For students studying Year 11 Mainstream English, AOS1, Unit 2 Reading and Comparing Texts, the novel Montana 1948 by Larry Watson compared to the play Twelve Angry Men by Reginald Rose, they should look carefully at the Themes and Message of Authors in both texts.
Aspects of a Theme
Authors explore themes from different perspectives and use a range of characters and situations to consider different points of view, complexities, implications and consequences. This gives rise to different aspects of a theme as well as a number of related ideas. Look at the themes in both texts below noting how many are the same or different.
Themes in Montana 1984
| the importance of family | prejudice | family feuds & disagreements | growing up / adolescence |
| abusing power | justice / injustice | suicide | opinions |
| guilt | sexual harassment | deceit | law and order |
| loyalty | bravery | trust | responsibility |
| racism | innocence | oppression | discrimination |
| truth / lies / secrecy | murder | favouritism | moral integrity |
Themes in 12 Angry Men
| fallibility and memory | prejudice / sympathies | the value of facts | stereotypes |
| abusing power | justice / injustice | stubbornness / taking a stand | reflection of American society |
| guilt / innocence | doubt and certainty | death penalty | law and order |
| reasonable doubt | Judicial system | trust | duty |
| racism | social justice / social responsibility | honesty | discrimination |
| truth / lies | self interest | bigotry | moral integrity |
Important Aspect of the Theme ‘Justice’ in both Montana 1948 & Twelve Angry Men
Pay particular attention to the theme of ‘JUSTICE’ and specifically ‘the importance of achieving justice’ in both texts.
Message of Authors in regards to Justice
Rose examines the justice process through the microcosm of the jury room and the subsequent deliberations that take place. Watson explores this within the confines of the small town Bentrock in Montana. Both texts explore the flaws of the individuals who administer justice hinder its provision. Both texts reveal that justice is driven and achieved by the individuals which oversee its administration and as such, its achievement is dependent upon the overcoming of prejudice, self interest and abuse of power.
See also that Linked to ‘Justice’ is ‘Prejudice’ and ‘Abuse of Power
Message of Authors in regards to Prejudice
Rose presents prejudice as a consequence of individual prior experience and paranoia, a factor that results in subjective interpretations of the truth and justice. In contrast, Watson depicts prejudice as determinedly racial, systemic and ingrained within the social fabric of 1950’s Mercer County, not only skewing the justice process but the notion of which groups are deserving of justice.
Message of Authors in regards to Power and Abuse of Power
Watson exposes the people in positions of power like Julian Hayden who create their own version of the truth. In contrast Rose suggests that the American justice system will ensure that power does not equate to the creation of false truths. At the same time, he explores the decision-making process by the jury and their responsibility not to use power in a corrupt manner.
Draft Essay Prompt on Justice
Note this draft essay prompt on achieving justice in Twelve Angry Men and Montana 1948. I have colour coded the Introduction with the Main Contention in Red and the Message of Authors in Green.
Prompt ‘Both Twelve Angry Men and Montana 1948 explore the challenges in achieving justice.’
Introduction / Main Contention / Message of Authors
Both Reginald Rose’s Twelve Angry Men and Larry Watson’s Montana 1948 take place within the 1950s’ post-war American context, providing commentaries on the challenges which impede justice from being attained. Rose examines the justice process through the microcosm of the jury room and the subsequent deliberations which take place, while Watson explores this within the confines of the small town, Bentrock of Montana. Within both texts, the flaws of the individuals who administer justice hinder its provision. Rose presents prejudice as a consequence of individual prior experience and paranoia; a factor that results in subjective interpretations of the truth and justice. In contrast, Watson depicts prejudice as determinedly racial, systemic and engrained within the social fabric of 1950s’ Mercer County, not only skewing the justice process but the notion of which groups are deserving of justice. Furthermore, within both texts, self-interest is a factor which obstructs the legal process. Rose’s depiction of self-interest is depicted through the jurors’ frequent distractedness and consumer-driven nature, while Watson presents self-preservation and familial loyalty as being the chief factors that impede justice. Finally, both authors explore the abuse of power and responsibility through the corrupt nature of decision-making amongst both the jury and by the former Sheriff of Bentrock, Julian Hayden. Ultimately, each of the texts reveal that justice is driven and achieved by the individuals which oversee its administration and as such, its achievement is dependent upon the overcoming of the prejudice, self-interest and abuse of power.