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Tom Robinson Trial Essay

896 Words4 Pages

Long before Tom Robinson is introduced into the novel, it is clearly known to the reader that ‘negroes’ are considered in the lower class and always convicted guilty, regardless of the truth. Tom is accused of sexual rape by Bob Ewell’s daughter, Mayella Ewell, who is an obnoxious young lady with an attraction to Tom. Sheriff Heck Tate testifies that Mayella was hit on the right side of her face. Tom’s lawyer, Atticus Finch, believes that this is crucial evidence for Tom’s case and asks Heck, repeatedly, to clarify that it was the right side of her face: “It was her right eye… Which side again Heck?... The right side Mr. Finch” (192). Tom’s left arm is disabled due to an accident at a young age, proving that hitting Mayella on the right side would be extremely difficult for him to do. …show more content…

Bob’s writing allows Atticus to prove that he is left-handed and could be a possible suspect that hit Mayella. Atticus’ idea of where he is going with this accusation brings the people of Maycomb to notice that the Ewell’s have a bad reputation and they could very well be lying. In truth, the rape accusations are fictional, and are only brought up to hide the fact that Mayella’s father has been abusing her. Although everyone knows that Tom is innocent in their prejudice mindset, they refuse to show sympathy towards him because he is a ‘negro.’ At the end of the trial, it is decided that Tom loses the jury however, his lawyer is positive that they will have a good shot at the appeal. Tom cannot handle being locked up in a cage, waiting upon the appeal. He awaits patiently, but then realizes that the minute Mayella opened her mouth, he was a dead man, which leads to his escape. He attempts to run free, yet fails and ends up with seventeen wounds in his back. Society follows along with this conviction which comes to show that they all play a part in his

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