Tom Robinson Research Paper

The Mistreatment of Tom Robinson Tom Robinson was a falsy accused man, all because of the community's biased opinion. Tom Robinson’s court case was shown in the story To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee. Tom Robinson, was accused of beating and raping Mayella Ewell. Since the town of Maycomb thinks all African Americans are harmful, it is nearly impossible for him to win this court case. Even though the evidence did not line up to where it could not possibly be Tom, he still lost. Atticus Finch, Tom’s representative, shows in the story how Tom being sentenced to life in prison is the county's fault. They also demonstrate real-life accusations made against the people who supported Tom and his family. Tom Robinson was pronounced guilty, because

Tom had to live a life in jail, up until his crucial death, because the town is biased. Atticus spoke out about their assumption during the court case, he stated: “... confident that you gentlemen would go along with them on the assumption- the evil assumption- that all … lie, that all … are immoral beings, that all … men are not to be trusted around our women, an assumption once associates with minds of their caliber” (Lee 232). Atticus shows through that statement how the town thinks all of them are bad and cannot be trusted. This goes to show how they would not take into account Tom’s side of the case because he is an “immoral being”. This is an awful assumption made by the town, why would they want an innocent man put away for a crime he did not commit? Because they have set beliefs, they are raised to believe. But since they are a jury, they cannot state their beliefs. But still, none of them felt the need to argue with Atticus. On the other hand, some people have no problem expressing their beliefs about African

Dubose was an example of encouraging people to think that all African American men should not be supported. While Atticus’s children were on a walk she would yell rude things at them regarding their father supporting Tom. For example, she said, “...“Not only a Finch waiting on tables but one in the courthouse lawing for a …” (Lee 117). Mrs.Dubose finds it so absurd that a white man would even support an African American man. Since supporting a man of color is against their raising. She goes on to say “...what has this world come to when a Finch goes against his raising? I’ll tell you!”... “Your father’s no better than the … and trash he works for” (Lee 117). Mrs. Dubose proves that people in Maycomb County are brought up to believe these people are bad and, if you oppose this opinion, you become “trash” just like them. How can we truly believe our jury and their decisions if they have the fear they will be stereotyped to “trash” for supporting Tom? Mrs. Dubose would be a prime example of someone who would have thought Tom could do this based on his skin