Charles Manson was a serial killer who became an icon of crime. He founded a criminal gang known as the ‘family’, which he manipulated to kill the people he disliked. He was born by a single mother who gave him up to her relatives as she could not afford to take care of him. Manson grew up in several homes to become a drunkard and a criminal juvenile. He spent most of his teenage life in prison. He used to steal cars and commit others serious crimes like burglary in order to survive. He married his first wife when he was nineteen years in 1954. His first wife, Miss Willis, was a restaurant waitress. During their marriage, they had a son. However, she divorced him when he refused to stop stealing. He was rearrested in 1956 and released in 1958. He remarried to a Miss Stevens, a prostitute, in the same year. He got another son from the marriage. When he was arrested of stealing checks and pimping, she also divorced him in 1960.
While in prison, Charles attempted to reform his life. He started pursuing music. He believed he would be a music star upon his release. However, his music career did not kick start as he had expected when he was released in 1967. He relocated to the Spahn Ranch. His convincing skills and manipulative powers enabled him establish a cult, which he called the ‘family’. He combined various religious and philosophical teaching to come up with his doctrines. He believed the blacks would wage war on the white people and eliminate their race. However, when his prophecies did not come true, he urged his followers to demonstrate to the blacks how to kill white people. He believed his ‘family’ would escape to an underground city. This led to several killing linked to him. He was caught and imprisoned for life.
Question One
The ‘family’ was found to be responsible for murdering actor Sharon Tate and her baby; they were arrested on 1969. Manson was sentenced to death. The court had fought him guilty of conspiracy to commit murder and a guilty of first degree murder. However, he escaped death once the supreme court of California, in the Andrea case abolished the death penalty. He is still in prison.
Question Two
One of the first challenges that first impacted on Manson’s life was being born by a sixteen year old mother who was poor. Therefore, she could not take care of him. Secondly, he lacked a home and a guardian to show him direction. He moved from relative to relative and ended being a drunkard and a thief. The third circumstance is he was not lucky enough to sustain any of his two marriages. All his wives divorced him once he was arrested. Fourthly, his music career did not take off as he imagined. Most people refused to help him despite some of his original composition being used by various bands. The fifth negative circumstance is his involvement with the ‘family’.
Question Three
Manson has a profound impact in many people especially the members of the ‘family’ cult. He inspired them and gave them something to believe in; a sense of belonging. However, correction institutions have had little impact on him. He still remains a hardcore unrepentant criminal.
Reference
Wooden, K. (2000). Weeping in the Playtime of Others: America's Incarcerated Children. New York: Ohio State University Press.
