Ethics

The message of the film 12 Angry Men is never blindly submit to what is obvious, the truth could be different and often hidden beneath the layers that separate the obvious from the reality and the truth.

The evidence seems strong. The 18-year old boy in the film is about to be judged guilty of murdering his father. Eyewitness accounts and circumstantial evidence point towards him. If he is found guilty, the accused boy would most probably be sent to death. The 12 jury members get together to decide the fate of the teenager. Henry Fonda, one of the 12 members and the Juror 8, introduces skepticism into what seemed a clear case of guilt.

When the 12 men sit down to deliberate, it first seems that this will be brief  an open and shut case  with 11 of the 12 convinced of the guilt of the accused, save Henry Fonda. He is not prepared to rush into any quick decision. This film is all about how this one man turns around the case and verdict.

Fonda, the lone voice of dissent, sows the seeds of doubt which later grows into a lively and thrilling debate. His argument that guilt cannot be proved beyond reasonable doubt makes the other 11 come round. Now there is a new-found sense that it is not an open-and-shut case. This enables others to one by one put on their thinking caps, think with better logic and formulate arguments establishing there is room for doubt.

In the Movie 12 Angry Men the young man on trial for murder appears on screen only momentarily its opening scene of the courtroom drama. The entire remainder of the film runs around the jury room where 12 men must decide his fate. As was typical of the juries in the USA up to the 1950s, this jury is 100 per cent male and 100 per cent white  not exactly a cross-section of America, even for those times. Their deliberations, on a hot day in New York City, make for one of the most intense, thrilling and fascinating films ever to be set almost entirely in one claustrophobic jury room.

The film brings to life the characters of the 12 jurors. The heated arguments show up the hidden strengths of some, and expose the weaknesses of others, making it an occasion for a personal awakening for many of the characters. The old gentleman (Juror 9) symbolizes courage of conviction and the willingness to listen to alternative opinions who is the first among the other jurors to firmly rally behind Fondas character. This character, who appeared low in confidence and started out by asking whether he could pass when asked to vote, transforms into a serious and sensible thinker pointing out numerous holes in the prosecutions case.

For 90 minutes, we watch their arguments, body language and the human politics as these men hash out their decision. Each character in the film is finely drawn. Every character is distinct, unique and interesting and every role is thought provoking.  Of the outstanding characters, we notice Juror 10 (Ed Begley) is seething with anger and boiling over with prejudice. Juror 3 (Lee J. Cobb) is poisoned by his domestic unhappiness and resentment. Juror 5 (Jack Klugman) comes from the same social class as the accused, so is unusually sensitive to others bigotry. And Juror 12 (Robert Webber) is more interested in chit-chatting about his job in advertising. The dynamic and hidden emotions and passions among these men gradually evolve as they discuss the case, with Juror 8 (Fonda) refusing to let them rush to a quick and hasty judgment. 12 Angry Men is a fabulous film in which every element works. The script is tight making the situation both plausible and fascinating, the dialogues sharp and the entire proceedings packed with meaning, excitement and sense. Sidney Lumets efficient and sensible direction keeps things almost perfectly on track.

12 Angry Men explores the predispositions and emotions of men and the good and bad that emerge out when they are tossed together and forced to reach a unanimous decision on the fate of another man. While in the present real life situations, the composition of juries might change over time, but the issues and attitudes that are explored here are timeless, as is this classic film.

To apply the message of the movie 12 Angry Men in real life, we should notice that with his strong personality one man gradually changes several others. Majority are followers, not leaders. Not because they lack the qualities and character, but their positive qualities often get overshadowed by some petty weaknesses such as fear of criticism, fear of risk, fear of unknown, lack of confidence, what others may think, what if everyone leaves him alone,  and so on. A leader stands by what he feels is correct, a good leader defends the weak and meek, and a dynamic leader takes initiative and even risk. He has to face the initial opposition and discouragement, but once things get going, he would be the victor. A change-maker stands aloft in the midst of oppositionwhen things get tough, the tough get going. A leader stands by his ethics, in spite of the intense opposition. In the long run a man who thinks, expresses and acts wins.

Let us sum up the important lessons of the movie. Prejudice gets in the way of the truth but if you persist with truth, prejudices will ultimately break down. Getting to the bottom of a complex issue takes time and effort, but it pays in the long run. Check your intuitions, and neither ignore them nor trust them blindlyapply your thinking. Getting into details can be crucial and important while exploring the truth. There are several interpretations of the facts, so apply your mind and experience to get to the right interpretation. Listen to others opinions, question their assumptions, and draw your own conclusions. Civility will encourage your opponents to keep listening to you and after some time to become your supporters. Tailor your tactics and logic to your target. Coalitions can work for or against you, but you can make them shift in your favor. Reason and assertiveness can both be powerful tactics, and if they are supplemented by effective communication skills, you get the best results. Patience, silence and persistence can both be powerful, applied at the right times. One determined individual change several others.

If we observe the leadership qualities and group practices in real life, as done by Henry Fonda in the film, gradually rivalries are eliminated, opposing views get mediated and, in the end, it contributes to developing coalitions and a cooperative community. On a practical and personal note, we can apply these qualities with our colleagues in the office, friends in the colleges and schools and family members to create a cooperative, productive, and moral community in our own work setting.

Leadership is ones ability to get others to willingly follow. Every organization and every walk of life needs leaders at every level. The following 10 character traits are needed in every good leader The top 10 leadership qualities are vision, integrity, dedication, magnanimity, humility, openness, creativity, fairness, assertiveness and a sense of humor. The above traits, skills and qualities apply to any domain in the practical like, including industry, management, politics, sports, debates and also in our daily social relations. In politics Gandhi, Martin Luther King Jr., and Nelson Mandela are some of the individuals who followed the path of non-violence and passive resistance, yet they wielded great influence on the people and became the leaders of change. In the domain of religion come Buddha and Jesus who influenced people with their simple yet forceful personalities, still have millions or billions of followers in the world. Let us remember that most of the successful, good and great leaders are people with ordinary skills but with extraordinary determination and persistence.