"Now the Tombs, like the name says, are so horrible that they had to close it down. Today it doesn't exist and people go in the electric chair and all that"

Gregory Corso's quote stimulates a vivid picture of a location described as "the Tombs", known for its terrible conditions and unfavorable effect on individuals, so much so that it was eventually closed down. The term "the Tombs" is historically connected with an infamous prison complex in Manhattan, New York, formally known as The Manhattan Detention Complex. In Corso's evocation, the language recommends that the Tombs were more than just a physical area; they were a sign of the grim and overbearing truth of the chastening system throughout that period.

Corso's usage of "the Tombs, like the name says", indicates that the nickname itself conjures a picture of darkness, anguish, and death, drawing a parallel to a burial website. This choice of words records the essence of a location where hope is buried and lives are suspended, highlighting the psychological and physical toll it had on its inmates.

The phrase "so terrible that they had to close it down" suggests a considerable public outrage or legal condemnation towards the conditions within the Tombs, causing its closure. This reflects a broader societal shift towards demanding responsibility and reform within the criminal justice system. It indicates that the conditions were inhumane to such a level that preserving the institution was no longer tenable.

Lastly, the reference of people going "in the electrical chair and all that" transitions from the metaphorical death experienced within the Tombs to a literal execution by the state, stimulating the supreme, irreparable penalty portioned by society. It highlights the severity and bleakness of the period's criminal justice system, where the idea of reform or rehabilitation seemed eclipsed by the finality of death as a solution to criminal offense.

Overall, Corso's quote invites reflection on the evolution of social attitudes towards incarceration, capital penalty, and the complicated interplay in between justice, reform, and retribution. It highlights the dark history of punitive organizations and gestures towards a mission for a more gentle and simply society.