Transcript 12 Angry Men Characters

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
11
9
Characterisation:
Character Binaries
3
2
4
8
10
9
7
11
These binaries
give a good
summary of
the key
conflicts
within the
play
Characterisation:
You oughta have
more respect, Mister.
You say stuff like that
again and I’m gonna’
lay you out.
Lawful Good
I don’t believe I have
to be loyal to one
side or another, I’m
simply asking
questions.
Lawful Neutral
I don’t care whether
I’m alone or not, it’s
my right.
Lawful Evil
Alignments
I’m not trying to
change your mind, it’s
just that we are
talking about
someone’s life here.
Neutral Good
You can’t send
someone off to die
on evidence like
that.
True Neutral
Frankly, I don’t see
how you can move
for acquittal
Neutral Evil
“... It’s not easy to
stand alone against
the ridicule of others.
He gambled for
support and I gave it
to him.
Chaotic Good
Hey, you just take of
yourself, you know.
Chaotic Neutral
You know how these
people lie, it’s born
in them.
Chaotic Evil
Characterisation:
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.
Character quotes:
4. Frankly, I
don’t see how
you can move
for acquittal.
5.I used to
play in a
backyard that
was filled
with garbage.
Maybe it still
smells on me.
6. You oughta
have more
respect,
Mister. You say
stuff like that
again and I’m
gonna’ lay you
out.
7. Hey, you
just take care
of yourself,
you know.
1. Please,
please ...
12. Um, if noone else has
an idea, I
have a cutie,
here. I mean I
haven’t put
much thought
into it ....
11. I don’t
believe I have
to be loyal to
one side or
another, I’m
simply asking
questions.
10 .You know
how these
people lie, it’s
born in them.
9. .. It’s not
easy to stand
alone against
the ridicule of
others. He
gambled for
support and I
gave it to him.
8. I’m not
trying to
change your
mind, it’s just
that we are
talking about
someone’s life
here.
Characterisation:
Timid,
Cowered
Character role-traits:
Intimidating,
Hurt Bully,
vengeful
Dispassionate Disempowered,
/ Rational
Knowing
Ineffectual in
Leadership
Hollow,
Vacillating
Unqualified,
Decent
Hedonistic,
Sports fan
Enlightened, Prejudiced,
Keeper of Values
Bigot
Bypassed
Wisdom
Integrity,
Empathy
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: Dispassionate Rationalism 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.
A Look Around
the Table
Opinion Shapers
Opinion Facilitators
Opinion Followers
The Ineffectual Leader
The Hollow
The Timid
The Enlightened
The Aggressiveness Bully
The Bigot
The Dispassionately Rational
The “Bypassed” Wise
The Disempowered
The Carrier of Integrity
Opinion Shapers
Opinion Facilitators
Opinion Followers
The “Unqualified”
The “Hedonistic”
Opinion Shapers
The Ineffectual Leader
The Hollow
The Enlightened
The Bigot
The “Bypassed” Wise
The Carrier of Integrity
The Timid
The Aggressive Bully
The Dispassionately Rational
The Disempowered
The “Unqualified”
The “Hedonistic”
Opinion Facilitators
The Ineffectual Leader
The Hollow
The Timid
The Aggressive Bully
The Enlightened
The Bigot
The Dispassionately Rational
Bypassed Wisdom
The Disempowered
The Carrier of Integrity
The “Unqualified”
The “Hedonistic”
Opinion Followers
The Ineffectual Leader
The Hollow
The Timid
The Enlightened
The Aggressiveness Bully
The Bigot
The “Bypassed” Wise
The Carrier of Integrity
The Dispassionately Rational
The Disempowered
The “Unqualified”
The “Hedonistic”