12AM flashcards
J10 to all jurors voting ‘not guilty’ after the majority have changed their vote
Juror 10: ‘They are different. They think different. They act different…they don’t need any big excuse to kill someone’
•Rant = aggressive + racist
•discrimination, fear & bias undermine common identity →threaten American values
•J10 refuses to accept accused is not guilty due to his race / refuses to accept accused as ‘American’
•J10’s lack of acceptance + prejudice is in contrast to reason required of good citizens/true Americans
J10 justifies his decision to keep voting guilty / outburst
Juror 10: ‘we are living in a dangerous time, and if we don’t watch it, if we don’t smack them down whenever we can, then they are gonna own us’
•J10 creates ‘us vs them’ dichotomy / implies accused isn’t American so doesn’t deserve justice
•J10’s discriminatory rant ultimately alienates him from the process b/c it is un-American
•J10’s racism depicted as a sickness throughout play / other Jurors standing against it shows Am. refusing to allow itself to be ‘infected’ by intolerance →ideals preserved
J11 re: the American Justice system as tensions rise + J’s stand divided
Juror 11: ‘This, I have always thought, is a remarkable thing about democracy. That we are […] notified […] This is one of the reasons we are strong. We should not make it a personal thing.’
•spirit of citizenship –J11 was not born in America but, as an immigrant, keenly feels the need to uphold democratic values that make the country worth admiring
•working together allows justice to prevail + Am. to be it’s best, inclusive self
J7 @ J11 after J11 contradicts him
Juror 7: ‘I’m tellin’ ya, they’re all alike. He comes over to this country running for his life and before he even takes a big breath he’s telling us how to run the show…’
•J7 does not accept J11 as an American b/c of his immigrant status
•prejudice + discrimination make him petty →prevent him from seeing reasonable argument
Juror 8 to 3 jurors still voting ‘guilty’
Juror 8: ‘Prejudice obscures the truth […] But we have a reasonable doubt and this is a safeguard that has enormous value in our system,’
•with courage, sensitivity + perseverance, and by working together in a spirit of citizenship, Americans can establish fundamental equality
•J8 is stalwart + intent on seeing justice carried out appropriately / resolutely defends democracy and the rights of all to a fair trial
Before discussion begins
Juror 7: ‘This better be fast, I got tickets to a ball game tonight’
•J7 = impatient
•Personal weakness = apathy
•Sets tone of apathy + indifference –little care or concern for the life of the accused
•Implies apathy + indifference threaten American ideals
J9 explaining why he changes sides after 2nd vote
9th Juror ‘it’s not easy to stand alone against the ridicule of others’
•J9’s support reveals courage + integrity of J8
•this courage is required for rule of law to prevail
J9 changes his vote & argument ensues
Juror 11: ‘I have always thought that in this country a man was entitled to have unpopular opinions’
•J11 stresses value of freedom of speech
•spirit of citizenship –J11 was not born in America but, as an immigrant, keenly feels the need to uphold democratic values that make the country worth admiring
•must be open minded to complete civic duty
J3 ultimately changes his vote to not guilty
J8: “It’s not your boy. He’s somebody elses”
J4: “Let him live”
J3: “All right. Not guilty”
• Everyone= against him
• Realises that his emotion is getting the better of him.
• Prejudice b/c relationship with son= clouding judgement.
• Pride + ego -> can’t admit that he is wrong.
After the final verdict is reached
Stage direction: the 3rd juror rises. The 8th juror helps him on with his jacket
• with courage, sensitivity + perseverance, and by working together in a spirit of citizenship, Americans can establish fundamental equality which is the bedrock of Am society.
• The matter of the verdict is not a personal matter- J8+ J3 are both just Am men doing their civic duty.
J3 to J8 during the outburst at the end of Act 1
J3: “For this lid, you bet I’d like to pull the switch”.
• J3 weakness-> personal bias/ jeopardises Am democracy-> Justice.
• Own personal experience prevent him from acting
with reason/ sense. -> “I’m only interested in the facts”.
J3 to J5 after accusing him of changing his vote
J3: “look, I was a little excited. I didn’t mean to get nasty”.
• J3 prejudice to J5 b/c he thinks J5 was supporting “not guilty” vote.
• J3 angry+ paranoid-> accusatory of other jurors.
• J3’s sense of aggression+ lack of control is in contrast to reason required of good citizens.
• Personal weakness threatens Am ideals.
As J11 shares his reasoning.
J3: “Listen, you voted guilty didn’t you? What side are you on”.
J11: “I don’t believe I have to be loyal to one side or the other. I am simply asking questions”.
• J3 angry+ paranoid-> accusatory of other jurors.
• J3’s sense of aggression + lack of control is in contrast to reason of good citizens.
• J11 stresses the value of freedom of speech+ democracy.
• Spirit of citizenship –J11 was not born in America but, as an immigrant, keenly feels the need to uphold democratic values that make the country worth admiring.
