Atticus Finch’s closing argument in Tom Robinson’s criminal trial attempted to prove that Tom Robinson was innocent of the crime of raping Mayella Ewell, and thus should be found innocent by the jury. Atticus supports his claim by first reviewing the evidence both for and against Tom Robinson's innocence and attempts to disprove the evidence against him; he then demonstrates that he is sympathetic towards Mayella Ewell's circumstances but still holds her accountable despite his pity for her situation; multiple times in the trial he addresses the men of the jury as “gentlemen” in an attempt to elevate their status above that of the Ewells as well as give them the pressure of the responsibility of doing the right thing. Atticus’s purpose is