ABSTRACT
The educational aspect of executions was important because the state still had limited means of conveying messages to the general public. The religious aspect was also designed to prevent the executions' evolution into a sort of free spectacle, at least for some observers. Thus, cases when one could enjoy real entertainment were rare, and executions were among them. Executions as a spectacle were fully incorporated into the sadistic inclination of the culture and were in no way different from other sorts of entertainment enjoyed by the populace. Additionally, attending executions required no payment. It was gratis entertainment. Durkheim stated that there was a deep connection between religion and law and between the deep sacredness of religious maxims and social stability. He regarded the symbolism of religious rituals as essential to socialization. "Humanitarianism" was often used in cases where there might be prolonged torture. These mercy killings were not purely humanitarian in nature.
