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Abstract of 12 angry men
Abstract of 12 angry men
The flaws in 12 angry men
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In Twelve Angry Men, Reginald Rose presents a play on criminal justice that comments on modern justice as a whole. He suggests equality as a standard for justice. While equality is the minimum that a person deserves, the scenario that Rose illustrates in Twelve Angry Men shows that sometimes people do not receive that minimum. The lack of equality brings about other elements of justice to make up for and build upon it. Equality seems to spur the pursuit of justice, while raising the ever perplexing question of: what is justice?
Equality is supposed to be the essence of justice, yet Twelve Angry Men illustrates how it is not. Regarding equality in Twelve Angry Men, the jurors do not give equal treatment like they should from the beginning.
Venice is supposed to be a city of equality and religious tolerance, yet Shylock, a Jew, is scorned by society. Shylock poses questions against the outright prejudice: “Hath not a Jew eyes? Hath not a Jew hands, organs, dimensions, senses, affections, passions?” (the Merchant of Venice, Act 3 Scene 2 p.49). Is Shylock not human just like the Christians who ridicule him are? Jews and Christians are “fed with the same food, hurt with the same weapons, [and] subject to the same diseases”, yet Shylock is discriminated against for his religion. Because of this social inequality, Shylock desires revenge and justice. Like Rose, Shakespeare presents how an inequality spurs the search for justice. However, Shylocks’ tactic for justice is questionable. Shylock demands to cut a pound of flesh out of Shylock for breaking his bond. While this seems crazy, the law is on his side. Shylock, despite not receiving social equality from other people, is guaranteed equality under the law. This is unlike Twelve Angry Men in that Shylock cannot be denied “the course of the law,” while the defendant is denied his rights (the Merchant of Venice, Act 3 Scene 3 p. 64). Knowing the law in on his side, Shylock manipulates the rights he has to exact revenge on Antonio as he confidently proclaims that “the duke shall grant [him] justice” (the Merchant of Venice, Act 3 Scene 3 p. 64). But is what Shylock is doing
Why does it matter? Why do humans harp on the topics of justice and equality consistently? The answers to above mentioned questions aren’t easy to formulate, and they open up a door to greater questions about morality, humanity and so forth. Humans live in a cooperative society. The aim of this body of organization is to advance as a whole and individually simultaneously. John Rawls’ states this goal of human society in Distributive Justice published in 1979: “We may think of the human society as a more or less self-sufficient association regulated by a common conception of justice and aimed at advancing the good of its members.” Hence, our society is shaped by an idea of justice – one that is applicable to all members of this society, and this set conception of justice promotes the advancement of the society and the individuals living in
We are all different. We are all at least biased on one topic. Some people just look at the surface, while others dig deeper into the facts that were given. Reginald Rose demonstrated these points beautifully in 12 Angry Men. All of the Jurors bring a special part of their personality to the jury room, which is the beauty of having a jury. All of the jurors are different in their own unique way,
Rawls states that you cannot reimburse for the sufferings of the distressed by enhancing the joys of the successful. Fairness according to him occurs when the society makes sure that every individual is treated equally before the law and given a c...
People can be very prejudice. They may even discriminate against you for the color of your skin or maybe even where you’re from. This is why I believe people have a tendency to allow their prejudices to direct their decisions. Which is also shown in the play Twelve Angry Men.
Empowered figures in this great land speak of equality. Of fairness under the laws, or of liberty and justice for all, or that all men, as far as governmental jurisdiction is concerned, are created equal. But I say to you – This is far from the truth, though perhaps it is an untruth many would presume necessary for the good of society. Good people sharing my race are condemned to nigh infinite torment that departs only in death. Why must my children live in a society that dictates one’s fate on the basis of appearance over heart? Why, after having become forty years of age, is this a piece of the very fabric we have constructed our society upon? This must not be, for it goes against the very ideas of equality that
When most people think of justice, it commonly brings forward the words positivity, fairness, law, order, and other familiar words. However, in the Merchant of Venice, this is not the case. Justice is used negatively in a court case that reverses from putting Antonio, the convicted Christian merchant, on trial to Shylock, the Jewish money loaner asking for justice, to be put on trial. In the play, both mercy and justice are rejected because of the obvious influential bias that the character’s actions portray.
Venice, where this drama takes place, is a largely religious Italian City. Although filled with spiritual people, the city is divided into two different religious groups. Venice was primarily and dominantly a Christian society with Jews as it’s unfairly treated minority. Stereotypes classified Jews as immoral, evil, and foolish people while the Christians were graceful, merciful, and loving. Representing the Christian belief is Antonio who is summoned to court by a Jew who goes by the name Shylock. The cross between Christianity and Judaism begins as Antonio and Shylock create a legally binding bond. The bond’s fine print expresses that if Antonio cannot fulfill his debt to Shylock, Shylock will receive a pound of Antonio’s flesh. As learned in the play, Antonio cannot repay his debt and Shylock publically exclaims his need to receive fulfillment of that bond. Hastily, Shylock is determined to obtain his pound of Christian flesh. Shakespeare provides his audience dist...
These are the words uttered by Martin Luther King Jr. as he fought for racial equality in his cell at the Birmingham County Jail. This famous quote is a perfect example of the common belief that justice is always fairness. Even though the two terms are synonymous, fairness is subjective, especially in law. In To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, Boo Radley’s life is exemplified by the statement that “extreme justice is often extreme injustice”.
Shylock in William Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice Shylock has been very badly treated by certain Christians and he
‘The Merchant of Venice’ is a play set in Italy in the late 16th Century, written by William Shakespeare. One of the main characters in the play is a cunning Jewish moneylender named Shylock. Shylock is part of a race that was discriminated against, despised and hated for their religion.
Equal treatment in society and under the law is the first step to equality in the United States, and then the rest of the world. Our country always seems to rise to the occasion when freedom and liberty are challenged, and this nation’s people pride themselves on that fact. So why shouldn’t the United States lead by shining example in the fight for equality? The equal treatment of all people is one of the largest steps society can make in the fight for equality, but that, of course, is not
Shylock is shown to be hard working (Goddard 5). Believe it or not, there is some compassion for the desecration of the Jews in Shakespeare's play. Antonio recognizes the futility of opposing Shylock's passion with reason. "He seems the depository of the vengeance of his race" (Goddard 11). Antonio consequently appears as a charitable Christian who lends money freely, in contrast to the miserly and extortionist Shylock, who preys upon the hardship of others in order to further, increase his own material wealth.
Shylock is a wealthy Jew who invests money into shipments and trades. When Shylock’s enemy, Antonio, requests a loan of 3000 ducats, “Shylock adopts this Christian model of "kind" lending in his bond with Antonio as a means for lawful revenge.” Shylock’s agreement is that if the ducats are not returned, Antonio must repay his loan in human flesh. This is a way for Shylock to either make money or kill a Christian, either will satisfy him. Lee describes Shylock’s feelings towards Christians, “Indeed, although Shylock will neither "eat," "drink," nor "pray" with the Christians, he is willing to "buy" and "sell" with them.” This is where Shakespeare first introduces the devil inside Shylock. Had Antonio been a Jew, there would not have been a payment of flesh. Shylock’s hatred propels the story from start to finish. His hatred causes him to lose his daughter, drives Portia to use her money and wit to save Antonio, and why he ends up losing
Shylock, in Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice, epitomizes emotion unrestricted by moral character or intellectual rationality. Shylocks' conversation at the beginning of act four, scene one clearly demonstrates this as the Duke and Antonio urge Shylock to use both his empathetic and rational abilities. Shylock’s humanity, a trait which would normally allow him to feel empathy, is doubted by Antonio who describes Shylock as. By calling him "stony" and "inhuman" and "empty," Antonio draws attention to Shylock’s clear lack of empathy and humanity, and furthermore, suggests that Shylock is deeply and inherently evil, describing him as something monstrous or animalistic.
At the end of The Merchant of Venice, Shylock has been both a victim and a villain. He is a victim of his religion, and a victim of his greed and overwhelming need for revenge. Shylock is definitely the most villainous character in the play, and only a few elements can show him as a victim overall, even then, his victimisation only seems to be a consequence of his own actions. His daughter running away, because of her treatment, and apparent lack of love. The taking of his assets, because he would show no mercy towards Antonio. The final conclusion must be that Shylock is unreasonable, spiteful, heinous, greedy - and a villain.