‘“ It ain’t right, Atticus ”’(284)Jem said. This is what many of the characters in the book To Kill a Mockingbird By Harper Lee felt after the trial's verdict of Tom Robinson, an innocent African American man who was convicted of a crime he did not commit. This story takes place in 1930’s in a tiny town called Maycomb and is narrated by a small, but mighty, little girl named Scout Finch. In To Kill a Mockingbird, injustice takes place in many ways, the biggest one being racism. Before, during, and after the trial, the Finch family is strongly affected by the Maycomb’s racism towards African Americans and the injustice it causes. Atticus Finch, the lawyer for Tom Robinson, does not have high hopes for winning the case, but does it anyways …show more content…
Bob Ewells is a white careless man who lives on the outskirts of town in small tin shack and is living off of relief check that he is most likely drinking away. Heck Tate, Bob, Mayella, and Tom are all called to the stand for questioning, this helps Atticus find key evidence that could prove Tom’s innocence. As Atticus interrogates Heck Tate and Bob Ewell he discovers that his story of what happens doesn't really add up. He says Mayella had bruising all on the right side of her face showing that it was most likely a left hand person that punched her, the only problem with that claim is that Tom left arm does not work so there is no way it could have done it. During this whole trial Jem is absolutely certain that they are gonna win because none of evidence proves Tom is guilty, but it rather show the opposite and points to Bob Ewells being the abuser in the tall tail that was spun by Ewells. As the trial was coming to its end, Atticus pleaded with the jury to give Tom a fair decision because in court all men are created equal. He says to the jury ‘“I am confident that you gentlemen will review without passion the evidence you have heard, come to a decision, and restore this defendant to his family. In the name of God, do your duty”’(275). Even with all of the evidence pointing to Tom's innocence and Atticus last …show more content…
When Jem asks how they could do such a thing Atticus responds with ‘“I don’t know, but they did it. They’ve done it before and they did it tonight and they’ll do it again and when they do it, seems that only children weep”’(285). Atticus says this because it only seems that children can understand that what has happened was wrong because they still have open hearts and minds and aren't as quick to judge, whereas the adults have grown up and overlooked their wrongdoings. The jury’s verdict left Atticus bitter, Jem dumbfounded and Tom with no hope and a stone cold bedroom in prison. The Finch family goes home tries to recover from the trial and continue their daily life but it is short lived. Soon after the trial Atticus and the family is told that Tom is dead, he had tried to escape prison and was shot 17 times. Tom had tried to escape because he had lost all hope and that made him think and act in an nonsensical way that lead to his death. In the end Maycomb could is to blame for Tom’s untimely death, for if they had not had such closed minded views and inhuman ways, Tom would still be
In addition to being a lawyer, Atticus enjoys being a father to Jem and Scout. When Jem and Scout found out that their father would be defending a black person, they knew immediately that there would be much controversy, humiliation from the people of Maycomb and great difficulty keeping Tom alive for the trial. It was not long when Atticus had to leave the house very late to go to jail, where Tom was kept because many white people wanted to kill him. Worrying about their father, Jem and Scout sneak out of the house to find him. A self-appointed lynch mob has gathered on the jail to take justice into their own hands. Scout decides to talk to Walter Cunningham, one of the members of the mob. She talks about how her father Atticus thought that "entailments are bad "(154 ) " and that his boy Walter is a real nice boy and tell him I said hey"(154). Upon hearing this, the mob realized that Atticus cannot be all bad if he has such a nice daughter as Scout. Atticus, with some unexpected help from his children, faces down the mob and cause them to break up the potential lynching of the man behind bars. Having gone to a black church earlier, the children found out that Tom is actually a kind person, church-going and a good husband and father to his children.
Atticus Finch is a brave person because no matter what people say to him he will do what he feels and knows is right. After Tom Robinson, the man Bob Ewell accused of raping his daughter Mayella, Is arrested and put into Macomb County Jail Atticus goes to the jail house to protect him from a mob. He doesn’t show how scared he is when his children barge into the middle of the mob, instead he keeps calm and sends them home. Luckily they refuse and Scout ends up stopping them just from talking to the “leader”. Later in time when Tom is found gui...
Having grown up in the home of a lawyer, Jem understands the ways of the courtroom and recognizes Atticus’ behavior in court. When Tom Robinson is put on trial for being accused of raping Mayella Ewell, Atticus is appointed his attorney. As questioning continues, Atticus blatantly proves it was impossible for Tom to even commit the crime. Jem says to Reverend Sykes, "...don't fret, we've won it....Don't see how any jury could convict on what we heard" (Lee 279). Jem’s response to Reverend Sykes comment
The first “mockingbird” that is featured in the novel is a man named Atticus Finch. Not only is Atticus Finch the sole representative of Maycomb in the legislature, but also he is a brilliant lawyer. In addition, he has a good reputation in both Maycomb’s black and white communities because of his exceptional character. However, his reputation is soon shattered when he is faced with a case in court that affects him personally: he must defend an African American man in court in Maycomb’s segregated society. If Atticus chooses to try defending the man, he will lose his good status in town, since his racist American neighbors will soon disrespect him for treating the African Americans as equal to the Americans, which is highly unacceptable in the United States during the 1930s. However, Atticus still accepted the case believing that if he does not, he w...
Throughout History, men have looked down on blacks and women. But this does not justify the view that blacks and women are below white men. When people look down on blacks and women, they preform injustice. Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird is full of injustice. During this time period, everyone looked down on blacks and women, which makes Maycomb one in the same with the discriminators. In particular, the people in Maycomb looked down on Tom Robinson, and many others looked down on Scout. Around the Finch household, Aunt Alexandria always tries to do away with Calpurnia, the black housekeeper and cook as Alexandria says, “We don’t need her (Calpurnia) now.” (182). Injustices in Maycomb include the case of Tom Robinson, the way Aunt Alexandra treats Calpurnia, and the way people treat Scout.
Tom is accused of raping a white woman, Mayella Ewell, and is faced with the charge of spending his life in prison. As a state in the south during the 1930s, racism was a commonplace in Alabama. However, Atticus’s thoughts are different from many of the people around him. Contrary to many of the other folks, he believes that blacks (and all people) should be treated in an equal way. Although he knows what the town will think of him if he accepts the case, after barely any hesitation, Atticus agrees to defend Tom. This was mainly done on his own terms, but also taking into considering the impact it will have on his children. He explains to Scout reasons why he is defending Tom, “the main one is, if I didn’t I couldn’t hold up my head in town, I couldn’t represent this county in the legislature, I couldn’t even tell you or Jem not to do something again” (Lee 86). He works as hard as he can to defend Tom in the best way possible, even though he knows it may very well be of no use, as the outcome of this case was basically predetermined at the
verdict of the trial, Jem and Scout see the hate in jurors for blacks, for it is obvious that Tom Robinson is innocent. Another new and disturbing element that Jem and Scout discover is child abuse. Having never been hit by Atticus, the children know nothing of physical, mental, emotional, or sexual abuse. However, Mayella Ewell knows too well of these abuses and is a victim of them from her own father. Bob Ewell shows he has no consideration for her by his actions or words, and this is clearly displayed during the trial when he is being asked on the stand, "Are you the father of Mayella Ewell?" (172) His crude reply is, "Well, if I ain’t I can’t do nothing about it now"(172). This shows he has no class or respect, while on the other hand, Jem and Scout are used to seeing the example of their tactful father. Also, during the trial it becomes lucid that Bob Ewell beat Mayella up and not Tom Robinson.
A possible reason as to why the book was called “To Kill a Mockingbird” is because a mockingbird is a harmless and innocent animal. Therefore, when it is killed, peace is disturbed. In the story, Tom Robinson, a black man, was accused of raping Mayella Ewell, a white woman. Due to this, innocence and peace have been disturbed.
Even though the odds go against him, Atticus Finch bravely stands up to his beliefs and morals. Furthermore, he
In the novel, ‘To Kill A Mockingbird’ by Harper Lee some characters suffer in the hands of justice and fairness more than others. Many characters in the novel are discriminated against such as Calpurnia, Dolphus Raymond, Helen Robinson, Burris Ewell and more. However I will be focusing on the discrimination against Tom Robinson for his race, Walter Cunningham for his low socioeconomic status and Boo Radley for the rumors and supposed mental instability he holds. I chose those three because they are the most prominent and I will discuss how the discrimination against the characters therefore leads to their injustice or unfairness.
“Simply because we were licked a hundred years before we started is no reason for us not to try and win” (82) says Atticus Finch, stating his main reasoning why he accepts the case to defend Tom Robinson, a black man who is being convicted of raping Mayella Ewell, a white woman. Racism is a routine and approved part of society in Maycomb County. Exclusively during the time in which the novel is set in, the 1930s. Atticus apprehends this, yet he is still determined to defend Tom Robinson for several reasons. He knows the people of Maycomb will be talking about the case.
Without justice, there would be no consequences for unlawful actions and people. Unfortunately, sometimes true justice can be prevented due to certain aspects of human nature. In the book To Kill a Mockingbird, written by Harper Lee, there is a very significant message about justice, which is that bias is the enemy of justice and this is shown during multiple instances throughout the story. The first instance where prejudice gets in the way of justice in To Kill a Mockingbird, written by Harper Lee, is in chapter 10 when Francis, Scout's cousin, insults Atticus and Scout then attacks him for it.
“There may be times when we are powerless to prevent injustice, but there must never be a time when we fail to protest” Ellie Wiesel. Readers may find the amount of injustice in Harper lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird a little shocking. This could be why it’s such a popular book. People like the suspense of knowing someone’s right, but still being found guilty for something they did not do. There are many times throughout the book when people are powerless to prevent injustice but they still protest it. This shows that even when people unjustly punish there should always be someone to protest it. The theme of injustice is a common one in harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird, whether it be through racism, misinformation, or Arrogance.
There have been many famous pieces of literature, but one that stands out is the 1960's classic To Kill a Mockingbird written by Harper Lee. Lee, who only wrote one book in her life time, wrote of prejudice, injustice, and racism in the 1930's. To Kill a Mockingbird takes place in the Deep South in the 1930's. To Kill a Mockingbird is a story in which a black mad is accused of doing something he didn't do. During the whole story some of the two of the main characters, Jem Finch and Jean Lousie Finch, grow up in there mind but, are still of young age. Different things happen along the way but the story is based on what happens to Tom Robinson the black man. It seems like so muck is going on at once but it isn't that hard to figure out that it is injustice. Injustice is a huge concept in this book; it is basically the prejudices and racism going on. In To Kill a Mockingbird there is lots of injustice and prejudice going on. Atticus Finch, Jean Lousie Finch, and Tom Robinson experience injustice in To Kill a Mockingbird.
Tom is a nice young man who needs to go to court for being accused of raping a young girl named Mayella, although he did not go threw it alone. He had his lawyer Atticus Finch. Atticus is a single father of two. He believes that no matter who he is defending, if that person is innocent, he deserves justice and he will try his best so justice will be served.