Dead Man Walking Essay

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Lastly, I do believe in second chances, but there are some exceptions to my beliefs. Do I believe that the majority of people can be taken into mental institutions and can change the ways by which they life and alter their minds to accustom to a stable and conventional state, yes I do. However, there may be some people who are very good at getting what they want and are very good at deceiving others and are also mentally insane, whether they be serial killers or crooks. Therefore, it is for these types of people that I feel do not have the right to go to a mental institution in an attempt to change their life, because what will ultimately happen is that they will work their way out of their punishment and be back on the streets to meet the demise of innocent people. In the case of the movie I feel that it is evident that there is still some good left in Matthew Poncelot. I think that the very last scene depicts that very well as he is seen crying heavily on his deathbed. Also, throughout the entire movie he is trying to protect his mother from any persecutions, so it is clear to me that he has potential for reform. I am still unable to pick a side with the death penalty and I wouldn’t be surprised if I am never able to, but I do think that no two cases are the same and that in some cases, the convict does deserve the death penalty, and in some cases, the convict does not. All in all, I did like the movie, I did find the certain flashback scenes quite disturbing but that did lessen my sympathy for Poncelot.