Tom Robinson Trial Essay

In Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird, a controversial trial between a white family and a black man during the Great Depression is depicted. Bob Ewell, who lives in a run down house by a dumpster, comes home to see his daughter, Mayella, being taken advantage of by Tom Robinson. When their case arrives in court, Tom Robinson argues that he was merely trying to help Mayella Ewell when she tried to kiss him. Although Mr. Robinson was found guilty, Bob Ewell still wants revenge on the attorney representing Tom Robinson, Atticus, and decides to attack his children. Boo Radley, a reserved neighbor of the Finch’s, comes to the defense of Jem and Scout by killing Bob Ewell, so Bob Ewell’s need for revenge resulted in his own death. One of the final

During the Tom Robinson trial, Mayella Ewell recounts her point of view on what Robinson did to her to the jury. Atticus questions Mayella on her home life to set up his argument that Bob Ewell used Tom Robinson as an excuse to cover up the fact that he beats his children in a drunken state. Atticus makes the jury realize that “[the] relief check was far from enough to feed the family, and there was strong suspicion that Papa drank it up anyway—he sometimes went off in the swamp for days and came home sick” (244). Bob Ewell is a coward when he “drank it up anyway” because the phrase shows that he uses the money meant for food to buy alcohol instead. His addiction is caused by his situation of his wife passing away, leaving multiple kids in his care and double the work to complete. His actions when he “went off in the swamp for days and came home sick” shows that he uses time to drink in the forest. As a result, he comes home drunk and leaves all of his responsibility to his children. Particularly, this burden falls on Mayella Ewell because she is the oldest. Because of Mr. Ewell’s drunken personality, he can not support his family. However, he would be able to provide if he decided to endure the pain of withdrawal from his addiction. His refusal to do this makes him a coward to his family and also a liability to them because his failure to take care of them only burdens the children with more work. Bob

Heck Tate and Atticus argue about Bob Ewell’s death after Atticus’ children are taken care of by the doctor. When Heck Tate pulls out a switchblade to show Atticus, Atticus questions why he has it. Heck Tate replies that he took it off a drunk man in downtown. Although neither man said anything, it is implied that the switchblade is the weapon Boo Radley used to kill Bob Ewell before he could harm the children. Atticus does not believe that Heck Tate should have taken the knife to keep Boo Radley’s innocence. However, Heck Tate defends his actions by telling Atticus that it was his decision and responsibility to deal with Bob Ewell’s case. Heck Tate also says that because Tom Robinson died for no reason and Bob Ewell was responsible for his death, Mr. Robinson’s death led to Bob Ewell’s death. Heck Tate says to Atticus, “There’s a black boy dead for no reason, and the man responsible for it’s dead. Let the dead bury the dead this time, Mr. Finch” (369). Heck Tate says “let the dead bury the dead” to Mr. Finch because he doesn't feel any pity towards Bob Ewell after his cowardly actions of attempting to kill Scout and Jem. Heck Tate also said “let the dead bury the dead” because he doesn't want to hurt Boo Radley’s reputation even though Boo Radley killed Bob Ewell to save the children. Heck Tate believes it's wrong to expose the truth to the