Time To Kill Theme

Words: 848
Pages: 4

Explain how a text you have studied has challenged particular attitudes you hold in relation to its central issues.
The movie A Time to Kill starring Samuel L. Jackson and Matthew McConaughey, which is directed by Joel Schumacher, is a film that strongly challenges my particular attitudes regarding the central issues of racial discrimination and whether vengeance should be punished or not. The film is set in Canton Mississippi during the 1990’s, and is positioned around the rape of Carl Lee Hailey’s (played by Samuel L. Jackson) daughter. Hailey then seeks vengeance and kills the two white supremacists on the way to their trial. The movie is constructed around whether or not Hailey should be found guilty for the murder of the two rapists.
The ideology that vengeance is acceptable is portrayed through this film. This is depicted when Hailey is found not guilty for his crime and released on all charges. Even though the two men that raped his daughter had been caught and were on their way to be sentenced, Hailey decided to take the law into his own hands and kill them. This challenges my particular views, because I believe that
…show more content…
Hailey’s attorney Jake Brigance (played by Matthew McConaughey) tries to get the trial location moved to a place where Hailey would not be looked at differently due to his colour. This is because, Canton Mississippi had a history with the Klu Klux Klan (KKK) and Brigance feared that a trial like this could start a racial uproar. Brigance’s fears were realised when the KKK reignited and started causing havoc throughout the town. This challenges my attitudes towards how people should be treated. I have always believed that no matter what colour a person’s skin is, they should not be treated differently. This means that in a situation where there is no racism, the location of a trial like Hailey’s would not have to be relocated just because he is an African