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.
Quote # 3- This quote occurs when Jem and Scout return to their present-receiving knothole and find that it is filled with cement. They interrogate Mr. Radley and find out that he filled up the hole. He has a legitimate excuse in claiming it was sick, and throws Jem off by telling him he should have known this. This quote is important because it shows us that Mr. Radley knows his brother has been leaving gifts in that tree, and Jem and Scout realise that they have gotten Boo into trouble.
it’s something you wouldn’t understand. Atticus is real old, but I wouldn’t care it he couldn’t do anything—I wouldn’t care if he couldn’t do a blessed thing . . . Atticus is a gentleman, just like me!’” (130-131). Although Scout wants to brag to the whole town about Atticus’s skill in shooting, Jem realizes that since Atticus had not told them before, and tries not to bring the subject up, he probably had not wanted them to know about it.
The main character in the novel To Kill a Mockingbird is Atticus Finch, a middle aged man living in Maycomb Alabama. Even though he is a southerner he isn’t racist and he believes that everyone should be treated equal, Atticus teaches his children empathy and not to discriminate against other people, he does his by telling them “You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view… until you climb into his skin and walk around in it.” Even though Atticus treats everyone as equals he gets affected by the town and their prejudice way of thinking. Because Atticus accepts Tom Robinsons case he gets called a “nigger lover” and him and his children get treated differently by the town.
In To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee, Atticus believes Maycomb is unjust because the town is inconsiderate of other people’s view, which is shown when Atticus gets targeted for defending a black man, worries that his kids will become bitter and catch Maycomb’s disease, and Aunt Alexandra advising Atticus that he is raising his kids wrong. To begin with, Mrs Dubose addresses to Scout and her family about how Atticus is disgracing his race and his color by defending Tom Robinson on the alleged rape case. Mrs Dubose says, “Your father’s no better than the ni**ers and trash he works for” (135). Atticus views Maycomb as an injustice town because during this time period black people were seen as a lower class. Atticus is mark as an overall victim because in the trial the county is shocked that Atticus is
Discrimination is shown throughout To Kill A Mockingbird in numerous ways. Racism and prejudice are shown when the jury makes the ruling to convict Tom Robinson as guilty, despite all of the evidence to prove his innocence; Scout is known for being a tomboy. The lessons about discrimination that Scout learns throughout the novel are applicable to all types of prejudice, Atticus Finch, the father of Scout and Jem Finch, is judged for defending Tom Robinson, an innocent man accused of raping Mayella Ewell, a low class teenage girl. Since most of the community is racist, Tom Robinson’s case is very hard for Atticus to defend. They do not believe a white man should be defending a black man.
He explains how it is not fair to Tom that just because he is black, he is unjustly accused of something. Atticus understands and tries to point out the fact that if it was a white man in Tom’s position, the jury would have a different opinion on the situation. Atticus displays a prime example of how someone should try to achieve social justice, even when the situation is unfair. Also, while saying his statements, Atticus exclaims how Tom felt sorry for a white woman, Mayella, and that he had been forced to put his own word against two white people. Here, Atticus reinforces the thought of how this jury is unfair to Tom.
He has an advantage and a disadvantage over Mayella and her lawyer. The advantage is Atticus is a great lawyer, but the disadvantage is Tom is black. None of his strategies were actually effective because that the jury focuses on is that Tom is black. They don’t care what Atticus proved all they care about is the persons skin color. If Tom was not black, then he probably would have won because of Atticus.
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.
In To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee shows how no one gave Tom Robinson a shortcut for justice to be true but for Arthur Radley, who is a white man, they gave him a chance since he had saved Atticus’s children. They made up a story saying that “Bob Ewell fell on his knife. He killed himself” but in reality it was Arthur Radley which is revealed when Atticus says, “Thank you for my children, Arthur”(314-317). Harper Lee shows that equality isn’t fully shown in Atticus even when he is a man of truth. Tom Robinson, an African American was presumed guilty for a crime he didn’t commit but Arthur Radley was saved for killing the person who committed the crime Tom Robinson was guilty for saving Jem and Scout.
With gains comes loss. As the world becomes to tear apart, so do the inhabitants. With this imperfection comes the meaning of life. Through all the flaws, man’s perfection and ability to succeed appears. Man is given the choice of good over evil and love over hatred.
"Scout, I think I'm beginning to understand something. I think I'm beginning to understand why Boo Radley's stayed shut up in the house all this time. It's because he wants to stay inside” (Lee 227). In this quote, by Jem Finch, we see that Jem is growing up and starting to see things from other people's point of view.
Tom Robinson is a young African-American who's been accused of raping and abusing Mayella Ewell, a young and closeted white woman. Racial discrimination is hinted throughout Tom’s trial as Atticus Finch explains to Jem that a white man’s word will always win over that of a black man’s - "... In our courts, when it's a white man's word against a black man's, the white man always wins. They're ugly, but those are the facts of life" (220). Atticus explains to Jem that in the courts of Maycomb, a black man’s state of innocence or guilt is truly determined by a white man’s testimony.
In my opinion that is truly unfair. It makes sense as to why Atticus decided to defend Tom Robinson. He continuously tries to find the good in everyone and believes that the black community contains good people. Atticus had mentioned to his brother, Jack, that Tom was innocent but “doomed”. It was impossible
The Maycomb Tribune "One shot Finch" is defending a negro in court! By Mr. Underwood In court yesterday Atticus Finch, the best shot in town and one of the most respectable men in all of Maycomb county defended the negro; Tom Robinson.
