Produced by Christopher Creek

The Play (written in 1954): Social Context - McCarthyism

Joseph McCarthy

Ed. Murrowhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FQQaX2h1plo

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BIkU4MMQZ54&feature=related

The Play (written in 1954): Social Context - McCarthyism

Joseph McCarthyEd. 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 for 12 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)IntroductionJudge’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 BigotThe man of Integrity

Characterisation:

Juror 5

Attacked by Juror 3

Supported by 9

Experiences the prejudiceof juror 10

Given Opportunityby 8

(feelings) Dismissed by 1

Characterisation:

Juror 10

9

10

1

6

42

11

Characterisation: Alignments

Lawful Good Neutral Good Chaotic Good

Lawful Neutral True Neutral Chaotic Neutral

Lawful Evil Neutral Evil Chaotic Evil

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.

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.

“... It’s not easy to stand alone against the ridicule of others. He gambled for support and I gave it to him.

Hey, you just take care of yourself, you know.

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.

Characterisation: Character quotes:

6. You oughta have more respect, Mister. You say stuff like that again and I’m gonna’ lay you out.

8. I’m not trying to change your mind, it’s just that we are talking about someone’s life here.

11. I don’t believe I have to be loyal to one side or another, I’m simply asking questions.

2. You can’t send someone off to die on evidence like that.

9. .. It’s not easy to stand alone against the ridicule of others. He gambled for support and I gave it to him.

7. Hey, you just take care of yourself, you know.

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.

10 .You know how these people lie, it’s born in them.

5.I used to play in a backyard that was filled with garbage. Maybe it still smells on me.

1. Please, please ...

12. Um, if no-one else has an idea, I have a cutie, here. I mean I haven’t put much thought into it ....

Characterisation: Character role-traits:

Timid,Cowered

Ineffectual inLeadership

Intimidating,Hurt Bully,vengeful

Dispassionate/ Rational

Disempowered,Knowing

Unqualified,Decent

Hedonistic,Sports fan

Integrity,Empathy

Prejudiced,Bigot

Enlightened,Keeper of Values

Hollow,Vacillating

BypassedWisdom

Juror no. 1 (Foreman)The Ineffectual Leader

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.

Key Script: Cut and run when it get’s too hard.

Juror no. 2The Intimidated Man

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.

Key Script: Avoid getting hurt; “go along to get along”.

Juror no. 3The Intimidating Man

(Hurt Bully)

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.

Key Script: Shout to be heard and to get your own way.

Juror no. 4The Rational Man

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: Dispassionate Rationalism can be just another cover; does not guarantee justice.

Key Script: Head over heart ... That’s the way to do life.

Juror no. 5The Disempowered Man

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.

Key Script: No one listens to me so why say anything.

Juror no. 6The “Unqualified” Man

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.

Key Script: I’m not qualified – leave it to others who are better at it.

Juror no. 7The Hedonistic Man

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.

Key Script: Don’t inconvenience me; my pleasure/convenience comes first.

Juror no. 8The Man of Integrity

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).

Key Script: Take responsibility seriously. Care about others.

Juror no. 9The Wise Man

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.

Key Script: It doesn’t hurt to listen.

Juror no. 10The Bigoted Man

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.

Key Script: Everyone has to be like “me”.

Juror no. 11The Enlightened Man

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.

Key Script: Don’t let it happen to others.

Juror no. 12The Hollow Man

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.

Key Script: I’ve got nothing; that is, unless you like it.

Juror no. 12The Hollow Man

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.

Key Script: I’ve got nothing; that is, unless you like it.

Turn and Talk…

Create 2 columnsIn 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.