete lessons?
This man was eventually ‘inhumanely’ executed: experienced by TV man Michael Tuck who watched the execution of ‘double killer’ Robert Harris.
Harris who ruthlessly blasted two innocent teenage boys: one shot four times in the back and the other shot to the head. For this crime, he was sentenced to death by the means of a gas chamber with cyanide gas.
Alan Hall creates a lot of emotion within the article. He refers to the perspective of my different peoples understandings as to what they saw happen. He is apparent about wanting us to comprehend the agony and torment that the ‘killer’ had come across during his trial, however Hall did
make it clear that Harris had caused cold-blooded ache upon the victims’ families.
A view that seemed to catch my attention was there being psychological proof behind what caused this behaviour.It was said that his disturbing past involving ‘alcoholic parents’ and abuse had a large part of what his mental state was at the time. Also Harris being fifth of the nine children terrorized by their father, which clearly led to neglect and even possibly post-traumatic stress disorder, all take into account in his mental and how he was lead to become a psychopath. I and many others rightfully believe that a man cannot be killed if his actions are not completely his fault.
Among thousands of anti-death campaigners who ‘urged mercy’ for Harris was Nobel peace prize winning nun-mother Teresa. Circumstances such as these evidently show us how these people are in need of assistance rather than elimination.
Hall uses different techniques such as emotive language, facts and options to provoke an emotional response.
In response to the article ‘I see a killer die’ the writer has used the word ‘’killer’ to dehumanise Harris’ rather than saying his name, blaming Harris for murdering the two 16 year olds to death. The verbs ‘’see’’ and ‘’die’’ are written in present tense to make us, the readers feel that we are there, witnessing this horrendous act take place.
Hall starts off with his headline by using emotive language. He uses the verbs ‘writhe and die’ to describe the death of Harris. The use of the ‘writhe’ to make the reader perceive an intense image of Harris wriggling and fidgeting while strapped to the chair, infers the ache and agony Harris felt before he died, just like his two teenager victims. The word ‘die’ is barely basic: involving no description just that he
died.
The headline is typed white on black which would catch the reader’s attention as this is reversed to that it would usually be. Also being written in first person captures the attention and makes the reader query as to ‘why has he seen a killer die?’ This is most probably the intended effect on the audience to create a sense of mystery and question as this would not be the everyday crisis to take place.

Another instance of emotive language is when one of the boys mothers says “….when they were executed by this beast” the fact that he is termed as a ‘beast’ implies that Harris isn’t any way near human: he is an animal with no morals or ethics. The thought that he is a ‘beast’ that cannot be restrained: therefore be a danger to society that would be better off without him. This representation of Harris makes it easier for the reader to except how he was killed, as he wasn’t seen as a human being so doesn’t deserve to be killed in a humane way
In conclusion emotive language is used to make us feel sympathy towards the victims’ families and revulsion towards the killer: yet we also feel nauseated by the knowledge of the man being murdered in such a merciless way as this is the prompt reaction most humans would have about this. Personally whilst reading the article I felt a mixture of many emotions. I established that throughout the piece I was opposed by different views at different times none the less I still had my main view on his crime being revolting and him deserving what he went through.