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To What Extent Did Tom Robinson Trial In To Kill A Mockingbird

664 Words3 Pages

In Maycomb, Alabama they faced change. It is a dreary town without much action, then Mayella Ewell accused Tom Robinson of raping her. I went to the trial and the result the jury handed out was the wrong decision. Mayella’s and her father, Bob’s testimonies were both false and staged. It was evident Bob was the one who raped her. Many believe he got a square deal, he did get a trial. The court system is perfect they say when in fact it is run by prejudice. Everyone on the jury believes that blacks are inferior to whites. It is a principle of white southern hood, it had started ever since the Dutch brought over African slaves to trade in Jamestown, Virginia, 1619. I believe Tom Robinson is innocent and wasn’t given a fair chance to defend himself. The prosecution led testimonies against Tom Robinson and it was obvious he was innocent. Heck Tate is the sheriff of Maycomb and he stated that Mayella had injuries on the right side of her face. If Mayella was hit on the right side, it would have to be from a left-handed punch. Tom Robinson is crippled in his left arm from getting it stuck in a cotton gin as a young boy. Tom would be unable to throw a left-handed hit. In Bob Ewell’s testimony, Atticus Finch (Tom’s lawyer) asks him to write out his name. He does this to show that Bob is indeed left handed. This allows the jury to start to question whether or not Tom Robinson did attack Mayella Ewell. When it comes down to Mayella to reach the stand she doesn’t appreciate Atticus’ behavior, Atticus is being courteous and professional, something …show more content…

The prison is a dreary and dark place, Tom knew that he couldn’t stay there. He attempted to escape the prison but was shot 17 times as he attempted to climb the fence during his exercise period. Tom Robinson passed away. If the Ewell’s had some form of heart and dignity they wouldn’t have pursued Tom in court. Mayella and Bob have theoretically ended the life of Tom

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164 Words | 1 Pages

Mayella Ewell, the prosecutor, blamed Tom Robinson, the defendant, of rape on the night of November 21, 1935 at Mayella’s home in Maycomb, Alabama. The trial brought up included Tom Robinson, Mayella and Robert Ewell, Heck Tate, and Atticus Finch. Heck Tate and Robert Ewell were the witnesses for Mayella’s side and Atticus was the lawyer to Tom Robinson. This was such an important trial, whether the event actually happened or not, because Tom is a black man and Mayella is a white woman. The evidence provided shows that Tom most likely did not rape or beat Mayella, but her father was the one who could have beat her.

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679 Words | 3 Pages

Although Tom Robinson had a public trial, his trial was no where near fair. In the sixth amendment it says, “In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial.” He did receive a speedy, and public trial, but the jury was also not impartial, the jury ignored clear evidence, and had a lack of evidence supporting their side. Tom Robinson receiving a speedy and public trial does not make his trial less unfair.

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822 Words | 4 Pages

Everyone in the courthouse on the night of the trial knew that Tom Robinson was innocent. But at the end of the trial, that didn’t matter. Tom Robinson was a black man, and because of this difference that should not make a difference, he had no say over the family of whites, the Ewells. Tom Robinson was wrongly convicted of raping and beating Mayella Ewell. The evidence of the case leads to the conclusion that Bob Ewell, Mayella’s father was responsible for this misfortune.

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839 Words | 4 Pages

WOW! To Kill A Mockingbird has been a popular book for many years. The reason for this is it brings out a main theme which was common back then and still happens now. The theme of racism is seen in the book mainly at Tom Robinson's trial. The Ewell family represents the pride that whites had for innocent blacks.

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1132 Words | 5 Pages

I agree that someone was guilty of beating or raping Miss Mayella Ewell, but based upon all evidence brought upon us by the witnesses, Tom Robinson could not, and should not, be convicted for a crime that he likely did not

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450 Words | 2 Pages

Finally, Atticus came home to break the news that “they shot [Tom]... he was running… They said he just broke into a blind raving charge at the fence and started climbing over” (Lee 125). Atticus also explained that “he wasn't Tom to them, he was an escaping prisoner” (Lee 125). Tom knew he should not have been convicted and sent to jail in the first place because he was innocent, so he most likely could not take it anymore and decided to try and leave.

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797 Words | 4 Pages

During segregation African Americans were treated poorly; the books To Kill a Mockingbird (TKM) and Mississippi Trial, 1955 (MT,1955) shows us this. In some places they were treated fair; the movie A Time To Kill (ATTK) shows us this. TKM and MT, 1955 were biased against African Americans, but ATTK was not. First of all, in the book TKM, African American Tom Robinson was sentenced to jail for a crime he did not commit.

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1069 Words | 5 Pages

The United States prides itself on the principle of equality. In the Declaration of Independence, the very basis of the nation, it states "all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness." Despite this promise, Maycomb county lacks the humanity and fairness that America promises. Not only do the whites of the county show obvious contempt for the blacks, but they are willing to go as far as to murder one, Tom Robinson, in cold blood, depriving him of the basic right promised by our great country. Tom deserves the appeal due to the biased jury, the insubstantial physical evidence given by Mayella, Mr. Ewell, and Heck Tate, and the

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885 Words | 4 Pages

In the novel To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee, the story is set in the 1900’s, Maycomb, Alabama. During this time there was racism in the south and segregation which separated the whites and blacks from everything. There was also the Great Depression, the whole country was poor and people living in the country had to trade and do other jobs for people to either pay them off or to buy something from them. The trial in this book is about Mayella and Bob Ewell, two white people, claiming and arguing that Tom Robinson, a black person, raped Mayella Ewell. This trial is really important because at that time in the south, white people took advantage of black people and their kindness and thought they would take that or shut up just because they were black.

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525 Words | 3 Pages

In the novel To Kill A Mockingbird Tom Robinson is the best representation of a mockingbird because the town created a sin by killing him and he was an innocent man who deserved better. Although some may believe that Boo Radley is a better example of a mockingbird, Tom had an unjustified trial and suffered death because of it. Some people in the town knew Tom’s death was a sin and they didn't agree with it. He was also a helping citizen who did nothing but try and help. Tom was over all an innocent man that displayed peacefulness.

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698 Words | 3 Pages

His physical disadvantage made his slaughter even more unjust. During the trial, his testimony made it clear that he was always kind to Mayella. So not only was he innocent, he was a kind-hearted man killed only because of the color of his skin. To conclude, Tom Robinson was a good man who didn’t have the means to protect

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682 Words | 3 Pages

In this paragraph I will be questioning the Ewells’ reasoning for lying. While reading the court scenes, I got the feeling that Mayella and Bob had separate motives for trying to convict Tom. There are quite a few reasons that Bob would want Tom Robinson convicted. His most demanding motive would have to be the need to cover up the fact that he abuses his children.

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1604 Words | 7 Pages

In chapters 17-24 in To Kill A Mockingbird, Jem and Scout observe their father in court defending Tom Robinson (a black man) from the accusations of the Bob Ewell (a "low grade ' ' white man). Bob Ewell accuses Tom Robinson of sexually assaulting his daughter; Mayella Ewell. Before the fate of Tom Robinson is given in the possession of the jury, both lawyers have a final attempt at convincing the jury that Tom Robinson should/shouldn 't be prosecuted. Atticus starts off his closing remarks with the fact that he believes that the case should have never come to trial and that the case "”is as simple as black and white."

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866 Words | 4 Pages

First, Tom Robinson should have been found not guilty because he was right handed. Mayella the victim, was punched in the face on the night of the crime. On page 235, Mr. Heck Tate stated that Mayella had a black eye on her right eye

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721 Words | 3 Pages

A novel called To Kill A Mockingbird, by Harper Lee. There is a case between an African American named Tom Robinson and a white woman named Mayella Ewell. She accused him of raping her. Tom was always kind to Mayella by helping her with things to do because he felt bad that she was always working. He passed one day and she asked him to get the box on top of the chiffarobe, so he got on the chair and got it then she put her hands around his leg, but she claims that he threw her down and raped her.

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