Film Analysis: Twelve Angry Men

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Twelve Angry Men Essay
The film begins as we hear the judge’s instructions and see the young man we later learn is accused of murdering his father. The judge states, if there is a reasonable doubt you must bring me a verdict of not guilty and further says that it must be unanimous and the penalty is death. Twelve jurors, men of different classes with various backgrounds, file in to the jury room given the incredible responsibility of deciding whether there is reasonable doubt whether the accused boy committed the murder. Davis (juror #8) takes his responsibility to carry out justice seriously. We learn early on that he is the only one to initially vote not guilty. He seems to fully understand the concept of reasonable doubt and the value of human life. Throughout the deliberations he uses ethos, pathos and logos along with a calm and respectful demeanor to get the other eleven men to change their minds. He makes everyone believe that he entered …show more content…

We hear many discuss how the case is open and shut, preconceived notions about the accused and that more than one juror wants to get it over with as quickly as possible. The first vote for a verdict is taken and while some hesitate to raise their hand, all but one votes guilty. Davis is the only one to raise his hand for not guilty. When men question, make a few snide comments and ask if he really believes he’s not guilty he simply states, “ I don’t know.” In the conversation that follows he admits it wasn’t easy to raise his hand for not guilty but it’s not easy to send the boy off to die without talking about it. He further states to juror #7 I am not trying to change your mind. This is an excellent choice of words that in many ways set the tone for everything that followed. He is not confrontational, doesn’t say I’m right and you are wrong but simply asks for a

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