Lecture Notes: Capital Punishment by Sherman Alexie

Overview

• The poem "Capital Punishment" by Sherman Alexie explores themes around the execution of an Indian man.
• Narrated from the perspective of a cook preparing the last meal for the condemned.
• Recurring motif of the phrase "I am NOT a witness," later shifting to "I am a witness."

Key Themes and Ideas

The Last Meal

• The Indian man condemned to death requests a simple meal: salad, baked potato, glass of ice water.
• The cook adds all he has to the meal, indicating care or perhaps irony.

Racial Commentary

• The poem highlights racial disparities in capital punishment.
  • "Mostly the dark ones who are made to sit in the chair."
  • Indian man executed, white people are the victims.

Personal Reflection

• The cook reflects on their role, stating they are not a witness despite their involvement.
• The cook's feelings about the act of cooking for the condemned and the intricacies of death.

Execution and Aftermath

• Reference to a story of a black man surviving the electric chair, only to be executed again.
• The cook prepares an extra sandwich in case the condemned survives the execution.
• Description of execution: "smoke rising from his joints, wispy flames."
• The cook acknowledges their passive role in the execution process.

Sociopolitical Commentary

• The poem discusses America's obsession with defining and documenting executions.
  • "America keeps filling its thesaurus."
  • Reporters wanting to see the eyes of the condemned.
• Reflections on the finality and simplicity of death in society.

Notable Lines and Imagery

• Imagery of the execution process and its sensory aspects (e.g., taste, smell, sight).
• Metaphor of modern art in the way the body reacts to the electric chair.

Conclusion

• Final insight on the inevitability and randomness of death, comparing execution to being struck by lightning.
• The poem ends with a realization of being a witness, contributing to the story of capital punishment.

Discussion Points

• What is the significance of "I am NOT a witness" vs. "I am a witness"?
• Examination of the cook’s perspective as a metaphor for societal complicity in capital punishment.
• How does the poem critique the justice system and media portrayal of executions?

Engagement and Reflection

• Encourage audience interaction and thoughts on the poem.
• Platforms for further engagement: Twitch, Twitter, Facebook, Reddit, YouTube, Instagram, and podcast platforms.
• Reminder to subscribe for more content.