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Tom Robinson Trial Essay

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Kyree Basnight David Norman English 1 Honors 13 May 2024 To Kill A Mockingbird Essay In To Kill a Mockingbird Jem once said, “I think I’m beginning to understand why Boo Radley’s stayed shut up in the house all this time. . . it's because he wants to stay inside." Lee 227). The. As Jem loses his innocence surrounding his town, his eyes are now opened up to reveal a whole new world. It was not only the events in the courtroom that day that led him to his fate, but the events that followed as well. Jem has been living in a type of haze over his thinking of the legal system. However, in August of 1935 Jem had to deal with the haze being lifted, and the truth being seen. Both Tom Robinson's trial and the aftermath following contribute to a large part of Jem's loss of innocence. The trial of Tom Robinson serves as a catalyst for Jem’s new point of view of the world, and highlights the harsh realities he failed to see before: …show more content…

Initially viewing the legal system standing for nothing other than both the truth and justice, Jem witnessed firsthand the deep-rooted prejudices and systematic flaws that plagued the courtroom during Mr. Robinson’s trial. Despite Atticus Finch’s best efforts to defend Tom with both integrity and compassion, the verdict reveals the inherent bias of the jury, leading to what Jem believes to be Tom’s wrongful conviction. The miscarriage of justice shatters Jem’s idealistic beliefs, forcing him to confront the harsh truth that fairness and equality do not always prevail in the face of deep-seated racism. Jem’s loss of innocence becomes palpable as he grapples with the harsh realities of racism and injustice. There are

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After Atticus loses his trial, Jem notices that the Maycomb County justice system is broken and it needs help, “Then it all goes back to the jury, then. We oughta do away with juries. ”(294) This shows that Jem now understands that people are racist in everything and racism needs to be fought. On top of realizing that the justice system is in shambles, Jem realized that Tom Robinson’s case was very good at showing that.

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At this point, Jem’s mind remains set that Tom Robinson will not be convicted. However, the judge’s perspective towards colored people lies inevident enough to ensure that Tom will not be pleaded guilty. When Reverend Sykes, the reverend of the First Purchase African American Church, informed Jem of the misfortune all black men encounter in trial, Jem “took an exception to Reverend Sykes” (279). After Tom Robinson’s trial, Jem became furious and confused at the prejudice against Tom. Jem believed that Tom would be proven innocent, because of Atticus’ in-depth argument against Mayella Ewell, the daughter of a white family of the lowest ranks, but Jem eventually faces the undenying truth.

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He struggles to control his emotions as Tom’s conviction consumes his thoughts. It hurts Jem so badly that he can not even participate in a conversation: “I [Scout] stole a glance at Jem, but he was not listening. He would look up at Atticus, then down at the floor…” (242). This minor detail shows that the unfair outcome of the trial impacts Jem’s actions for the rest of the night. Eventually, Jem gathers the courage to ask Atticus how the jury could possibly convict Tom.

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Even though Tom Robinson didn’t do anything, he eventually died trying to escape and was shot by the police seventeen times. These are some events that make Jem,

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After Tom Robinson’s verdict was guilty, Jem started to throw a fit because he knew that everyone knew Tom was innocent but didn’t understand that white men basically always won in court. He realized with his age that everyone says people are equal but that’s false. Through Jem’s life lesson, he loses his innocence by him seeing the world for how it truly is and not a perfect as he thought it was when he was a kid. This loss of innocence shows coming of age as Jem is now aware of the world around.

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As a little boy dealing with the death of an old ill-tempered neighbor to the unsettling conclusion of an unfair trial of an African American man, Jem Finch had grown significantly. In To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee, the main protagonist’s older brother, Jem Finch faces many challenges that makes him grow. Jem also faces the injustice of Tom Robinson an African American who had been accused of raping a white woman that his father Atticus is defending. During those events Jem’s coming of age develops with conflict, characterization, and mood.

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After this verdict Jem’s point of view on the world shifts, and Jem is slowly realizing that racism lives in the hearts of people in Maycomb. When Jem heard the word guilty he gives up a little bit of his innocent childhood because he is starting to notice how racist people are. When Atticus walks out of the courthouse to meet up with Jem and Scout, Jem is in total disbelief of what the verdict because he thought that evidence could win a case alone, “It was Jem’s turn to cry. His face streaked with angry tears as we made our way through a cheerful crowd. ‘It ain’t right’ he muttered all the way to the corner of the square where we found Atticus waiting.

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There proved to be a lack of evidence shown that Tom was even guilty and very good defense of Atticus explaining how Tom would have been unable to rape Mayella because he is right handed. Jem cries after the case announcing, “It ain't right.” After the trial, Jem realizes the court system’s method of proving a defendant guilty is greatly inaccurate, given that there was overwhelming evidence that Tom was innocent. Jem soon realizes that every person is not as good as he once thought they were. He is a growing teenager in a time where life is already stressful enough.

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Jem, a young and smart boy develops and matures through many unique situations in the novel. Jem is exposed to the harsh belief, judgement and circumstances of the court at a very young age. Following his father, Jem involves himself in the trial between Tom Robinson and Mayella Ewell yet takes Tom’s side due to his father's involvement. Jem slowly loses faith in the justice system and is faced with a loss of innocence as explained by Scout“It was Jem’s turn to cry. His face was streaked with angry tears as we made our way through the cheerful crowd.

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During the trial of Tom Robbinson, Scout and Jem both learn bad truths about racism and unfairness in the community they once thought was a joyful place. As they stand on the balcony of the courtroom and listen to the testimonies and evidence, they understand that Tom Robinson is an innocent man being falsely accused of a gruesome crime. This is a wake-up call for them,

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Jem tries to pull childhood logic into the real world, thinking that if juries are gone the whole problem is solved, even though it is not as simple as it seems. He learns too much about the world as he is still young and it is tearing him from his childhood.

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‘I never wanta hear about that courthouse ever again, ever, ever… Don’t you ever say one word to me about it again…’” (331). After months, Jem still couldn’t hear about the trial without getting angry, it was too awful a subject for him. Jem’s pure mind left the second he stepped out of that courthouse, everything he knew to be true was a

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