Due to the complexity of the death penalty, there are only a handful of short stories which deal with the topic. Novels, essays, interviews, documentaries, biographies, and auto-biographies seem to be more suitable for depicting the multiplicity of meaning constructed in capital cases. Nevertheless, the short story - despite its concision - can also be used to successfully question the morality and acceptance of an inequitable system. Thus, I will examine Joyce Carol Oates`s strategies of fusing art and ethics in her short story, while delving into the socio-historical underpinnings of capital punishment.

The story’s title refers to the protagonist’s column “Death Watch,” which has lost its edge and as a result a great portion of its readership. After having witnessed and written on 25 executions in five years, the narrator has lost the passion of his early years on the death penalty beat. He must rediscover his drive and commitment to the cause instead of wallowing in self-pity over the loss of his status and reputation as a star journalist. Through her protagonist, Oates uncovers poignant arguments for abolishing this extreme form of punishment: apathy and the sanctity of human life.