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The history of humanity has seen multiple cases of extreme violence, and such instances can hardly ever be justified by any factors. However, despite evident similarities in terms of form, a more profound examination of violent crimes may reveal certain underlying issues on both individual and global levels. The case of Hernando Washington, who kidnapped, raped, and murdered a young woman, serves as an excellent example of such a phenomenon. While this crime is characterized by an unparalleled degree of cruelty, it is also caused by profound social issues, which be examined from the point of view of Émile Durkheim’s theory. The purpose of this essay is to examine the case of Hernando Washington in relation to profound social issues.
The discussed act of violence involved two primary participants, namely Hernando Washington, the offender, and Sarah Gould, the victim. The description of the crime provided by Lisa J. McIntyre evokes strong negative feelings. First of all, violence induces a certain degree of fear and anxiety, as readers can associate themselves with the victim. Unlike major disasters, such crimes are closely connected to the mundane reality of an average person. Therefore, anyone could have been in the same position as Sarah Gould since the act did not originate in her family or her range of acquaintances. Secondly, while many murders are often discussed in the media, this particular case has an additional factor contributing to the overall shock. The described events took place over a considerable period, meaning that Sarah had enough time to contemplate her fate, and one can barely imagine her fear. Finally, it is the murderer’s reaction that causes the strong impact of this story. Lisa J. McIntyre says that Hernando Washington showed little or no remorse, believing that the punishment he faced was unnecessarily severe.
Washington’s reactions stemmed from the environment in which he had lived. As described in the article, the murdered had resided in one of Chicago’s worst neighborhoods, in which safety was never guaranteed. In addition, the story of Hernando’s sister Leah, who had been raped and later refused help, is an important factor, explaining his worldview. He had spent his entire life surrounded by violence, and this experience had shaped his mindset. Those who live in better, wealthier areas mostly interact with rape and murder via the Internet or television. At the same time, Washington had to face violence in person, which inevitably increased his tolerance toward it. Such communities exist in strong isolation, and it only becomes stronger over time.
According to Émile Durkheim’s concept of functionalism, criminal behavior is a norm within society. This idea suggests that society is a complex system of interrelated components, which interact with one another. When there is a dysfunction in one of them, it leads to negative repercussions in the others. In the described case, Washington’s community remained marginalized by the rest of society, which caused disparities, accumulating themselves over time. In regards to Durkheim’s theory, social inequality created an environment in which rape and murder were not considered inherently evil. Moreover, people like Hernando may even justify violence as a matter of survival. In other words, they are willing to kill to protect their interests, and the threshold beyond which crime is accepted by them is highly different from the general norm.
In conclusion, the kidnapping, rape, and murder of Sarah Gould was a despicable crime. The victim had to experience immense suffering and fear due to her simply being in the wrong place at the wrong time. Nevertheless, while such cruelty can hardly be justified, it reflects deeper issues within society. Social disparities and marginalization of certain communities create a naturally violent response, as suggested by Émile Durkheim’s theory of functionalism. While the crime is horrible on the individual level, it is related to a more complex major problem, which must be resolved for the proper functioning of society.
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