Produced by Christopher Creek

Produced by Christopher Creek

The Play (written in 1954): Social Context - McCarthyism Joseph McCarthy Ed. Murrow http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FQQaX2h1plo http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BIkU4MMQZ54&feature=related

The Play (written in 1954): Social Context - McCarthyism Joseph McCarthy Ed. Murrow Arthur Miller http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/USAmccarthyism.htm http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/McCarthyism http://apus-b.wikispaces.com/post+war+domestic-political+cartoons

Reginald Rose [about his inspiration for12 Angry Men] It was such an impressive, solemn setting in a great big wood-panelled court-room, with a silver-haired judge. It knocked me out. I was overwhelmed. I was on a jury for a manslaughter case, and we got into this terrific, furious, eight-hour argument in the jury room. I was writing one-hour dramas for "Studio One" (1948) then and I thought, "Wow, what a setting for a drama!" In Upstaging the Cold War: American dissent and cultural diplomacy, 1940-1960 (Andrew Justin Falk) Rose is acknowledged as an antagonist of McCarthyism. Referring to his writing in An Almanac of Liberty (1954) Rose reflects “Issues that bother me are issues concerning people who want to impose their beliefs on others ... In a way, almost everything I wrote in the fifties was about McCarthy.” (Falk, p. 164).

Style : Naturalism and Realism (or in T.V. It is called “slice of life”). Naturalist theatre is confronting striving to present real life in its grittiness, interpersonal conflicts and everyday detail without theatrical artifice. It is also realist in that the narrative is carried by concrete action on stage and is rarely supported by theatricality or symbolism. • Language: The patterns are in keeping with the style and are natural to the social milieu and geographical setting represented. • The Style of dialogue is concrete and the vernacular makes reference to the common aspects of their lives. • Legal terminology is used with familiarity.

Act I (and key quotes) Introduction Judge’s voice: You are faced with a grave responsibility. (p.6) 8th Juror: It’s not easy for me to raise my hand and send a boy off to die without talking about it first. (p.12) The Second Vote: 4th Juror: Everyone has a breaking point (p.17) 5th Juror: There is something personal! (p.18) 8th Juror: People make mistakes (p.20) 9th Juror: It’s only one night. A boy may die. (p.25) Another Vote: 3rd Juror: There are no secrets in a jury room (p.26) 11th Juror: I have always thought that in this country a man was entitle to have unpopular opinions. (.27) 9th Juror: It’s not easy to stand alone against the ridicule of others (p.28) 8th Juror: He can’t hear you. He never will. 11th Juror: Facts may be coloured by the personalities if the people who present them

Act I (and key quotes) Third Vote: 11th Juror: I don’t believe I have to be loyal to one side or another (p.39) 8th Juror: Maybe all these things are so. But maybe they’re not (p.40) 10th Juror: You’re making out like it don’t matter what people say. (p.40) The Re-enactment: 3rd Juror: He’s got to burn, We’re letting him slip through our fingers (p.47) 8th Juror: You want to see this boy die because you personally want it, not because of the facts (p.47)

Act II (and key quotes) Fourth Vote: 11th Juror: We have nothing to gain or lose by our verdict. This is one of the reasons we are strong. We should not make it a personal thing (p.50) 3rd Juror: Let’s see who stands where (p.50) 3rd Juror: You took an oath in the courtroom (p.54) 7th Juror: I’m tellin’ ya they’re all alike. He comes over to this country running for his life and before he can even take a big breath he’s telling us how to run the show. (p.55) Fifth Vote: 11th Juror: In discussing such a thing as the murder potential w should remember that many of us are capable of murder. But few of us do. We impose controls on ourselves to prevent it (p.59) 7th Juror: All this yakkin’s gettin’ us nowhere... (p.62) 11th Juror: You have no right to play like this with a man’s life. This is a terrible and ugly thing to do. (p.63)

Act II (and key quotes) Unanimous Vote: 10th Juror: They are different. They think different. They act different. (p.64) 8th Juror: ... Prejudice obscures the truth (p.66) 8th Juror: But we have a reasonable doubt, and this is a safeguard that has enormous value in our system. (p.66) 3rd Juror: I don’t care whether I’m alone or not. It’s my right (p.71)

Characterisation: internal and external Primary Characters Secondary Characters Remaining Characters

Characterisation: Primary Characters The Vengeful Bully The Rational Man The man of Integrity The Bigot

Characterisation: Juror 5 Experiences the prejudice of juror 10 Attacked by Juror 3 (feelings) Dismissed by 1 Given Opportunity by 8 Supported by 9

Characterisation: Juror 10 2 4 6 1 10 9 11

Characterisation: Alignments You oughta have more respect, Mister. You say stuff like that again and I’m gonna’ lay you out. I’m not trying to change your mind, it’s just that we are talking about someone’s life here. “... It’s not easy to stand alone against the ridicule of others. He gambled for support and I gave it to him. Lawful Good Neutral Good Chaotic Good Hey, you just take care of yourself, you know. I don’t believe I have to be loyal to one side or another, I’m simply asking questions. You can’t send someone off to die on evidence like that. True Neutral Lawful Neutral Chaotic Neutral I don’t care whether I’m alone or not, it’s my right. Frankly, I don’t see how you can move for acquittal You know how these people lie, it’s born in them. Lawful Evil Neutral Evil Chaotic Evil

Characterisation: Character quotes: 6. You oughta have more respect, Mister. You say stuff like that again and I’m gonna’ lay you out. 5.I used to play in a backyard that was filled with garbage. Maybe it still smells on me. 2. You can’t send someone off to die on evidence like that. 3. I don’t care whether I’m alone or not, it’s my right. 4. Frankly, I don’t see how you can move for acquittal. 7. Hey, you just take care of yourself, you know. 1. Please, please ... 9. .. It’s not easy to stand alone against the ridicule of others. He gambled for support and I gave it to him. 11. I don’t believe I have to be loyal to one side or another, I’m simply asking questions. 12. Um, if no-one else has an idea, I have a cutie, here. I mean I haven’t put much thought into it .... 10 .You know how these people lie, it’s born in them. 8. I’m not trying to change your mind, it’s just that we are talking about someone’s life here.

Characterisation: Character role-traits: Dispassionate / Rational Timid, Cowered Intimidating, Hurt Bully, vengeful Disempowered, Knowing Unqualified, Decent Ineffectual in Leadership Hedonistic, Sports fan Hollow, Vacillating Enlightened, Keeper of Values Prejudiced, Bigot Integrity, Empathy Bypassed Wisdom

Juror no. 1 (Foreman) The Ineffectual Leader Key Script: Cut and run when it get’s too hard. Description: A small, petty man who is impressed with the authority he has and handles himself quite formally. Not overly bright, but dogged. He attempts to “cut and run” when things get difficult. Social Commentary: Ineffectual leadership (laissez faire and conflict avoidant) leaves the space for the potential for injustice.

Juror no. 2 The Intimidated Man Key Script: Avoid getting hurt; “go along to get along”. Description: A meek, hesitant man. Although he is aware he is easily intimidated and finds it difficult to maintain any opinions of his own. Needs the courage of others if he is to stand up. Social Commentary: Those without courage create the opportunities for injustice, will follow the “strong” person.

Juror no. 3 The Intimidating Man (Hurt Bully) Key Script: Shout to be heard and to get your own way. Description: A very strong, very forceful, extremely opinionated man within whom can be detected a streak of sadism. He is a humourless man (in this context) who is intolerant of opinions other than his own and accustomed to forcing his wishes and views upon others. A Bully. Social Commentary: a)Intimidation is a valid process for getting what you want; b) When everything is personal justice is denied.

Juror no. 4 The Rational Man Key Script: Head over heart ... That’s the way to do life. Description: Seems to be a man of wealth and position (Stockbroker). He is a practiced speaker who presents himself well at all times. He seems to feel a little bit above the rest of the jurors. His only concern is with the facts in this case, and he is appalled at the behaviour of the others. Social Commentary: DispassionateRationalism can be just another cover; does not guarantee justice.

Juror no. 5 The Disempowered Man Key Script: No one listens to me so why say anything. Description: A disempowered, very frightened young man who takes his obligations in this case very seriously; but, who finds it difficult to speak up when those with authority have the floor. He comes from the same disadvantaged background as the defendant. Social Commentary: The voiceless and disempowered are at the mercy of others but are unlikely to get it. Yet they have a legitimate voice and need to be heard.

Juror no. 6 The “Unqualified” Man Key Script: I’m not qualified – leave it to others who are better at it. Description: An everyday honest working man but somewhat dull-witted. He comes to his decisions slowly and often guided by others. A man who finds it difficult to create positive opinions, and therefore listens to, digests and accepts those opinions offered by others which appeal to him most; especially, those who have authority over him. However, he is a moral man and can stand up for those being treated badly. Social Commentary: a) That fear-based decision-making has negative ramifications; b) Those that leave critical thinking to others are part of the problem – they fail the democratic process and the pursuit of justice.

Juror no. 7 The Hedonistic Man Key Script: Don’t inconvenience me; my pleasure/convenience comes first. Description: A loud, brash salesman type who has more important things to do than to sit on a jury. He is quick to show temper, quick to form opinions on things about which he knows nothing. Is a bully and, of course, a coward. He is also about his own pleasures and convenience; moral virtue does not take precedence. Social Commentary: Those that place self-interest above their responsibility and civic duty are given to expediency and cannot be relied on for justice.

Juror no. 8 The Man of Integrity Key Script: Take responsibility seriously. Care about others. Description: A quiet, thoughtful, gentle man. A man who sees all sides of every question and constantly seeks the truth. A man of strength tempered with compassion. Above all, he is a man who wants justice to be done and will strive to see that it is. Takes responsibility! Social Commentary: If they are to remain alive, Democracy and Justice are an individual’s responsibility and must be deliberately and consciously engaged (sometimes courageously).

Juror no. 9 The Wise Man Key Script: It doesn’t hurt to listen. Description: A mild gentle old man long since defeated by time. A man who recognises himself for what he is and mourns the days when it would have been possible to be courageous without shielding himself behind his many years. However, he is also a wise man who has lived life sufficiently to know that other “voices” are worth hearing, especially those with the courage of their convictions. Social Commentary: Justice requires us to at least listen to the dissenter. Objectivity and compassion are two of the keys to the proper function of justice and democracy.

Juror no. 10 The Bigoted Man Key Script: Everyone has to be like “me”. Description: An angry, bitter man. He is a man who antagonises almost at sight. A bigot, who places no value on any human life save his own, a man who has been nowhere and is going nowhere and knows it deep within himself. Social Commentary: Through this character is described the potential danger of allowing racism and bigotry to go unchecked; xenophobia guarantees injustice will prevail. Bigotry can subvert the rights of individuals in a democratic society.

Juror no. 11 The Enlightened Man Key Script: Don’t let it happen to others. Description: A refugee from Europe who has come to this country in 1941. A man who speaks with an accent and who is self-conscious, humble, almost subservient to the people around him, but who will honestly seek justice because he has suffered through so much injustice. Social Commentary: If democracy and justice are to work they must be thoughtfully valued and rationally and logically defended at every opportunity.

Juror no. 12 The Hollow Man Key Script: I’ve got nothing; that is, unless you like it. Description: A slick, bright advertising man who thinks of human beings in terms of percentages, graphs and polls and has no real understanding of them. He is superficial, trying to be all things to all men, but wants to be thought of better than he is. He is not very intelligent. Social Commentary: His lack of defined point of view reflects America’s post-war materialism; hollow and vacillating – no sense of social responsibility, responsible thought or behaviour.

Turn and Talk… Create 2 columns In one column, list the characters who stand in the way of justice, starting with the most obvious one. In the other column, do the same for characters who stand for justice, starting again with the most obvious one.

Produced by Christopher Creek