Throughout Chapter 15 of Harper Lee's novel, “To Kill a Mockingbird”, Lee uses a series of dialogue and imagery to treat racism as a product of stigma. Lee incorporates many character perspectives to accurately capture the racial tensions of the 1930s. During the 1930s, racism had reached a peak. Equality was not a normal occurrence back then. You were frowned upon if you were caught associating with a black individual. This explains why Atticus was looked down upon during Tom's trial. The chapter's main focus being the build-up to the Tom Robinson trial offers an intense explanation of the period's moral and societal challenges, particularly through the themes of fear, conflict, and relief. Atticus Finch, the main center point of the novel, symbolizes the fight against racial injustice and inescapable fear and conflict. His decision to defend Tom Robinson, a black man being falsely accused of raping a white woman, embodies the courage required to stand against common racial injustice. In this chapter, Atticus’ confrontation with a lynch mob outside the jailhouse where Tom Robinson is being held is especially significant. When Jem, Scout, and Dill follow Atticus to the jail, they see him sitting alone reading. This depiction of Atticus calmly …show more content…
Tom represents the racism and deep-rooted danger faced by black individuals accused of crimes against white people. The need for Atticus to guard him at the jail highlights the real threats of violence and injustice that black people bear, specifically in the legal system. Tom's predicament is a reminder of the broader societal failure to protect all its citizens, regardless of race. The mob's intentions to kill Tom without a trial reflect the illegal killings that were all too common in the 1930s, expressing a fear that invaded the lives of many black people in