In Harper Lee’s book, To Kill A Mockingbird, Lee personifies the mockingbirds by saying that they have done no harm and that they are not pests (90). Atticus explains to the children after they get their airguns that it is a sin to kill a mockingbird (90). Miss Maudie further explains that all they do is sing beautifully and live peacefully (90). Harper Lee uses the mockingbird to represent innocence and goodness in the people of Maycomb which makes the trial seem even worse than it is.
One of the main characters involved in the trial is Tom Robinson. He is the man being accused of rape by the Ewell family. During his development in this part of the book, his innocence and goodness is shown, especially during his testimony. He says, “I works pretty steady for him all year round” (190). This shows that he respects the Ewell’s and is willing to help out when needed.
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He comes to the realization that being an adult is challenging and he does not agree with the other grown ups in Maycomb. At the end of the trial, Tom’s family and friends sends the Finch’s food and during breakfast Jem asks Atticus “How could they do it, how could they?” (213). This shows that he does not understand the verdict after his father had presented such evidence against the Ewells. He does not agree with the adults in the jury that Tom was guilty of a crime he did not commit. In chapter 23, Jem is talking to Scout and Atticus about what is going to happen to Tom. Atticus explains to them that Tom could possibly “go to the chair,” if he loses his appeal (219). Atticus goes on to explain how he agrees with the laws on rape, but a jury should not give the death penalty for “circumstantial evidence” (219). Later in the conversation, Jem states that he believes that they should “do away with juries” (220). This shows that he wants to understand the system and what his father does, but he can not wrap his head around the idea that a jury convicted an innocent