Rituals of Death: The Meaning of Last Words and Last Meals
64 Pages Posted: 1 Oct 2009
Date Written: March 30, 2008
Abstract
This paper explores the meaning of rituals of last words and last meals in the context of the death penalty. It concludes that the rituals retain the ability to subvert the state's retributivist message, even while they are necessary to it.
Keywords: death penalty, last words, last meals, capital punishment, retribution
Suggested Citation: Suggested Citation
Meyer, Linda R., Rituals of Death: The Meaning of Last Words and Last Meals (March 30, 2008). Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1480686 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.1480686
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