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Since the beginning of recorded history, societies have used execution as the ultimate punishment for unwanted behavior. Performing these executions in public can serve multiple purposes outside of removing the soon-to-be-deceased from society: it can act as a deterrent to warn on-lookers against repeating the behavior in question, it can slake the blood-lust of a wronged and angry populace, it can increase the punishment by [[Come to Gawk|adding an element of public humiliation]], and at times it can be down-right entertaining!
'''Public Executions''' can come about for any number of reasons. They may be performed by a government as punishment for a crime. They may be carried out by a monarch seeking to suppress the plans of political enemies in order to maintain a solid grasp on the throne. Regular
The reaction of the [[In-Universe]] audience for the execution can serve as a reflection of the moral character of the society at that time. A crowd that does nothing but jeer, egg-on the executioner, or even attempt to participate in the killing may indicate that the people of the land are blood-thirsty and crude. On the other hand, shock and horror displayed by those in attendance may be a sign that the populace is undergoing a [[Morality Adjustment]] for the better, and may even be indicative of growing disfavor for the rulers who would carry out such a barbaric spectacle. Conquerors foolish enough to use a '''Public Execution''' to quell the dissent of a [[Martyrdom Culture]] could accidentally provide the last fuel needed to touch off a revolution.
A
If the executee is one of the good guys, their
Overlaps with [[Dead Guy on Display]], as a
[[Truth in Television]] for some parts of the world. [[Burn the Witch]] is a notable type, both historically and in fiction.
Note that in order to qualify as an example of
'''Related Tropes:'''
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'''Jamal''': (''raises his fist'') Power to the people!
(''Everybody looks at him strangely, including the rebel.'') }}
** Jamal himself is about to be executed in public for
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* Often occurs in ''[[Robin Hood]]'' stories, with the Sheriff of Nottingham planning to kill captured Merry Men or innocents (usually by hanging) and Robin and the others trying to save them.
* In ''[[Discworld]]'' novels:
** In ''[[
** ''[[
** Rincewind escapes a public execution in ''[[
* Severian, the protagonist of ''[[Book of the New Sun]]'' is a public executioner and describes some of his jobs. Like the ''[[Discworld]]'' examples above, people did want souvenirs and Severian talks about playing to the crowd.
* The protagonist of ''[[Samurai Executioner]]'' is a public executioner and the story in part consists of his victim's backstories and then shows him executing them.
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* In ''[[Avatar: The Last Airbender]]'', we never see one, but it's referenced. When the kids are at a Fire Nation festival in "The Deserter", Aang spots a big crowd and wonders what it's for. Sokka goes, "Knowing the Fire Nation, it's probably an execution."
** Actually, in the episode "Avatar Day", Aang himself was set up to be executed for killing a community's leader in a past life (to be fair, it was an accident). Fortunately, the Fire Nation chose this exact moment to attack the village, and his punishment was changed to "community service" in the form of driving them off.
== Real Life ==
* Contrary to popular belief (and media depictions) of this happening to nobility or royalty (like say, [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anne_Boleyn Anne Boleyn]) such executions were usually done in private; one "benefit" of having the position was not having to endure the jeering of crowds, and not coincidentally, doing so in public would often create dissent towards whatever monarch had ordered the execution.
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