vengeance – Vengeance is defined in this narrative as the exaction of just punishment for actions done to a person or to a person that is in some way connected with one’s self.  In the narrative we learn that Frost was harmed in some way either to himself or to his mother by both of the father figures that he killed.  His acting out against those actions taken against him is defined as vengeance.  The word comes with skewed meaning for everyone who is involved.  For some vengeance goes as far as tipping off the authorities to the offender, but for others like Frost vengeance is more personal and must be wrought with the victim’s own hands. 

sympathy – Taking pity on someone who has been wronged, injured, or hurt in some way whether it be physical or mental.  Frost showed sympathy for his victims while he was in jail.  Many would claim that his beating his head against the wall in a claim to feel what his victims felt made him crazy and insane.  I feel that this was an act of sympathy on the part of Frost.  He knew that it was wrong to kill those men, but their actions against him and his mother proved too much for him to handle and he had to get his revenge.   His actions turned out to go just a little bit too far in our standards of revenge and he was penalized for them.  But his desire to know or at least relate to the pain that his victims suffered shows sympathy and conscience, which in my mind saves him from being insane.

experience – Those who had experience in the field were those that survived long enough to benefit from their spoils.  Mountain preferred to work with those who had experience because they planned things out, and could carry out the plans they laid out. 

trial – Now in our times every man is supposed to receive a fair and speedy trial.  This law wasn’t practiced back in the days when Wilson lived.  Often times many people went into trial already knowing based on their gender, status, and race what the verdict and sentence would be.  This proves to be the case of Wilson.

repentance – Repentance exists in Wilson’s narrative but its not direct.  It comes from a sorrow from a mother who has lost her children and can’t get them back.  Her pain is taken as regret by those who view it from outside of the cell bars while she serves out her prison sentence, and thus to them it seems as if she is guilty and only telling a different story to get out of her punishment.

nocturnal excursion – An escapade taken by a person  at night with the intent of committing something mischievious or crimelike.  This phrase stuck out in my mind because it reminds me of animals such as raccoons that are nocturnal and carry out the functions needed to survive at night time, much in the same manner as most criminals, especially thiefs.

publicity – the measures, process, of securing public notice (dictionary.com)  Wall admits to saying certain things in her narrative only because of the appeal that it will have to the public.  If this is the case it makes her narrative questionable.  Choosing to leave certain details out because of some gruesome nature is respectable, but picking and choosing which ones you think the public may find more entertaining over others leaves room to question the validity of the narrative itself.

justice – To Powers justice was receiving a punishment suitable for the crime that he committed.  Ravishment was an unforgiveable crime and it deserved an unforgiveable punishment, and what better than death.

wicked – mischievious or playfully malicious (dictionary.com) Powers started out early as a mischievious person stealing things from whomever he lived with.  He admits himself that if he had received a beating severe enough after being caught stealing then that would have stifled his desire to do wrong.  By not receiving that just punishment, it lead to him enjoying his wrong in am almost playful manner and this lead to his becoming wicked.  Wicked enough to fathom rape in his mind and to carry out the act.

list – throughout the entire register there is a recollection of the crimes that each individual has committed. These lists appear to be given as a way to boost up notoriety and fame.

love of money – putting the value of money over the value of anything else that may matter to a person. For example the convict who is a pirate is guilty of murdering a man due to his love of money. In effect the pirate’s desire to marry his girlfriend was overrun by the love of money and in a fit of rage he murdered a man, because he felt that he could not control his mischeivous nature.

lust – Buchanan seemed to be a victim of lust.  Mrs. Spooner’s flirtations and constant requests of his presence offered the lust of his flesh more and more time to gain control of his mind.  His attraction to Mrs. Spooner in effect was his downfall because it lead to his agreeing to commit the crime when at first he and Mr. Brooks rejected taking part in the murder.

regret – “For after I had stolen, I have been so distressed at times, as to be obliged to go back, and throw the stolen goods at the door, or into the yard, that the owners might have the again.  And not long before I was taken for this robbery, I passed the gallows on Boston neck with some stolen goods under my arm when my conscience terribly smote me, and I thought I should surely die there, if I did not leave off this cause of life.” p.181

admonishment – Just like Frasier in his narrative/confession Ames reverts to admonishing the people in the town not to follow in his steps or death will be their reward.  He lends his warning especially towards the youth and tells them to avoid those vices that lead to the lifestyle he lead, such as stealing and lwed women. 

inconsequence – Frasier acted without any thought or concern toward what would happen to him if caught.  This attitude was a product of him having been let off and escaping from prison time after time.  Nothing anyone could say to him would stop him from committing crimes.  He loved his lifestyle and lived it with inconsequence, until he could escape no longer.

admonishment – The narrative took the tone of a sermon towards the end.  Here Frasier began to admonish, or warn, those townspeople who were his age and younger about leading the lifestyle that he led.  He warned the parents and masters to teach their children and servants to abide by the laws commanded of them in the Bible or they too would end up suffering the same punishment he was receiving. 

Acceptance – After receiving her spiritual revelation in prison, Rodgers became content with her state.  She was willing to receive the punishment that was equivocal to her sin because it was the right thing to do.  Faith played a major role in her life and also plays a major role in the lives of many convicted criminals.  As long as a person has something to base their actions on, some relief system that assures them salvation from the uncertainty of death, they are willing to accept their punishment.

Courage – “She retained an invincible courage, and yet manifested nothing that had the least Tincture of a vain glorious Confidence.” (p. 105)  Having gotten over her regret for her crime and accepted the punishment justly deserving of her crime, Rodgers found the courage to face it fearlessly.  She wasn’t afraid to die for her faith in God allowed her assurance tha as long as she was unwavering in her faith and had truly repented of her sins then her soul was to be saved.  After all this remains a major concern with all people in the world, not even just those who are sentenced to die.  But having a faith system that gave her assurance, allowed her to muster the courage to take her punishment before those people who had grown to love her through her imprisonment.