“Guilty… guilty… guilty… guilty…” (Lee 282) were the jury’s final verdicts in the case of Tom Robinson. Would the outcome have been different if Tom had been white? This first-person story from Scout’s perspective tells about a black man named Tom Robinson, who is accused of raping the daughter of Mr. Ewell. A well respected and skilled lawyer, Atticus Finch, chooses to defend Tom Robinson, and ignores the disapproval he receives for protecting a black man as he feels that it is the right thing to do. Similarly, a lawyer from New York named Leibowitz puts aside his self-dignity and helps save the Scottsboro Boys from prejudice. In both To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee and The Trial of the Scottsboro Boys by Linder Douglas, a symbolic character …show more content…
Harper Lee adds this to help the audience visualize the moral obligation and strong will Atticus has to guard Tom, who is at risk of facing an unfair trial due to his skin color. Moreover, he does not care about how defending Tom will affect his reputation, and this teaches Scout about the difference between the right and the easy decision. Later, Mr. Underwood explains to Scout, “Atticus had used every tool available to free men to save Tom Robinson, but in the secret courts of men’s hearts, Atticus had no case. Tom was a dead man the minute Mayella Ewell opened her mouth and screamed.” (Lee 323). Even when the evidence overwhelmingly supports Tom Robinson’s innocence, the jury’s bias towards blacks convicts Tom as guilty and is the reason for his eventual death. However, Atticus’s strong efforts leads to a lengthy discussion about the verdict of Tom’s case, which creates hope for a turning point in Maycomb, where whites and blacks are treated equal, because no other trial involving a black person has taken this length of time. In summary, all the occurrences of injustice in To Kill a Mockingbird such as the trial of Tom Robinson are created by a group of people with the same immoral beliefs but can be fixed with strong determination …show more content…
In conclusion, if Atticus was able to obtain help in Tom’s case, the jury could have changed, and therefore would have affected the outcome of the trial.
The story of the Scottsboro Boys and Tom Robinson matters because it shows that racial bias is a serious problem in the world. However, the trials teach readers how inequality can be fought and beaten, with strong determination and will. Lee portrays the theme “inequality” very efficiently because many aspects of the novel show discrimination and injustice, such as the all-white jury. There is a surplus of historical tension in the US about inequality, primarily due to slavery and the “separate but equal” laws. This creates a personal impact to ninth graders because injustice can be found anywhere, like in school, workplace, or even a
Tom Robinson was put on trial on August 26th, 1935 for the raping of Mayella Violet Ewell and was found guilty not much longer after that. The crime, November 21st, 1934, has two different views- the Ewell’s and then Tom’s. I, Jem Atticus Finch, believe Tom Robinson is not guilty for numerous reasons. My dad, Atticus Finch was the defendant of Tom Robinson and I too wish to defend him. I’m a twelve year old boy living in Maycomb County with my Aunt, father, and sister.
This past week has been rough for the Robinson family. After a racist jury choose to make an innocent man guilty things went from bad to worse. Atticus Finch was chosen to defend Tom Robinson. This particular case was against Mayella Ewell, a white woman. As a black man Tom was already at a disadvantage.
Have you ever heard of to Kill a Mockingbird book? Well if not tune and keep reading. Atticus Finch is a father of 2 kids Scout and Jem. He works as a lawyer and he tries to teach his kids to do good and best things. Mayella and Bob Ewell's went to court to accuse Tom Robinson of rape.
John Crinnion 4-24-17 Ms. Haag English Racism has been a big problem in America all throughout history and up until now. The case of Tom Robinson in “To Kill a Mockingbird” raping Mayella Ewell was racially charged. Mayella said this because she came onto Tom and he denied her. There was choke marks of hands all the way around her throat and Tom only had one movable hand, his left hand got caught in a cotton gin. There was marks on the right side of her face meaning that Tom would have to have punched Mayella with his bad hand.
The ever present distaste from whites in Harper Lee’s novel, To Kill a Mockingbird, shows the issues that blacks had to deal with constantly. Lee was able to portray this hatred by putting and important character, Tom Robinson a black man, on an unjust trial for the alleged rape of a white woman, Mayella Ewell. This classic story reveals the awful conditions and intense racism during this time in the southern Unites States. Some of the many African Americans affected by southern white racists in court or otherwise include the Scottsboro
Atticus is Scout’s father and a lawyer who demonstrates the values of compassion, thoughtfulness, honesty, and morality, “I couldn’t go to church and worship God if I didn’t try to help.” (109) Atticus symbolizes courage for Tom Robinson through the values that make Atticus an outstanding defender. This is why “the court-appointed Atticus to defend him [Tom Robinson].” (166) Atticus believed that everyone, black or white should be given a chance to be proven not guilty. Atticus knew it was “the right thing to do at the time.”
Many people are unfairly judged, whether that be on first impressions, or how someone thinks someone should be based on stereotypes. In the novel, “To Kill a Mockingbird” by Harper Lee we are shown that people are often wrongly discriminated against for their personal beliefs, outward appearance, or ideas through the Tom Robinson court case, the characterization of Boo Radley, and The Ewell family. Throughout the novel, Tom Robinson’s court case plays a crucial role in the development of the theme. Tom Robinson was a black man who had a disability that made it unlikely for him to be able to overcome anyone easily.
Despite racial inequalities in the South, Atticus sticks to his own morals and agrees to be the defending lawyer for Tom Robinson, a black man being accused of raping a white woman. Although Atticus’ defense in court was thorough and clearly proved Tom’s innocence, the jury was prejudiced towards black folks and convicted Tom as guilty. Nonetheless, Atticus is still a hero despite losing the case. He has the courage to stand up for what he believes in, fights with reason rather than guns, and has utmost determination, making him a hero despite being just an average human being. Ultimately, his thoughts and actions set the stage for major changes in the meaning of equality throughout Maycomb County, changing lives of numerous people.
Atticus, a lawyer, faces the difficult task of defending Tom Robinson, a black male, against the accusations of rape. Judge Taylor asks Atticus to defend Tom and he accepts, knowing that his decision will cause chaos around him. Tom Robinson deserves a defense under the law and Atticus knows he is the best or only person to provide that defense. Scout asks Atticus why he took the case if some believe he shouldn’t, and he responds by saying, “if I didn’t, I couldn’t hold up my own head in town, I couldn’t represent this county in the legislature, I couldn’t even tell you or Jem not to do something again” (Lee 86). Atticus, aware of the racial tension and disapproval in Maycomb’s white community, chooses to do the right thing.
In To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee explores the dynamics of a loss of innocence through racism, unique perspectives, and exposure to an unjust society. Because of Calpurnia’s background, she is able to instill values of equity in the children. In Tom Robinson’s trial, Harper Lee illustrates how fear and racism are more powerful than reason and moral integrity. Because of Scout and Jem’s exposure to their immoral society, they come to dramatically different conclusions of good and evil. Through the numerous life lessons that constitute their maturing, the children are taught to recognize human nature.
In Harper Lee’s “To Kill a Mockingbird,” the trial of Tom Robinson serves as a key coming of age scene for the protagonist, Scout. Through the use of symbolism, imagery, and metaphor, Lee develops the theme of racial injustice and the loss of innocence. Symbolism is evident in the mockingbird, which represents innocence and purity. Tom robinson, like the mockingbird, is innocent and has done nothing wrong, yet he is unfairly accused and convicted due to his race. The imagery of the courtroom with its stark contrast between the black and white attendees, highlights the racial divide and prejudice present in the trial.
To Kill a Mockingbird Argumentative Essay Racial equality and discrimination is a founding issue that has been spread throughout every part of the world, To Kill A Mockingbird was written and published by Harper Lee in 1960, this time was dominated by civil rights protests and some of the first hippie movements following the crushing reality of the Vietnam War, the 60s also saw the struggle against segregation and racial equality. It is no surprise that the extreme political conflict affecting her life and world would greatly impact her writing and influence how she perceived the world during the writing of To Kill a Mockingbird. the influence of the fight for racial inequality is shown greatly in her book as she depicts the everyday life
In chapters 17-24 in To Kill A Mockingbird, Jem and Scout observe their father in court defending Tom Robinson (a black man) from the accusations of the Bob Ewell (a "low grade ' ' white man). Bob Ewell accuses Tom Robinson of sexually assaulting his daughter; Mayella Ewell. Before the fate of Tom Robinson is given in the possession of the jury, both lawyers have a final attempt at convincing the jury that Tom Robinson should/shouldn 't be prosecuted. Atticus starts off his closing remarks with the fact that he believes that the case should have never come to trial and that the case "”is as simple as black and white."
Tom is a man of color who is accused of raping a nineteen year old girl, Mayella Ewell. Atticus is defending him but Tom is black, so he was never going to stand a chance. Tom “was a dead man the minute Mayella Ewell opened her mouth and screamed” (279). Due to the setting of the novel Lee chooses to write in, “Atticus has no case” (276) at defending what most people were saying was “trash” (119). Saying he has no case explains that Atticus is never going to be able to keep Tom out of jail because he is accused of a crime but he is black and Mayella is a young, white girl.
Atticus Finch’s closing remarks to the jury consisting of white men, towards a case involving the accused rape of a young woman by a black man, are arguably the strongest words spoken within the entirety of To Kill a Mockingbird. During this monologue, Harper Lee establishes a resigned tone and uses the tone to establish a universal theme of the struggle for equality. Despite knowing the true cause of Mayella Ewell’s injuries, Atticus knew he would lose the case. And, as unfortunate as this was, he accepted that for he had tried his best. During his speech he says time and time again that Tom Robinson is not guilty and that the entire case was futile.