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To Kill A Mockingbird Atticus Closing Argument Analysis

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In a trial the closing argument is the most critical addresses made in court. Generally an emotional plea, this closing argument can be the deciding factor to a court case. To Kill a Mockingbird is a 1962 film based on the award-winning novel written by Harper Lee. During an era of racial inequality, lawyer, Atticus Finch, contravenes the unwritten social code to defend a black man against an underserved rape charge.

In a racially charged atmosphere, “white trash” Mayella Ewell ignores the morality and conventions of the community, and makes a sexual advance on Tom Robinson. When discovered she covers her guilt and shame by accusing him of rape. In this era and in this community, Mayella’s accusation is seen as reasonable and unfortunately believable, which leaves Tom beaten before he enters the trial. However, Atticus expresses a powerful message in his closing argument to create a move for change in his society.

The argument is expressed subliminally, by communicating that in the 1930’s society disregarded that all were equal, and categorised men and women based on the colour of their skin. Through Atticus, the author presents an argument for equality and racial tolerance. All black people were categorised in this era; they were seen as aggressive, untrustworthy and inhuman. This is completely different …show more content…

No matter the colour of the defendant’s skin, a white woman should not hold him accountable for an undeserved charge as a result of guilt and shame. Atticus appeals for racial equality, by accentuating that Mayella Ewell is guilty of a compassionate moment with a black man, and that it is not an excuse for a rape charge. This closing argument has been recognised as one of the 20th centuries most impressive messages in emphasising racial justice and a move for an integrated

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In the novel To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee, Atticus’s closing argument was unsuccessful. In Atticus’s closing argument, he makes it so the jury will assuredly understand. The Jurors are all white and from out of town so they are biased and don’t know the townspeople and how they behave. Atticus tries to connect with the Jury but he was ineffectual. Atticus’s closing argument was not effective because of cognitive bias and he couldn’t persuade his audience.

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Atticus Finch, from Harper Lee’s To Kill A Mockingbird, is the appointed lawyer of Tom Robinson, a black man accused of raping Mayella Ewell. During the trial, Atticus expertly and deftly exposes the Ewells as lacking in morality and as liars. Atticus Finch uses the audience, occasion, tone and subject to create a meaningful purpose in his speech. The purpose is to address the white community (essentially the Ewells) to show the blatant racism within Maycomb.

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Atticus decides to take the case in defending a black person, something nobody in the town would have done. Most of the residents of Maycomb do not believe in equality and have hatred towards black people. If an African-American is charged for committing a crime, he is automatically believed to be guilty because of their skin color. Atticus says, “You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view” (39). To clarify, Atticus took the case because he believes there is a chance of Tom being innocent.

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Moreover, this strengthens the case because the Jury can now see that Atticus is fighting for the good of the county, which assures his credibility of judgement. Additionally, Atticus highlights his trustworthiness in the court system. The brilliant lawyer is nearing the end of his closing statement and strives to drive his point home. He shatters the barriers between color and white by mentioning the one place where all Americans are treated equal, the courtroom. To finally win over the jury in favor of his case Atticus uses ethos when he claims, “Gentlemen, a court is no better than each man of you sitting before me on this jury.

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Atticus speaks with intellect, demonstrating he has been pursuing the action of law years prior. With such experience, Atticus sees that Mayella isn’t a human, a victim, or partially innocent in this biased courtroom case. Atticus expresses how “She has committed no crime, she has merely broken a rigid and time-honored code of our society, a code so severe that whoever breaks it is hounded from our midst as unfit to live with. She is the victim of cruel poverty and ignorance, but [he] cannot pity her: she is white” (Lee, 207). Atticus illustrates in his argument that Mayella is guilty by default.

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