Can Justice and Fairness Prevail?: Unanimity and Other Problems of Procedure in 'Twelve Angry Men' Chad W. Cartledge 11th Grade

Twelve Angry Men by Reginald Rose is a drama based on the true systems and ideals put in place within the American Justice system. The 12 characters are all symbolic of the different aspects of western society. The story shows some of the flaws within the justice system, and how prejudice and ignorance cannot prevail if one just and fair person is willing to speak out. This is due to the concept of a unanimous decision, and if one person has a reasonable doubt, they are able to nullify all others opinions. Some of the characters in the narrative have preconceived notions which can overwhelm their morality and their ability to vote honestly and justly.

A unanimous decision amongst the jury is vital in the pursuit of justice; however, a unanimous decision does not necessarily mean that all jurors’ minds are absent of doubt. Twelve Angry Men shows that some jurors do not always have the confidence to voice their opinions due to peer pressure and a fear of ridicule. Juror 8 says, “It’s not easy for me to raise my hand and send a boy off to die without talking about it first.” He acknowledges the difficulty of going against the grain and standing against many others but is willing to overcome these pressures in order to give the boy...