Prejudice Shown in Twelve Angry Men
Tweleve Angy Men is about a Puerto Rican youth on trial for stabbing his father to death. Twelve middle class white men are left to decide whether the boy is guilty or innocent. Twelve angry men shows the audience how prejudice interfers with fair treatment during a trial. Prejudice is observed in different ways during the movie. The most direct way it is shown is through racial prejudice. The young boy comes from a minority background and this became a major issue to the twelve jurors. Some of the twelve men enter the room with other preconcieved notions that are not driven by race. For example, juror number three is prejudice against the young boy because of his age which reminds him of his troubled son. Some Jururs already have preconcieved notions about the young boy based on his race and the fact he lived in the slums in a broken and dysfunctional home.
Juror number ten demonstrates racism by making judgements about this boy based on his race and socio-economic status. At the same jury meeting it is believed that the young boy is a criminal, because he lives in slums which is a breeding ground for criminals. Juror number ten supports this view by saying, “You're not gonna tell me that we're supposed to believe this kid, knowing what he is. Listen, I've lived among them all my life. You can't believe a word they say. You know what I mean. They're born liars.” Juror number ten never considers the evidence and facts that are stated within the case. He only uses them as proof that the young boy is guilty so he will be able to leave early and be done with the case. Some of the jurors assume the young boy is guilty because they believe he is a liar and criminal.
However, juror number eight believes the young boy is innocent and works hard to prove his innocence and fights against the prejudice. The eighth juror believes that it is possible that the young boy lost his knife and another person stabbed his father. The eight juror also is empathetic about the fact the boy had a hard life. He says,“Look, this boy's been kicked around all his life. You know - living in a slum, his mother dead since he was nine. He spent a year and a half in an orphanage while his father served a jail term for forgery. That's not a very good head start. He had a pretty terrible sixteen years. I think maybe we owe him a few words. That's all.” Juror number eight is convinced that the young boy is innocent. I don't want to give to much away, but I think the average viewer would be pleased with the ending. 12 Angry Men demonstrates that a jury must examine the evidence without holding prejudice against the accused.
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