What Does Dead Man Walking Mean

143 Words1 Pages
When a death-row inmate was let out, they are known as “dead man walking”. Prejean used this symbolism to show the poor treatment death-row inmates gets from prison. Dead man walking symbolizes the idea of bad luck and unavoidable loss. In prison, these people who are consider “dead man walking” are already considered to be dead (condemned prisoners on death-row). They are treated poorly and are deprived from any social contact and are completely isolated from the world. This term is significant not only because it is the title of the novel, but it also reveals the struggles of the death-row inmates. Although they are murderer, but they are also humans as well. Prejean effectively used this symbolism to raise awareness for the poor living conditions