Kailey Clifford - 2/3/2020

2 - 03 - 2020

Kailey Clifford - Pd. 5

Aim: By analyzing the tone and diction of the dialogue, how can we assess the effect of “reasonable doubt” in the jury room?

For the Do Now, we talked about how prejudice affects decision making in the jury room. The general consensus was that the baggage of the jurors and their preconceived notions affect their decision making. Juror number 3, whose child was rebellious, hates “tough kids” and therefore easily believes the suspect is guilty. Juror number 10 has a low opinion of people from the slums, and also easily believes the suspect is guilty.

We then analyzed the syntax and diction of one of the jurors. Juror number 10 refers to people living in poverty as a “them”, making those people outsiders and separating from them. We spoke about what a reasonable doubt was, which is not being sure of a criminal defendant’s guilt to a moral certainty, meaning that they then can not be charged with the crime, due to the due process clause of the fifth amendment. We also spoke about what a hung jury, or a jury who can not reach a verdict, is and what changes the definition of the word reasonable. Reasonability changes from person to person, and is based around that person’s identity, which is created by many different factors, such as upbringing or race.

What did we learn?

We learned the results of reasonable doubt, and how your identity can affect it. In Twelve Angry Men, one person’s reasonable doubt manages to persuade half of the jury to rethink their vote, especially those with backgrounds similar to those of the suspect. Those who refuse to listen have had bad experiences with people similar to the suspect, or have a prejudice against him. 

Why did we learn it?

Everybody has a different identity, and therefore different standards for what may seem reasonable and what does not. Refusing to listen and only hanging on to your preconceptions is unhealthy and, at times, dangerous. In Twelve Angry Men, an extreme case is shown, where these preconceptions can get an innocent man killed.

 

How will we use what we learned?

We can use what we learned as a reminder to be more open-minded to others, especially in a time when hearing and sharing opinions is easier than ever and almost unavoidable. Everyone has lived a different life, and so nothing should be assumed about the person based on experiences with another person with a similar trait.