Jimmys History Blog

1. What important knowledge and understanding about the history, culture, and/or experience of the united states can a person learn from watching the film? A person can learn a lot about the history of the death penalty and just about the way that inmates are treated while they are on death row from watching this movie.  Also, you can learn how people with loved ones that have been murdered or have murdered someone deal with it.  The movie does a great job of portraying an inmate on death row with the use of Matthew Poncelet. He is on death row for the murder of a teenage boy and the rape and murder of a teenage girl.  He is sentenced and eventually put to death in the film.  The family of the teenagers that he killed takes the death of their children very hard (as any person would). The movie shows how badly they want him to die.  And also how badly other people want him to die.  This is important in the movie because although Matthew Poncelet did a very b...

Works Cited  Death Penalty  - In this source, I was able to figure out why people don't like the death penalty, find the arguments they are making against it, and how they plan to stop it. Robert Lee Willie  - This is the biography of Robert Lee Willie.  This gave me a lot of background on his crimes and how Helen Prejean found him. Patrick Sonnier  - Just like the Robert Lee Willie biography.  This is a biography of Patrick Sonnier. I used this source to get the backstory of his crimes and how Helen Prejean found him Helen Prejean  - This is the biography of Helen Prejean. She is the author of the book Dead Man Walking.  This was the best source because it was directly from her website.   Dead Man Walking Book  - This is the book, Dead Man Walking.  This is the book the movie was based on.   Murder Victims' Families for Human Rights  - This is a website for murder victims' families and families of people that ha...

Exhibit  Artifact 1: Dead Man Walking: An Eyewitness Account of the Death Penalty in the United States by Helen Prejean. This is the book written by Helen Prejean about her experiences during her time as the spiritual advisor of two inmates.  This would be the best artifact because it is directly from the movie. Dead Man Walking Artifact 2: Newspaper from the death of Robert Lee Willie This is a good artifact to have because it is from the exact day that Robert Lee Willie died.  He was one of the inmates that Helen Prejean wrote about in her book. Robert Lee Willie Artifact 3: The Death of Innocence: Eyewitness Account of Wrongful Executions by Helen Prejean This is the second book written by Helen Prejean.  This would be another great artifact to have at the party because it is by the same author.  The Death of Innocents Artifact 4: Newspaper of Patrick Sonnier's execution I chose this document because it is from the day of his execution.  Just like the on...

This is an Invitation to the PRISON PARTY!!!!!!! When: 5/17/2057 Time: 2:00 AM Where: Louisiana State Penitentiary: I know you are thinking "Why would I go to a party at a prison."  Well because this is a PRISON THEMED PARTY!!!  Why: This is going to be a good chance for people that support and don't support the death penalty to sit down and talk. Guest List PRISON PARTY!!! Helen Prejean: Helen Prejean is a Nun and advocates for abolishing the death penalty.  She wrote the book Dead Man Walking: An Eyewitnesses Account of the Death Penalty in the United States . The book later turned into the movie Dead Man Walking.   She is played by Susan Sarandon in the film.  She would be the person that would most likely lead the conversations about the death penalty.   Robert Lee Willie: Robert Lee Willie was an American serial killer.  He was on death row for the murder of 2 teenagers.  His spiritual advisor was Sister Helen Prejean.  He would be ...

Appetizer: Deviled Eggs  This is a little bit of a stretch.  I chose to do deviled eggs as my appetizer because it has the name devil in them.  In the bible, a devil is an evil person and the ruler of hell.  Since hell is where bad people go when they die having deviled eggs would make sense. Deviled Eggs Drink: Water My guests are drinking water because in prison the inmates are only allowed to drink water.  Also in the movie in almost every scene where Helen and Matthew are together Matthew is drinking water. Water                                                    Entre: Shrimp, Potatoes, Oysters, Corn This was Matthew Poncelet's last meal in the movie. Shrimp Meal .        Entre 2: Ramen Noodles Ramen noodles are a typical food eaten by inmates that are in prison. I thought it would be a good thing to include b...