Tom Robinson Quotes

Characters are placed in books, films, and tv-shows to serve a purpose and effect the storyline, whether this character plays a major or miniscule role their intent is to change details within the story. Tom Robinson in “To Kill a Mockingbird” by Harper Lee, was a character who could make an impact in the beginning of the novel without being present in it himself. His name was enough to set a blaze in other characters hearts. When formally introduced to the readers most of the town already decided his fate in the trial against Mayella Ewell an “innocent” white woman. The majority of Maycomb County were white men and women who despised all black people no matter their individual traits. Tom Robinson’s personal intentions were never to cause

He was devoted husband and a respectable father to his three children. Tom and his family attended church. Tom himself however was polite and respectful.

“No' ma'am, there ain't no charge... I went lots of times… She'd call me in, suh. Seemed like every time I passed by yonder she'd have some little somethin' for me to do...I'd tip m'hat when I'd go by…” (Lee 255-256). This quote demonstrates Tom’s polite and respectful attitude toward others. When he would walk passed The Ewell’s house Tom would always acknowledge Mayella’s existence. Most of the time before she would question him about a favor. Aside from those reasons, Tom also took any punishment he believed he deserved without any complaints and had a good work ethic in everything he did. Talking about his income and work habits Tom “I works in [Mr. Link Deas] yard fall an' wintertime. I works pretty steady for him all year round…”(Lee 255). This quote

The conversation occurred while Tom was being interrogated by the prosecuting attorney. Tom was asked questions about why he often helped Mayella and one of his responses was “ Looks like she didn't have nobody to help her. I felt right sorry for her. She seemed…” (Lee 264). This outraged most of the people in the courtroom because they believed he was dirt to the ground she walked on and Tom felt bad for her. Once the realization had sunk in for everyone in the courtroom, the rage from almost every white person in the courtroom could not be contained. The novel describes the seen at proceeds “The witness realized his mistake and shifted uncomfortably in the chair. But the damage was done. Below us, nobody liked Tom Robinson's answer. Mr. Gilmer paused a long time to let it sink in” (Lee 264). The empty silence didn’t last long as people gained their composure and started a aggressive revolt against Tom Robinson. The prosecuting attorney’s rebuttal to Tom’s remark was, “You felt sorry for her, you felt sorry for her?”(264), which continued to anger the jury and the guest in the courtroom serving the purpose the prosecuting attorney intended. This part of the novel intrigued me in its sense of harsh racial prejudice. There have been different things that I have read involving racial issues, but nothing so