Heroism In Terry And 8th Juror

When there is suppression and exploitation of voices, standing up to a group can prove to be difficult to the unrecognised heroes. Both Terry and 8th Juror, the protagonists in the texts experience self-doubt in their journey to heroism through daring actions that eventually getting them to success. Whilst the reader can identify the initial courage in 8th Juror voting ‘not guilty,’ against the opposing jurors and the majority bias, the reader can note through the stage directions his anxiousness leading up to revealing his vote “The 8th Juror turns, startled.” He’s logical sense came forward unlike the biased and lazy judgement of the other jurors. “There were eleven votes for “guilty.” It’s not easy for me to raise my hand and send a boy
off to die without talking about it first.” In comparison to 8th Juror’s fearless act towards his moral beliefs, Terry Malloy the protagonist in On the Waterfront takes a little longer to adapt to his role of the hero which is depicted through Terry being captured behind fences in the beginning shots. The society Terry is faced with has sent him and many others into submission which is portrayed through Terry’s behaviour at the docks, through hands in pockets, hunched shoulders and non-verbal behaviours such as barely any eye contact and a mumbled voice. By the end of both mediums, when inner and situational conflicts have been obliterated, both protagonists have stood up for the right of the unspoken amongst the corrupt world.