abstract illustration of twelve angry looking human faces

Twelve Angry Men

by Reginald Rose

Start Free Trial

Editor's Choice

What quotes best illustrate the foreman's character in Twelve Angry Men?

Quick answer:

The quotes that best illustrate the foreman's character in Twelve Angry Men show him as a practical, level-headed moderator. He often steps in to maintain order, such as when he says, "I think that's a good point. We've got a job to do. Let's do it." He facilitates discussions without imposing his will, as seen in, "I'm not going to make any rules... we can vote right now and see how we stand."

Expert Answers

An illustration of the letter 'A' in a speech bubbles

"All right. Now, you gentlemen can handle this any way you want to. I mean, I'm not going to make any rules. If we want to discuss it first and then vote, that’s one way. Or we can vote right now and see how we stand."

The foreman doesn't have much of interest to say in Twelve Angry Men. His main role is to facilitate the deliberation, to guide the direction of the discussion. As the play progresses, however, he's forced to become something of a peace-maker, regularly getting involved to prevent the other jurors from tearing each other's throats out.

The above quotation, made just prior to the jury's deliberations, show us the foreman's attitude to the job at hand. These simple remarks also reveal a lot about his character. He has a responsible, business-like attitude to proceedings, and he treats the other jurors as mature adults capable of making their own decisions without in any way trying to influence their verdicts. He certainly has authority, but it's a quiet authority, not based on the imposition of will, but rather emanating from his obvious intelligence and the respectful way he conducts himself towards others.

Get Ahead with eNotes

Start your 48-hour free trial to access everything you need to rise to the top of the class. Enjoy expert answers and study guides ad-free and take your learning to the next level.

Get 48 Hours Free Access
Approved by eNotes Editorial