Bias In Twelve Angry Men (Film) Essay - 1024 Words

‘Its very hard to keep personal prejudice out of a thing like this. And no matter where you run into it, prejudice obscures the truth. [Juror 8, page 53] Perhaps this best sums up the basis of ‘Twelve Angry Men by Reginald Rose. This play is about a young delinquent on trial for the murder of his abusive father. The jury must find him guilty if there is no reasonable doubt, and in turn, sentence him to death. ‘I dont envy your job. You are faced with a grave responsibility. [Judge, page 1] Peoples bias and predispositions can affect their opinion of different circumstances and different people. This is very evident throughout the play. After the first group vote and juror 8 votes not guilty, a discussion ensues. It is there that†¦show more content†¦Youre not gonna tell me you believe that phony story about losing the knife, and that business about being at the movies. Look, you know how these people lie! Its born in them! I mean what the heck? I dont even have to tell you. They dont know what the truth is! And lemme tell you, they dont need any real big reason to kill someone, either! No sir! [Juror 10, page 51] This type of prejudice offended many of the other jurors, especially Juror 5 who is of similar race to the accused. However, it isnt just the jurors own personal prejudice that affects the way they vote. The prosecution of the boy led the jurors to believe that he was a guilty beyond all doubt. Also, the boys representation was uninterested and uncaring. ‘I kept putting myself in the boys place. I would have asked for another lawyer, I think. I mean, if I was on trial for my life Id want my lawyer to tear the prosecution witnesses to shreds, or at least to try. [Juror 8, page 14] This case was one of truth and justice. It becomes evident when the Juror 9 says to Juror 10. ‘Do you think you have a monopoly on truth? [Juror 9, page 8] The fact is, nobody really knows what the truth is, and at the end of the play, still nobody does. The boy may have been guilty, but as Juror 8 pointed out, who were they to make that assumption? Most of the Jurors had taken for granted that what the prosecution had told them was the truth. Through much discussion the Jurors realised that this mayShow MoreRelatedThe Film 12 Angry Men903 Words   |  4 PagesThe film 12 Angry Men, explores the issues of conformity, prejudice, and collaborative problem solving among twelve very distinctive men, each with different cultural and ethnic backgrounds. These disparities add to the intensity of jury deliberations surrounding an eighteen-year old Hispanic male, accused of killing his father. The story demonstrates how sociological biases impact the way with which people perceive inform ation. When facts become secondary to perception, challenges arise. The filmRead More12 Angry Men Movie Analysis782 Words   |  4 PagesTwelve Angry Men Analysis BA 321 Reaching a unanimous vote, beyond a reasonable doubt, was a difficult task for the jurors represented in the film, 12 Angry Men. All but one were convinced the boy on trial was guilty of first degree murder based on eye witness testimony and circumstantial evidence. Uncomfortably hot and sweaty, one intent on getting to a ball game, eleven of the twelve jurors had no intention to stop and think about the life contingent on their verdict. The entireRead 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. 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Dylan’s Hurricane creates a narrative that suggests racial bias and neglect on behalf of the townsmen and the police that imprisoned Carter these lyrics represent that idea â€Å"RememberRead More12 Angry Men Analysis3753 Words   |  16 PagesCBEB 2303 ORGANIZATIONAL BEHAVIOR 12 ANGRY MEN: MOVIE ANALYSIS TABLE OF CONTENT NO | SUBJECT | PAGE | 1 | Synopsis | 1 | 2 | Characters | 2 | 3 | Factor affecting decision making process: * Attitudes * Personality and values * Emotions and moods | 3-44-89-11 | 4 | Other barriers affecting decision making | 11-12 | 5 | Conclusion | 13 | 6 | References | 14 | 1.0 SYNOPSIS/SUMMARY: 12 ANGRY MEN The story is basically about 12 men (jurors) urged by the judge to come to an agreement