Comparative Essay Sample: Democracy Poem and Twelve Angry Men

Charles W. Pickering once said, “A healthy democracy requires a decent society; it requires that we are honorable, generous, tolerant, and respectful.” The beauty of democracy comes from the beauty of a nation together. Democracy is not a perfect system, but once we understand we are all equal regardless of race, class, gender, we can make a difference. Langston Hughes' poem, Democracy, expressed his dissatisfaction and resentment against democracy. However, the play Twelve Angry Men addresses the benefits of democracy if it does justice to the people. Although the poem and play emphasize democracy, Rose's tone towards democracy is optimistic and impassioned, while Langston's tone towards democracy is bitter and impatient.

In the poem “Democracy,” Langston Hughes has no hope and his patience is shattering. Langston expresses in his poem that democracy will never come to him because he differs from the rest. There is no need for the expectation of democracy: “Democracy will not come. Today, this year. Nor ever. Through compromise and fear.” There is no hope toward democracy because people are holding back their thoughts on not having their promised rights. They won’t share their views because they are afraid. It’s hopeless that freedom, justice, and liberty will ever appear. Not today, not later, not ever. This causes Langston’s patience to slowly run out: “I tire so of hearing people say, let things take their course. Tomorrow is another day. I do not need my freedom when I’m dead. I cannot live on tomorrow's bread.” There is irritation toward the people’s thoughts about justice. He cannot accept the fact that people are used to being treated this way as a bunch of nobodies. They want to get over the days, not a single bit of hope for freedom. He cannot stand this, he is eager for freedom. It states that “I do not need my freedom when I’m dead. I cannot live on tomorrow's bread.” He doesn’t care for freedom when he’s not alive, he wants justice to be served to him just like everybody else. He states that “I have as much right. As the other fellow has to stand. On my two feet. And own the land.” There is impatience. They want freedom just as any other human can have justice that follows them. The desire to be free without the corrupt democracy holding them back. In conclusion, Langston Hughes is in despair at the thought of democracy.

In the play Twelve Angry Men, Reginald Rose believes that there are benefits of democracy and there is hope. In the play, twelve jurors are deciding the faith of a young boy who supposedly murdered his father. The jurors have to discuss reasonably and thoughtfully to either protect or send this boy away. While having the discussion, the jurors must remember to keep their biases out of the discussion: "8TH JUROR: It’s very hard to keep personal prejudice out of a thing like this. And no matter where you run into it, prejudice obscures the truth. Well, I don’t think any real damage has been done here. Because I don’t know what the truth is. No one ever will, I suppose. Nine of us now seem to feel that the defendant is innocent, but we’re just gambling on probabilities. We may be wrong. We may be trying to return a guilty man to the community. No one can know. But we have a reasonable doubt, and this is a safeguard that has enormous value in our system. No jury can declare a man guilty unless it’s sure. We nine can’t understand how you three are still so sure. Maybe you can tell us". Rose focuses on the fact that doubt could change the entire case. Rose believes that if we keep our own biases and unreasonable conclusions, we could come to a reasonable verdict. That way, we can conclude true faith for the defendant. Rose also says that we can never be too sure. Some may be wrong. But if we give our time to democracy itself, there would be lots of problems resolved. Rose is passionate that we can make a difference in democracy. We remember that before we can make our verdict, we must either prove the defendant wrong or prove them right. “FOREMAN: OK. [To the 2ND JUROR.] That means you’re first. 2ND JUROR: Oh. Well . . . [He pauses nervously.] Well, it’s hard to put into words. I just—think he’s guilty. I thought it was obvious from the word go. I mean nobody proved otherwise. 8TH JUROR: Nobody has to prove otherwise. The burden of proof is on the prosecution. The defendant doesn’t have to open his mouth. That’s in the Constitution. You’ve heard of it. 2ND JUROR [flustered]: Well, sure I’ve heard of it. I know what it is. I—what I Mean— well, the man is guilty. I mean, somebody saw him do it. [He looks around helplessly.]” In our justice system, Rose highlights they cannot accuse the boy of "guilt" just because there is no counterclaim visible. Rose believes that the defendant is innocent until proven guilty. He is optimistic about the defendant’s rights. The job of the prosecution is to prove that the defendant is guilty based on fact. They cannot come to the verdict of "guilty" just because no one else proved otherwise. They must separate the facts from the fancy. As they move along in the discussion they all have a grave responsibility that they must remember, it shall not be clouded with biases. “We have a responsibility. This is a remarkable thing about democracy. That we are … what is the word? … Ah, notified! That we are notified by mail to come down to this place and decide on the guilt or innocence of a man we have not known before. We have nothing to gain or lose by our verdict. This is one of the reasons why we are strong. We should not make it a personal thing." Rose expresses that democracy is not and should not be a personal thing. It's a chance for the jurors to give in their all to make the right decisions for democracy. Democracy lets people who they have never known once come together to make sure that justice is served correctly. In conclusion, Rose hopes that if we come together, we can provide a healthy democracy for the people.

In conclusion, Langston Hughes and Reginald Rose had different points of view on democracy. Reginald Rose’s tone towards democracy in Twelve Angry Men was optimistic and passionate. Langston Hughes’s tone towards democracy in the poem “Democracy” represents irritation and hopelessness. What readers can take away from both works of literature is that democracy cannot be perfect. But with the right people and the right mindset, they can make a difference.