Literature Review “Twelve Angry Men” A play by Reginald Rose

Setting a jury room a large metropolitan city a hot and uncomfortable room late in the day is very important in the play because the men DO NOT want to be in the room the setting impacts the decision making process of the jurors; they will make a hasty decision possibly putting an innocent man to death as a result

Characters Juror Eight is characterized as... GREAT (remember: Juror Eight is great) the play’s protagonist being unsure at the beginning of the play regarding the guilt or innocence of the boy on trial refusing to put a person to death without discussing the facts of the case a morally courageous man who initially stands alone while the other jurors are all too willing to deliver a quick, guilty verdict someone willing to take the time and review the facts of the case as they were presented pointing out many inconsistencies that lead to a “reasonable doubt” of the defendant’s guilt

Characters Juror Three is characterized as... the play’s antagonist a heartless individual a bully who threatens other jurors a sadist who takes pleasure in other people’s pain and suffering the juror, who at the end of the play, stands alone; all the other jurors are convinced beyond a reasonable doubt that the boy did not commit the crime a father with problems in his relationship with his son; these family issues greatly influences his thinking and voting decisions

Characters Juror Nine is characterized as... the old man the first juror to support Juror Eight brave when he stands alone against the other jurors when he votes not guilty after the second vote

Characters Juror Ten is characterized as... a bigot who is intolerant of anyone who is different from him a juror who holds a negative view against the defendant because he is from the slums believing that all individuals from the slums are poor, worthless, liars.

Conflicts Man vs. Man -Juror Eight against Juror Three Man vs. Self -Juror Three against himself - Juror Ten against himself - (Both these men need to reconcile their beliefs and personal experience with the facts of the case.) Man vs. Society - Juror Eight against the entire jury ( The jury is a cross section of society)

Themes Moral Courage -This theme is developed through Juror Eight. -Juror Eight must stand up for his own beliefs despite the ridicule and scorn of the other jurors who all initially believe the defendant is guilty. -This theme is also developed through Juror Three. -By the end of Act three, all the jurors except Juror Three feel the defendant is ‘not guilty’. Juror Three is still influenced by his personal feelings against his son. He stands alone at the end, only to come around once he realizes he’s mistaken. -Juror Three swallows his pride and ‘does the right thing’ when he declares that the defendant is ‘not guilty’.