Twelve Angry Men and Defence Mechanisms: A Psychoanalytic Study of Characters Three and Ten

Abstract

This research presents a psychoanalytic study of the prominent Defence Mechanisms used by Characters Three and Ten in Reginald Rose’s play, Twelve Angry Men. Based on Freudian theory, the study explores how these two characters use the prominent defence mechanisms to maintain their psychological balance during a murder trial. The analysis shows that their behaviour is driven by hidden internal conflicts rather than logical evidence. Through focusing on these specific characters, the research fills a gap in previous studies which often focus on legal or social aspects rather than a Freudian psychological perspective. The research relies on analysing the play’s text through Freud’s concepts of defence mechanisms (Repression, Denial, Rationalisation, Displacement, and Projection) focusing on the role of Character Eight in dismantling these mechanisms by reconstructing the evidence. The analysis reveals that the collapse of these characters’ defences leads to an admission of reasonable doubt, which confirms the importance of psychological awareness in the justice process and adds to the academic discussion by shedding light on unconscious dynamics in drama.