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Defending Tom Robinson Quotes

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By defending Tom Robinson in Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird, Atticus demonstrates that morality overlooks social prejudices. Atticus defends Tom Robinson in spite of the criticism and opposition he and his children encounter from society. His awareness that a person's color should not determine their behavior shows that he sees African Americans as having the same values as white people. It may seem like Atticus is only defending Tom Robinson because of his sense of duty, but he is also doing it because he exhibits morality by overlooking prejudices and understands how all people deserve justice, no matter what race they are. By neglecting the fact that black people shouldn't be defended, Atticus causes people to disapprove of him. Atticus …show more content…

When Atticus was at the courthouse, a few of the attentive critics of the courthouse business were talking about the case, and one of them said, “Atticus aims to defend Tom Robinson, [because] that’s what I don't like about” him, and when Scout overheard their conversation that Atticus didn’t have to defend Tom Robinson, she “could have used it many times in defending him” and herself because people fussed and bullied when they learned that Atticus was defending Tom Robinson, so if he fussing” (Lee 186). Atticus defends Tom Robinson even though he and his children are both bothered by how Atticus is defending him, because Atticus is omitting social norms which shows how passionate Atticus is about supporting Tom …show more content…

Atticus motivates people to get past their prejudices and to point out that all people make mistakes, it is human nature, so white people shouldn’t be favored over black people because race doesn’t determine anyone’s actions which shows Atticus's morality he understands, unlike the society, that there is more to people than their race. Scout is bullied at school because her father is defending a black person she is confused why When Scout asked why Atticus was defending Tom Robinson, he replied, “If I didn't, I couldn’t hold up my head in town, I couldn’t represent this county in the legislature, and I couldn’t even tell you or Jem not to do something again” because he wouldn’t be doing his duty (Lee

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