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English

Presentation

Submitted by:
Sakshi Naik
Fourth Year, BSLS
Roll no.: 100
Topic: Critical Analysis of
Mr. Havlena’s Verdict by Karel Capek
Introduction of the author
 Karel Capek was a Czech writer,
playwright and critic.
 He has become best known for his
science fiction, including his novel
War with the Newts and play
Rossum's Universal Robots.
 He also wrote many politically
charged works dealing with the
social turmoil of his time.
Influenced by American pragmatic
liberalism, he campaigned in favor
of free expression and strongly
opposed the rise of both fascism and
communism in Europe.
Summary
 Mr. Havlena, a law student who discontinued
his studies used to supply cases for police
reporters.
 One day Havlena imagined a case. It was the
case of an old bachelor who had a quarrel with
a widow who lived. So he got a parrot and
trained it well so that wherever the lady
appeared on her balcony it screeched “You
slut”. The woman brought an action against
him for defamation of character. The district
courts sentenced him to 14 days
imprisonment.
 The case appeared in six newspapers. The
Ministry of Justice decided to file an appeal
against the order of the district court.
 Havlena was not prepared to take this disgrace.
 He got a parrot, trained it up and made it utter
the same words at an old woman living
opposite to his house. Contrary to his
expectations the woman was not offended.
Havlena successfully persuaded her to bring an
action against him.
 When the case came up for a trial, in spite of
Havlena’s strong arguments admitting the
allegations, the Court found no reason in it and
acquitted Havlena. Havlena filed an appeal
which was dismissed as well.
 Thereafter, Havlena was found loitering about
the street like a lost soul.
Conclusion

 The general trend of reporting sensational


criminal case in newspaper almost
everyday in order to attract the reading
public has been highlighted.
 Unfortunately, sensationalism is also being
used by the Indian media as an editorial
tactic to excite the greatest number of
readers and viewers.
 The style of news report encourages biased
manipulative impressions of events rather than
neutrality.
 Rather than making people aware of the on
goings around the world, it focuses on
presenting an exaggerated, distorted and
perverted version of insignificant events. This is
what is know as “Yellow Journalism”.
 Instances of yellow journalism in India: The
live coverage of Taj Mumbai terror attack,
Aarushi murder case, extensive coverage of
Nirbhaya rape issue.
 Media needs to strike a balance between fair
trial and media trial, right to information and
right to privacy.
 The media is termed as the “Fourth Pillar” of
Indian democracy. If it has been given such
status, it must also abide by the responsibilities
that comes with it.
Thank you.

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