Twelve Angry Men - 1296 Words

Time: 1957 Place: New York City Courtroom Case: An African-American teenager has been accused of murdering his father. On April 14th, 1951, Reginald Rose, a thirty-one-year-old army veteran published his second, and most prominent dramatic work entitled Twelve Angry Men. This play is now admired as a momentous, eloquent and critical examination of the United States jury system. Twelve Angry Men examines key courtroom themes including civil duty and reasonable doubt. Through the voice of these twelve men, the audience must ask themselves imperative questions regarding the American court system, moral responsibility and the role of emotions in a verdict. The selection of jurors is indeed a very complicated process.†¦show more content†¦After this introductory clash of morals and ideals, the jurors must now review the case and reach a unanimous verdict. This play, and a substantial amount of literature and research, demonstrates that the American system of jurisprudence is imperfect. â€Å"Twelve men are put in a hot, crowded room and asked to decide the fate of an accused murderer. In doing so they also return a verdict on the system itself† (â€Å"12 Best†) Despite attempts to create fairness and balance, â€Å"a jury of your peers† means that emotion and personal prejudice are part of the process. In Twelve Angry Men, the effectiveness of the jury process is questionable. â€Å"It’s great that the play is†¦critical of the fact that the juror’s personal baggage is not checked at the door. Many critics argue that the jury system works against justice because a juryShow MoreRelatedThe Twelve Angry Men Juror 3 and Juror 8 Comparing Essay1919 Words   |  8 PagesComparison essay comparing Juror 3 and Juror 8 What are some similarities between Jurors 3 and 8? What about differences? Oh gosh, its been years since Ive seen the movie (didnt read the play).   Okay,  Juror  #3 is the angry father, and Juror #8 is the guy who stands alone in the INNOCENT vote, right? I suspect the similarities are easier to find by reading the play because the movie really shows their contrasts. There is one similarity in that when they really believe something, theyRead MoreFilm Analysis: Twelve Angry Men2007 Words   |  9 PagesThe movie Twelve Angry Men is about a young man who is accused of stabbing his father to death. The twelve jurors have to decide whether the defendant is guilty or innocent. If the young man is found guilty, there is a mandatory death sentence (the jury needs to be unanimous in their decision). At the preliminary vote, eleven of the twelve jurors vote the young man guilty. Henry Fonda is the only one who voted the accused as not guilty because he doesnt want to send the defendant to the deathRead MoreEssay on Twelve Angry Men (Norms, Roles, Process)1038 Words   |  5 Pagesresult is brought about because one juror, motivated by his respect for the law and its processes, is able to defy the peer pressure of the jury room in his quest for the truth. The jurors are transformed by the process of deliberating. Eleven men voted guilty because of their prejudices, fears, laziness and insecurities, but they are eventually persuaded by reason to give up these limiting beliefs, to see the potential in the facts, and to find justice. The critical turning points in the juryRead MoreTwelve Angry Men1446 Words   |  6 PagesReginald Rose and depicts a story about twelve jurors trying to determine if a young boy is found guilty of killing his father. The play starts out in the courtroom where the judge is giving instructions to the jurors on the murder case. It is stated that if the young man is found guilty, he will be charged with a mandatory sentence of the death penalty. It is now up to the twelve men to determine if this young man should be sentenced to death. The twelve men then file into the jury room and sitRead MoreTwelve Angry Men1110 Words   |  5 PagesDoes Twelve Angry Men show that prejudice can obscure the truth? In the play Twelve Angry Men, Reginald Rose shows that prejudices can prevent jurors from seeing the truth. This is evident throughout the play as juror 10 blinded to the facts because prejudice clouds his judgement. However, besides prejudice, Rose also show personal bias, ignorance and a weak characteristic can take away jurors’ abilities to see the truth. For instance, juror 3’s bad relationship with his son in the past and juror7’sRead MoreTwelve Angry Men677 Words   |  3 PagesTwelve angry men essay ‘Twelve angry men’ shows that personal experience is the strongest factor influencing human decision-making processes.’ Discuss Twelve angry men by Reginald Rose is an intriguing play that explores the idea of personal experience affecting ones decision. Indeed Rose shows that decision-making is based on personal experiences. This is evident in the play when the 3rd Juror’s personal experience with his own son influences his decision and as a result he votes for guiltyRead MoreTwelve Angry Men2494 Words   |  10 PagesTwelve Angry Men Act I Vocabulary unanimous – complete agreement with no one dissenting refugee – a person who flees one country and seeks safety somewhere else el – a train of the same design as a subway train that runs on tracks elevated a few stories above street level. retire – to leave the open court to go to a private room calculus – a complicated mathematical process belligerently – in a hostile or angry manner monopoly – the exclusive ownership of a business switch knife – more commonly referredRead MoreTwelve Angry Men Essay707 Words   |  3 PagesTopic: ‘The 8th Juror’s heroism lies in the individual courage and integrity he displays.’ Reginald Rose’s ‘Twelve Angry Men’ is a play which displays the twelve individual jurors’ characteristics through the deliberation of a first degree murder case. Out of the twelve jurors, the 8th Juror shows an outstanding heroism exists in his individual bravery and truthfulness. At the start, the 8th Juror stands alone with his opposing view of the case to the other eleven jurors. Furthermore, he is depictedRead More Twelve Angry Men Essay647 Words   |  3 Pages Twelve Angry Men is a very interesting play about an unfortunate young man, who was convicted of killing his dad. The worst part was, the young man was only nineteen, and his life was just starting. The jurors listened to all the evidence, then came the hard part, making the decision: guilty, or innocent. Eleven jurors said guilty and only one said innocent. There was a lot of peer pressure involved. I decided to write about different peer pressures three of the jurors used. The three jurors IRead MoreTwelve Angry Men Essay1265 Words   |  6 PagesIts not easy to stand alone against the ridicule of others. Twelve Angry Men is more than a play, it is a reminder of our social responsibility. Discuss. Twelve Angry Men is a legal drama, written by Reginald Rose during the heightened period of 1950s McCarthyism. The didactic play presents a cross section, examining 1950s America during a period of immense suspicion and uncertainty. Roses play reminds us of the importance of responsibility and integrity, emphasising qualities such as courage