Why Is Tom Important In To Kill A Mockingbird

Have you ever continued forward on something even when you know that the odds are against you? In the novel, To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, Atticus Finch, the attorney is given the case to defend Tom Robinson. Maycomb County took place in 1930’s-1940’s when Jim Crow laws were in place. Mayella a Caucasian woman accused Tom an African American of raping her. Many people in Maycomb is prejudice toward African Americans but, Atticus still chooses to defend Tom. Even though the odds are not in Atticus’s favor, he still defends Tom because it is the right the to do even when many white people in Maycomb are against blacks. Atticus has integrity and believes in the Golden Rule that’s why it makes sense for Atticus to defend Tom Robinson.

In chapter 20, Dolphus Raymond has a talk with the Scout and Dill outside the courtroom. Also, the kids are outside when Dill cries about how Mr.Gilmer poorly treats Tom in the cross-examination. Scout tells Mr. Raymond that, ‘‘‘ Atticus says cheatin’ a colored man is ten times worse than cheatin’ a white man,’ ... ‘Says it’s the worse thing you can do’’’(269). Even though many Maycomb’s citizens are racist and discriminate against colored people, Atticus believes in racial equality and justice, this suggests that Atticus believes in the Golden Rule- treating others the way you would want to be treated. Scout asks Atticus if it's okay to hate Hitler. Atticus responses by saying, “It’s not okay to hate anybody” (330). Although Hitler has done some horrible things, Atticus thinks that it is unacceptable to hate that person. For example, if you don’t want people to hate you, then don’t hate them. All in all, Atticus takes on the case because he believes in following the Golden

The following day after Jem‘s 12th birthday, the kids decide to walk to the town to spend Jem’s birthday money. On the way, Ms.Dubose a mean, ill, and, old lady yells, ‘‘‘Not only a Finch waiting on tables but one in the courthouse lawing for n-word!’.... ‘[Atticus is] no better than the n-word and trash he works for’’’( 101-102*)! The kids are being teased by Ms.Dubose because Atticus is taking on the case. Jem was surprised and devastated when the verdict was guilty. Jem expressed his thoughts on the verdict by saying, ‘‘‘Doesn’t make it right,’... ‘You can’t convict a man on evidence like thatyou can’t’’’(220). Jem knows that something is not right because the evidence obviously proved that Tom was innocent. He is learning that the judicial system is unfair and bias against blacks. Since the system is prejudice against African Americans, there would be no way Tom would be ruled innocent. Although the kids are being teased because Atticus took the case to defend Tom, Jem was able to learn about how discrimination affected the verdict. Scout walks Boo Radley back home. As Scout is on the Radley's porch she realizes that “Atticus was right. One time he said you never really know a man until you stand in his shoes and walk around in them. Just standing on the Radley porch was enough”(279). Scout understands that she shouldn’t have judged people and that she should see it from their