Examples Of Justice In To Kill A Mockingbird

Is integrity really being pursued as it is supposed to? In Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird, this topic of justice is mentioned multiple occasions. The main character, Atticus, tries to solve a rape case. The defendant, Tom Robinson, is assumed as the rapist due to his race. Even though Atticus finds evidence that Tom is innocent, the jury denies him. Justice should not be taken lightly, even if it is denied. First of all, Tom Robinson is framed of rape, when he did not commit the crime. Bob Ewell, the father of Mayella Ewell, accuses Tom that he raped Mayella. The truth was that Tom did not. Bob is furious, “Mr. Ewell’s face grew scarlet. He stood up and pointed his finger at Tom Robinson. ‘—I seen that black nigger yonder ruttin’ on my Mayella!’” (Lee 175). Even Mayella freezes when Atticus asks her a question, “The witness hesitated” (Lee 187).

Atticus keeps questioning Mayella until she says she does not remember what happened and starts crying. Mayella was speechless when Atticus was asking valid questions, “‘Where were they?’No answer. ‘Why didn’t your screams make them come running? The dump’s closer than the woods, isn’t it?’ No answer. ‘Or didn’t you scream until you saw your father in the window? You didn’t think to scream until then, did you?’ No answer. ‘Did you scream first at your father instead of at Tom Robinson? Was that it?’ No answer. ‘Who beat you up? Tom Robinson or your father?’ No answer” (Lee 190, 191). Tom Robinson is still gets sent to jail, “Even though Atticus proves that Tom Robinson is not guilty, the jury still sends Tom Robinson to jail” (To Kill a Mockingbird Themes: Prejudice, Racism, Justice and