re: #191 GeneJockey

I think there are some ways of being killed that are more frightening than others, to most people. Being beheaded is one, despite Dr. Guillotine’s original alleged desire to create a more human method of execution. We tend to see it as more savage than hanging, gassing, firing squad, etc. despite the instantaneous nature, as compared to the potential lingering, painful death of the other three.

I’m not sure why, but it seems to be true.

I’m not sure who sees it as more savage than the other methods, but it had a rather disgusting history of as public spectacle. The following story illustrates some of the sociology behind the guillotine and how the stoic response of most aristocrats fed the crowd’s bloodlust. They only saw the victims as human when they reacted like we’d expect a normal, terrified (lower class) person fighting for their life to react.

On this particular day, one of the condemned was a strikingly beautiful young woman in her mid 20s, dressed as if for a grand ball. She watched those ahead of her walk solemnly up the steps and quietly accept their fate, and heard the raucous celebration of the pitiless mob. When the soldiers indicated to the last victim in the cart that it was her turn, she pulled back. Two soldiers dragged her up the scaffold screaming through her tears, “I don’t want to die! I want to live!” Two then three soldiers grappled with her, unused to a victim fighting back. She fought like a tiger against their attempts to put her head on the block. Turning, twisting, biting and scratching, she was using her elegant gown to keep the soldiers from grasping her. Trying to subdue her, the embarrassed and angry soldiers, slipping in fresh blood, grabbing what they could, tore and ripped her dress, shredding her clothes, until she was fighting them literally stark naked, still clawing and screaming, “I want to live! I don’t want to die!” So intent on the struggle for her life, she was inured to being naked before the gawking crowd. The crowd was more than merely ‘entertained’. They were now looking on in silent admiration at the remarkable spirit and the dazzling beauty of this nude young lady, described as ‘pure beauty of face and flawless of body’. A few angry calls to stop were heard from the crowd, but the execution squad had no authority to do other than carry out the sentence. The soldiers, bleeding from her scratches, finally overpowered their ‘tiger’, forced her head harshly onto the block and locked the stock in place. Then they retreated down the steps. Her graceful hands beat vainly on the wooden block holding her. The mob was now watching truly in horror, as the drums could not drown out her screams. “I want to live! I don’t wa…” The blade dropped, cutting her off in mid scream. When the executioner held her bloody head high by its blond tresses, the rabble remained silent!