Fahrenheit 451 Rhetorical Analysis

Orwell very effectively uses characterization to convey his anti capital-punishment feelings which encourages the reader to sympathies with his stance. During the first encounter with the superintendent he is : "standing apart from the rest of us, moodily prodding the gravel with his stick"
The superintendent 'standing apart' is trying to alienate himself from both the guards and the prisoners. The word choice of 'moodily' suggests that he is unhappy, uncomfortable with the situation but he must proceed which shows that taking a human life can't be done without ill feeling and is morally wrong. He is trapped in a position created by the imperialistic regime to which he belongs, where he knows he must proceed but is extremely uncomfortable doing so. This is also suggested by the fact that he refers the hanging to as a "job" in an attempt to depersonalise his apallign actions which shows that he seems to care more about the regimented routine than about the man whose life is about to end. After the hanging was over the superintendent; "reached out with his stick and pocked the bare brown body"

This shows that the deceased prisoner is nothing more than a corpse and is one more victim of the British Imperial justice system. This portrays the callous, cruel and unsympathetic nature of capital punishment. The superintendent's isolation and his miserable demeanor serve to highlight Orwell's strong beliefs against capital punishment; he believes it is inhumane and detracts from the human spirit. It enslaves society, forces us to oppress our emotions and sacrifice our ability to forgive which makes the reader sympathies with Orwell's