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Similarities Between 12 Angry Men And To Kill A Mockingbird

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Recommended: Fair trial in the trial process essay

Why Fair Trials Should Live Up to Its Name
The fathers of our nation believed that everyone has a right to a fair trial. However, when the fate of the defendant is put into the hands of a jury, it’s safe to say that prejudice comes into play. The two trials from the movie Twelve Angry Men by Reginald Rose and To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee are perfect examples of how trials, in reality, aren’t as fair as they appear to be. Although the two trials differ in regard to the final verdict, they are similar in regard to having prejudiced juries and the fact that the defendants in both trials were innocent from the start.
One difference between the two trials is that when it comes the verdict decided by the jury, the results are on opposite ends. …show more content…

In To Kill a Mockingbird, prejudice is noticeable because Tom Robinson is a colored man fighting against a white man’s alleged words. What makes it worse is that the jury is made of all white folks. The plaintiff, Mr. Ewell, claimed, “I seen that black nigger yonder ruttin’ on my Mayella!” (231). Every individual, when trying to earn people’s trust, will try their best showcase what they have in common. As for Mr. Ewell and the white jurors, their trait of similarity is the very idea that they all resent colored folks. The fact that Mr. Ewell specified “black nigger” shows that this method was his insurance to earning each and every one of the jurors’ votes. Still, though, in a prejudiced society like Maycomb, such an assurance wasn’t necessary- the fate of a Negro was decided long before the trial even started. Along the same lines, in 12 Angry Men, the defendant was brought up in the slums, thus creating an opportunity for the jurors to pounce on him with prejudiced views. The mere fact that the jurors would back their position with biased reasoning based on social class shows that their belief of the defendant’s guilt isn’t based solely on tangible, direct evidence. Despite the different reasons for biased views, it is plain that the judgments made by both juries were contaminated with

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Prejudice is defined by a preconceived opinion about something that is not based off reason or actual experience. This injustice has always existed in society. Through means of racial inequality, hate, stereotypes and jurors wanting to take an easy road out of trials, it makes appearances in court trials and the justice system. I believe that through the similarities and differences within the trails of Jefferson in A Lesson Before Dying and Steven Avery seen through this real-world court case accurately demonstrate the unacceptable, unchanging prejudice present in the justice system.

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This image shows how the people in Maycomb based their beliefs, about Thomas Robinson, by his skin color. Most whites who were at the trial, didn’t want to hear anything that Mr. Robinson has to say, because he was black. Since he was black, the whites automatically assumed Mr. Robinson was guilty. Mr. Robinson says he didn’t mean any harm toward Miss. Mayella. “Mr. Finch, I tried.

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In Harper Lee’s, To Kill a Mockingbird, it is shown that when people view justice through the eyes of society, true justice no longer exists. Despite all of Atticus’ effort to prove Tom’s innocence, he is declared guilty and sent to prison. During his trial, it eventually becomes apparent that Tom is innocent, but the entire trial was never actually about who the real convict was because, to society, it all came down to White v. Black. Atticus recognized this, and sadly found that even hoping for the innocent Tom Robinson to go free was a lost cause. He had known, from the beginning, what side society had chosen: race over true justice.

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In To Kill a Mockingbird, the racism of the time nullifies the argument of the black Tom Robinson and makes the story of white Mayella Ewell the only feasible story. When there was a trial in the 1930s in the American south, the whites always one. When Mayella Ewell accuses Tom Robinson of raping her, the accusation still stood, despite the lack of any incriminating evidence against Tom. In the courtroom, the white jury never question Mayella’s words, even when she disrespects them. Mayella says, “That nigger yonder took advantage of me an' if you fine fancy gentlemen don't wanta do nothin' about it then you're all yellow stinkin' cowards, stinkin' cowards, the lot of you” (251).

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In To “Kill A Mockingbird” Atticus Finch is faced with a hostile racist jury during the case of State of Alabama v Thomas Robinson, this court case in particular has stood out to me because I am going be faced with a similar hostile jury soon; I will be analyzing the closing argument made by Atticus in To Kill a Mockingbird to further prepare. In the closing argument made by Atticus there are several allusions and references to symbols that have an effect on the court. An example of an allusion used by Atticus’s closing argument would be the reference to the word yankee and the use

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English assessment - oral task " But if we expect justice for ourselves, we must support it for others." If we expect justice for ourselves, we must support it for others. Both To Kill A Mockingbird, written by Harper Lee, and Reginald Rose's 12 Angry Men portray themes of justice and challenge the audience's moral and ethical values. They both depict how a personal perspective of justice can lead to hypocrisy and injustice through the legal system.

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Don King once said, “Hypocrisy is the mother of all evil and racial prejudice is still her favorite child”. Hypocrisy if the root to many things such as,injustice,racism and prejudice these at first seem innocent but increases into a wildfire of hate,evil,and nefarious deeds. The citizens of Maycomb county would take a white man’s word to their grave as with a black man’s word is considered filth. These citizens only care for themselves as a “superior” race, then sympathizing to the others around them. In To Kill a Mockingbird Tom Robinson is put on trial,as he knows that at whatever cost he will be considered guilty just by the color of his skin.

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To have the ability to acquire and address compassion to others, have the willingness to think outside the box, while having confidence in yourself while standing up for the right thing are some major points Kill a Mockingbird and 12 Angry Men show us as readers and viewers. To Kill a Mockingbird and 12 Angry Men, show men who were able to use their attribute to show compassion for others, their eagerness to think outside the box, while having self-assurance the entire time. To let the readers to pick up, they are willing to do whatever it takes to bring across the legitimate element of concern. Atticus and Juror 8 show compassion through the way they treat others with the respect they deserve.

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